Dum Dum

Part I - Second law of Thermodynamics

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According to the above named law, "Entropy" is ever increasing. The disorder of the universe keeps increasing. Some time back, this was my argument against anybody who commented about the kind of chaos used to be there in my room (at IIT and at Oly-park Munich). Later in Hyderabad, I found that entropy wasn't increasing as it used to do in my earlier rooms. Still the second law of thermodynamics came for my help whenever I found my room cluttered.

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Lately, another law has become more important to me than this second law, and that is "The first law of sandeep" for the time being. - "Well-structuredness, order and organized-life-style should be ever increasing in a smart man's life". I found myself changing slightly. I became quite organised for some time, and gradually started falling back to the old pit. But, I was able to control and didn't fall back. I keep my room more or less clean; I have a not-so-bad book keeping, etc. Still I know I have far more to go. I had never found a role model to grow up-to. In terms of technical organization, I wanted to be like Knuth. Otherwise, in daily life who can impress me? May be I should go without any role-model and be my model myself. Possible and not a bad thing too.

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Today, I went to Frau. Kalter, Secretary of Dean, Informatik. It's the fourth time I am going to her office. First time itself, I noticed the cleanliness in her room. But the cleanliness was not noticed as much as I noticed her. She is one of the sweetest women I've ever met. (Don't think the wrong way. She is an elderly lady). The way she asked about my problem, and the way she offered her help - were the best kind of treatment I've had in any office. No need to say, my problem was solved.

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Today it was for another thing I went there. She again offered me the best solution she could, even though the problem didn't directly come in her section. I had a small conversation with her. That time I had the opportunity to look around the room, her table etc. Wow!! The order in which things were maintained there was unbelievable. If someone wants to keep a room clean and organised, it should be like that. I had to just mention what I wanted. The next moment she took the right file and the right paper from it. I am sure that, the problem with which I went there hasn't happened in Informatik department at least for the past 3 years. (Trust me. When I say at least 3 years, I have my reasons, not just blabbering)

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After the small conversation, I could feel that she is one of the most well organised persons I've met. I wont meet her frequently - may be only once or twice more, that's all. But I've learned some new things from her. She is what you call "nimitham" in Malayalam. A "nimitham" which has affected me.

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To conclude it - "Entropy is ever increasing; Effort is needed to control it. Those who are floating put no effort. If you want to be different and don't want just to flow with the current, put the effort to control it. Reduce the amount of entropy in your life."

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Part II - God of Small Things

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I think I was a little late in reading the book with above mentioned title. Beautiful work. I would say that the last 10 pages could have been avoided. But it would leave the book incomplete - without the *masala*. May be for the first time, I got tears by reading a book - when ammu died.

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The copy which I have at home Nellayi has a small story to tell. I was in my journey to IIT, as usual a Sunday evening, Aleppy Express, Trichur station. On the opposite platform another train came and stopped. I saw an old bus-stop-friend of mine. As he saw me, he jumped down to the rails and came to my train and said "Hai". Talked for sometime and just before he went back to his train he gave me a copy of the book and told that he dealt with a book agency at that time. I still dont know his name.

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The copy I just finished reading also has a small story to tell. It was given to 'her' by 'him'. That's all I can say about it. Because, the story is not mine.

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Wanted the entry to be a long one. I accomplished it.

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Signing off, Sands.