all things Love

 People often ask me advice on how to apply for a graduate program. Questions include, how to select a lab to apply to, what to include in the research proposal, what to look for in a prospective lab? etc. My suggestion usually is to find something that truly interests you. Going through a PhD is not a child’s play. It’s a whole different level than the undergrad classes. There would days or weeks you would be stuck at the same in the problem. There would many a nights you would spend in your lab, frustrated, dealing with anxiety, procrastination, and for heaven knows hunger! You would perhaps work for weeks and months on an idea, only for it to turn out to be a dud or perhaps, only for somebody else to have gotten to the end result a tiny yet significant bit before you! What keeps the motivation alive and you healthy and sane is the real interest in the topic that initially got you excited and the support and aid from your supervisor, lab members, and your friends. What’s most imp...

Q: 研究・仕事の内容を簡単に教えてください / What kind of research or work are you doing? A: I am doctoral candidate in the University of Tokyo. My research area is Astrophysics. More specifically, Gravitational-Waves detection and data analysis. Japan operates one of the three Gravitational-wave detectors in the world. This was the primary reason why I chose to Japan for my higher studies and research. The reason for selecting Tokyo as the destination was my university. The research group I am working with here is one of the best groups for my research field. And besides, Tokyo is a nice place to live! Q: 研究・仕事の内容を簡単に教えてください / What kind of research or work are you doing? A: Principally, my research boils down to data-analysis. Unlike the usual case though, the data we analyse comes from the cosmos. Actually, from the merger of massive compactly packed objects called Black Holes. When these really heavy merge, they alter the very fabric of spacetime. When this happens, a gravitational wave is generated an...

In the past few months, three personalities I had grown looking up to over the year, have started their journey towards the heavenly abode, the latest departure happening just the last week. All the three occasions of the news had felt out of the blue. It is not that I had been exceedingly close to any of them, nonetheless, brief touches of their presence in my life had made in such sublime manner that it would hardly be possible otherwise now. It is especially the distant figures such as these that we are prone to assume a constant in our lives. We meet and come across a plethora of people in our life times, yet it is often the transient moments that leave a lasting impression, amplified more so when the impermanence of it all suddenly decides to make itself known. I am grateful that, in varying degree of acquaintance, I had the opportunity to know Mr. Emmanuel Robin, Dr. N Rathnasree and Prof. T Padmanabhan. These succinct lines here are an amateur effort to pay some tribute to them....

The criterion for including people for an all-paid Dinner Party, for instance, should at the very minimum be the people whom I can call and I am sure who will pick up the phone. This then by definition includes almost all, nah, all of my male friends and excludes most of the, if not all, ex-girls I have dated before. Then there is the proximity of location constraint. Plus, inclusion of anyone who invited me to their past celebrations and I know who maybe able to join for this one. Or somebody with whom I was close either in proximity of location or friendship or both or with whom I spent a lot of time together. Now, on top of these, in order to reduce the list to the most closest of the close current friends, I can impose the following additional requirements: 1) Should have met them atleast once this year or in the past 6 months, whichever is longest. 2) We should have had atleast one 1-1 meeting, preferably outing for >1 hour, either for lunch, coffee or dinner or something else....

From a studious introvert during my school days to having dated over 50 girls in the past two years in Tokyo, I sure have come a long way in making myself more engaged socially. (If you are curious about the dating scene, have a look at that post here!) The progress hasn’t just been towards a higher affinity from the fairer sex, but has been much more wholesome and awarding. So, what did change or perhaps, I was the same likable even in school, just not in the right environment? Here are my key insights into what essential in keeping your friends long-term and how to make them in the first place. Also included is some general advice on how to meet new and interesting people wherever you go. - Keep your Promises: If you make a promise to someone, try your very best to keep it. If you are unsure, then say so outright, instead of agreeing to something just to save face and then not committing to what you say. This builds trust and gives weight and credibility to things you say.  - Bor...

First of all, I am glad to know that you have decided to find a relatively long-term accommodation space in Tokyo. It’s a marvelous city and I hope you will have a fantastic time living here ~ The ideal procedure would be to lookup apartments in your desired area on these websites and then go an agency. Most apartments won’t be furnished and will have the initial surcharges and key deposit money, ~one month’s rent. The agency I used for my apartment is ABLE, and I would highly recommend it. I have a contact at ABLE Hakusan, so if you are looking for housing in Bunkyo-ku, near the universities, ping me up and I may perhaps be able to get you a bit of a discount, haha ;) Some relevant links are, https://suumo.jp/sp/ : This is the largest real-estate website in Japan, with the most number of properties listed. Most of the information is in Japanese though. https://minimini.jp/sp/ : The second most popular real-estate website in the country. Suumo is Green, while MiniMini is Red. Both of...

ऐसा हो ही नहीं सकता कि आप टोक्यो में हो और दो महीने पहले से आपकी सारी दिनचर्या तय हो गई हो, आपके ना जाने के सिर्फ़ दो करण हो सकते हैं, एक : आपको जाने की इच्छा नहीं है (संभवतः यह), या फिर दो : आप उस दिन टोक्यो में नहीं हो। आप जापानी लोगों की इस प्रकार की आदतें हमें बिलकुल भी पसंद नहीं है। दुनिया में कुछ ही चुनिंदा लोग होंगे जो हमसे ज़्यादा काम करते होंगे, क्योंकि सभी के पास बराबर का वक़्त है, २४ घंटे। तो अगर साथ चलने की इच्छा है और उस एक लौते दिन या समय इत्यादि की ही दिक़्क़त है, तो फिर ज़ाहिर है साथ मिलकर उसे सुलझाया जा सकता है। यूँ संचिप्त में बेमतलब का उत्तर देना बेहद ही अपमानजनक है। यह हमारी नज़रों में आप जापानीयों की अधूरी परवरिशों का भी सूचक है, जहां आपको यह तो सिखाया जाता है कि बाहरी सुंदरता और गोरा रंग कैसे लाए, मगर इस पर ज़ोर दिया जाता कि दोस्त कैसे बनाए और दोस्ती किसे निभाए। आधुनिक जापानी समाज के अंदरूनी खोखलेपन और इसकी दरारों से सीप रहीं अकेलापन और मानसिक तकलीफ़ों के एहसासों की जड़े शायद यही ग़ैर समाजीपन होना है। चिरंचे, हाल ही में हमारे कम से कम तीन जापानी दोस्तों और परिचित...

To a majority of us, it is a known fact that some days are actually longer than a day. The day in question, however, wasn't. It was in fact meant to be one of the driest and the most barren of the days. The kind of a day one mostly spends snug on the bed with the largest exertion afforded to the limbs being the quiet finger pressings on a touch screen. And yet, looking back now, the singular chain of events from that day, though ordinary in themselves, assume such a perplexing proportion when taken together, that the day has remained so unequivocally imprinted in my mind. At that time I was working as a JSPS Post-Doctoral fellow in the Department of Physics at the University of Tokyo. I had come to Japan from India as a Master’s student about six years prior and had been living in Tokyo since then. Following the PhD degree, owing to my fascination with the city and in order to satisfactorily sum up my current research, I had chosen to continue at the ...

Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote My rating: 3 of 5 stars Hmm... hard to say whether or not I like it. The story is fine. The protagonist is spectacular. And yet, I cannot seem to whole-heartedly be fond of the novella. Parts of the story are fascinating, for instance, Holly Golightly's apparent unreserve with the budding writer narrator. I also like the opening scene which introduces the mystery of where our heroine can be at the moment. The scene brings the reader into the story and somehow or the other, we are entrapped the fast-paced New York of 1940. I would recommend the book as a tranquil read. However, honestly, with the impeccable performance by Audrey, the film version brings forth Holly's persona a tad bit more effectily. The book is outstanding, no doubt, but couple it with the movie session post reading and there you have it - " a top banana in the shock department". View all my reviews

The Essential Collection for Young Readers by Ruskin Bond My rating: 5 of 5 stars Loved this marvellous collection. Ruskin Bond is one of my favorite authors. I adore his simplicity and the appeal in a rustic life close to the nature. This collection is astutely curated. I especially loved the "Night Train to Deoli" and "The Blue Umbrella", the latter of which has been made into a wonderful film. The first few stories from the author's own life were imaginative too. "Rani" shall be close to my heart. Highly recommended. Audiobook does justice to the book, however prompt with the chapter number when a particular chapter starts would be a great update. View all my reviews

The Art of War by Sun Tzu My rating: 4 of 5 stars Ancient Chinese Philosophy on the Art of War by the master himself. Contains different sections on different kinds of tactics for warfare, how to keep your soldiers subservient and yet disciplined, how and when to engage the enemy, when to flee the scene etc. Not much relevant content for the contemporary world View all my reviews

The Past as Present: Forging Contemporary Identities Through History by Romila Thapar My rating: 4 of 5 stars Loved the details. Highly informative even if some of her ideas have been contested often times. Romila Thapar is without doubt one of the best Historians alive in India today. Her characteristic narrative style with adequate focus on analyzing an issue from all corners, makes one think strongly about the believes they have had since as long as they can remember. How can one say if the tradition that they have been following since decades and centuries isn't something that originally begun with those ideas mind and isn't were simple tactics to gain wealth and suppress the enemies; when the sources themselves that tell us the history of these practices can be found to not withhold under scutiny. The history of India, it seems, is as multi-faceted and ever changing as are the people and it's languages in the contemporary world, a fa...

Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup My rating: 5 of 5 stars "12 years a Slave" is truly a moving account of the arduous journey and experiences of Solomon Northup. Prior to listening to this book, I had been of the opinion that the story was a fictional one. However, published in 1853, the year of the author's extraordinary deliverance from the shackles of Slavery, the harrowing tale is indeed a truth. Reading the book across a passage of close to two centuries, the kind of perils borne by some sections of our society is perfectly stupefying, and yet still today among the remote parts of our world there are some similar instances taking place. I believe writings like "12 years a Slave" pave a way for us to face the atrocious history that a few of our ancestors have lived every day. In having the courage to speak out about his experiences and to publish this singular account, back in mid-19th century, the author played a pivotal role in bringing afresh the...

The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie My rating: 5 of 5 stars Nice mystery. Quintessential Christie. Loved it. Must have read it before during School days. View all my reviews

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne My rating: 4 of 5 stars Quite a short tale. I liked the philosophical and social dilemma Hester Prim and the Reverend go through throughout the story. The insights on their inner turmoils is what has made this book a classic literature. The retribution sought after by the tale's silent antagonist is appalling and yet, one can but feel a connection with them. Author's poignant account of Hester's life moves the reader's heart to pause a moment and ponder. The ending is what I would have liked it to be. The Audible narration, as usual, was mesmerising. View all my reviews

Mr Dodge, Mr Hitchcock, and the French Riviera: The story behind To Catch a Thief by Jean Buchanan My rating: 5 of 5 stars Nice story about how the critically acclaimed "To a Catch Thief" by Alfred Hitchcock came out to be. Some of the outré aspects of the way Mr. Dodge came upon the plot were interesting. And the French Riviera seems to be an enchanting place. View all my reviews

Copied from the Diary from last night बैठ मुंडेर पर नीहार रहा है पथिक भ्रांत दृश्य एक ‌‌‌‌‍ सामने उसके रचा हुआ है रचनाकार का बसंत विशेष दिवास्वप्न-सा आगंतुक अविचल है ऋतुराज का दृश्य नवल नवीन मानो शाख शिखरों पर जा बैठा हो सूरज चाँद का कोई दर्पण रंगीन उधर समुद्र किनारे दूर क्षितिज पर चुंबन करता नीर गगन को इधर तलैया तीरे उथले जल में मछली भी अतुर आलिंगन को हरे हुऐ हैं पीले पड़े थे पतझड़ पे पत्ते जो खिल उठे हैं सिमटे हुए थे कमल के पुष्प लो घन-घन करती छा रही है चारों ओर घनघोर घटा टप-टप करके टपक रहा है इधर-उधर जल वर्षा का सर-सर करती बह रही है साए से बौराई हवा राहगीर भी लौट रहे हैं राह पर से यदा-कदा हौले-हौले से आ रही है निशा की लाली समीप सिमट-सिमट कर उड़ रहे हैं पक्षी भी पेड़ों के बीच इतने में विस्मित होकर उठता है वह पथिक भ्रांत जाग उठी है भीतर मन के अभिलाषा की एक क्रांत हो ना हो इन आभूषणों का कारण है कुछ यूँ ही नहीं प्रकृति करेगी धारण ये सब कुछ शायद इंकित करता अंबर पर अंकित यह नील रोशन होगा किसी समय पर नाम तुम्हारा भी बिस्मिल चलता है फिर धैर्य धरा का धरके वह भेश बैठ मुंडेर पर नीहार रहा था यश...

Why do my poems be like water rushing in a rapid I seem to love four four letters in a row four lines in a tow Why do my poems be like joyful bursts of sporadic laughter short sweet fragrant after as if they need reader till writer greets Why do my poems be like dreamy sunrise on mountain summit I seem to have taken the road hither nobody seldom goes thither Why do my poems be like hazy reflections upon silent sea roaring rolling beneath before perhaps the one sought perhaps the one aft

Hey there, How you holding up? So, this is the end of astropy@GSoC  time period. There was a time growing up when I used to wonder about Astropy people. About those science wizards who worked on writing computer programs for an esoteric software thing that made calculations of the universe, with a bizarre portmanteau of a name, astro-pie . Haha, and now, as the project finishes up, I am one of those fabled wizards. Well, it has been quite a ride, hasn't it? Let's first take a step back to recap what the context of my Google Summer of Code project was and then have a detailed look at what has been done. Below is part of the short project synopsis I had submitted during the application process back in April. One important feature of Astropy is reading and writing tabular data in a wide variety of useful formats. One such astronomical data storage format is the CDS-ASCII format employed by Centre de Données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CD...