The Project Group Funda

The past 2 months, we had exams, tests, apti's etc. But the one thing that was constantly on everyone's mind was "Where will I do my B. Tech Project and with whom?"
Well, that answer has come for me today. But this post is not about me or any one person or group. It's in a way related to all the people in my class, and actually everyone in TY who have now gone to B. Tech!

The project group funda is very complicated and has so many dimensions to it, but I've narrowed it down to just 3 -

1. GPA
2. Friendship
3. Trust

Different people have different levels of importance attached to each of the 3 dimensions.

Now, on the day of reckoning, i.e. either when you have to choose a company or submit your group names, here is what the mind really ponders -

So what is the right choice, frankly nothing. Some people are under the misconception that its only the GPA and Company that matters; other blindly believe that friendship is all there is to life. The fact remains that there will be casualties at the end, groups do break; friendships at the rare times do end. But it is not the result that matters; it is the process. The fact that you break/join/create a group is immaterial; in fact breaking of groups is almost inevitable. 70% of groups formed, end up being changed in some way or the other.

The fact that makes you a villain or a hero at the end of the day is not how well you look after your own prospects - that is a necessity - it is how well you can manage the 3 dimensions of the group.

It is the reason you cite for leaving a group that makes the difference between being branded as a traitor or a true friend, a trustworthy person or a back stabbing egotist. One crucial factor i have noticed is that people who make their moves way too early in the game end up suffering the most; while those who stick on with friends for the longest period possible, end up being the happiest.

The reason being that unless you're a born traitor; you will have a conscience; and it will prick you if you screw someone in the thought of going ahead; while the man you have screwed; if he is worth his salt, always tries to bounce back. As Gregory David Roberts suggested in Shantaram "the will of the man who tries to survive is always greater than that of the man who tries to destroy." Thus the return will start, luck will then play its part. If you find luck on your side then your rise shall be swift and in a span of no more than weeks, tables will be turned. The powerless will suddenly find themselves with power and those who had power initially will have their minds gnawing with fear and doubt. Fear that what they did to others, may just happen to them; doubt as to when they will be betrayed.

A wise man once said, "... what happens to you in your bad time is more or less decided by what you did in your good time." I think that wise man is the author of this blog ;)

But more than a question of who did what, it's about seeing the path through all the fog. Finding your destination in the midst of the misty valley. The bottomline is, it's just a freaking B. Tech project!

But the real bottomline is it's also got 18 credits!!
The super bottomline is, this stuff happens every year!!!
The ultra bottomline is, just take it easy; everything works out in the end!!!!

The super ultra bottomline is that the real deal is doing it well, enjoying the process and leaving behind the mess that is at times created while the group formations are on.