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Project 1__ITMC__In search of true Niketan

This was my first shot at public speaking.. I must proudly say it went pretty well ;
I won the best prepared speech speaker of the day , in my very first speech :)
ITMC is acronym for Infosys Toastmasters Club , a forum that encourages public speaking


Is it too late? Has the situation become hopeless?
We must find out.
As I cautiously embark on my public speaking journey before you.

Mr. Toastmaster, fellow toastmasters and welcome guests.
A very good evening to all.

My name finds its root in the hindi word Niketan which means Home.
If u put a 'A' before it, it becomes "Homeless"…
Homeless .. not Hopeless
Its One of the names of Lord Krishna. Signifying his omnipresence, all the world to him is his home, rendering him essentially,a homeless…
But, for me the literal meaning suits better.
I am a Maharastrian , brought up In UP at 12 different cities and attended 9 different schools; and from last 6 years in Karnataka .
Where is My HOME !!!

My nomadic lifestyle is attributed to my parent's dynamic job requirements. My dad is retired High court judge and mom is District Judge. The tryst of my family with the Judicial services doesn't end here, my grandparents, uncle, cousins and aunts from both paternal and maternal sides are dedicated to the judicial cause.
In short I come from a family filled with lawyers and judges.
I know what you are thinking. What the hell am I doing here!

Dont "judge" me the answer to this all pertinent question has eluded me so far.

In fact my carrier aspiration has fluctuated like a pendulum and changed sides like our political parties.
Every semester I would be fascinated by a different subject and saw my future in it.
Robotics, Aerospace, Management, Thermodynamics .to name a few
My mom got so fed up of my ephemeral ambitions. She responded to each with same reply “I hope u come up with something better next year". My father, who epitomizes stolid personality, on other hand would never loose patience with me.

I am still to figure out the next course of action after joining Infosys.
Like the architect said to Neo in the movie Matrix "You already have made the choices, now you must understand them".. My understanding phase is going on...

By now you might have guessed that, I am a dilettante of the first order. I have many superficial interests that wax and vane with time.
But some interests that stood the test of time are reading and travelling.
My Reading had its humble beginning in kiddy stuff like Hardy boys and Famous five
Which gradually transcended into serious literature like Dickens and
Asimov. Not too serious though. I confined myself to fiction only.
Also the kid in me made me read each Harry Potter book at least 5 times …

Travelling … I was bestowed with parents who themselves are super fond of travelling. They would take me and my brother along with them in their many journeys.
So I tagged along with them initially out of compulsion and latter with bubbling enthusiasm to almost every nook and corner of this great country.
My favorite places have always been the beaches. Sitting on serene beaches I realized that solitude is the best company a man can ever have .
Still the thirst for travelling is not quenched. It’s my dear wish to travel whole India in one stretch like Sharukh Khan of Swadesh.
Now the gloomy aspect of my life; the absence of fairer sex.
For 22 years my tongue seized functioning in front of girls.
Their mere presence made my throat dry, palm sweaty and vision hazy, much like public speaking.
This problem miraculously got rectified during training days at Infosys.
Only to replaced by another of much bigger size.
The few single girls that are left today, think I look like an innocent kid, and hence can’t be considered seriously.

What !!!!
Even if I do, what's wrong with that?
Have rowdy looking men become knights in shinning amour for 21st century dames?
I hope not..

Finally I have a confession to make.
All my life I have been like a sponge stuck at bottom of the sea. Letting the fishes of opportunity pass me by while I filtered out only the essential for survival.
I am looking for a path to redemption.
Lately I have sprouted tiny tentacles. But that is not enough. I wish ITMC help me evolve strong flippers that would help me to leave murky depths of ordinary and rise to dazzling surface of the extra ordinary.
And in the process discover my true Home , my Niketan; my destiny.

Back to you Mr. Toastmaster.

Comments

sumukh said…
Raise a toast for aniket:)...
Hey i want my share of appreciation too:)..
sub editor jo hun :)
Aniket said…
a toast to u also .. my frnd ...
awesome feeling man ..on the stage .. :)
Anonymous said…
congrats.... great speech
- Abhishek

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