The recent most happening at the institute, which is also the most talked about event here, is CHEPO 6. The actual name was CHEP 06, a rather boring, typical of conferences. But, thanks to our institute designer for his aesthetic personal touch, making it a lot bubbly.
According to one, from the faculty here, the misnomer chepo , which should correctly be pronounced as cheapo, is the result of mere jealousy. Looking at the extravagant delicious food being served all the time, it may be supported a bit, but I think I enjoy this nomenclature for one thing: we here, are dealing with the most advanced computational possibilities of future - a revolutionary dream, with the bottom line all the time being its spread amongst general people and wider and transparent connectivity. This is possible only if it is a cheap (commercially) product. Hence, the name: che(a)po.
One more reason, why one can call it cheapo, is our cheap management skills. Despite this, if the conference went well, then the credit should go to the diligence of the volunteers and patience of the organizers. We always chose the longest path of success, but ultimately you succeeded. Three cheers to all of you!
I can't resist giving yet another evidence for the name cheapo and that is our (and this corresponds to all of us, not just CHEP) social awareness . India is facing a big electric power production crisis. Except Mumbai, almost everywhere we observe load-shading: 12 hrs/day in rural and 5 1/2 hrs/day in suburban areas. Mumbai being the commercial capital of India, is excluded from this routine. But that has made us carefree. Or why would one put flood lights focusing trees upwards during the dinner on the insti. lawn, just for decoration purpose? (And it is not just one or two, but a whole bunch of them scattered around the institute garden!!) Why will somebody not care for switching the fans and tubes off while leaving his room empty? This is a truly cheap behaviour, I feel.
And, now something which we don't deserve the name for, but the institute administration is imposing on us. The incidence is the visit by our honorable president. True, it is a part of chep 06. But, the institute taking care of the organizations, made us remove all our posters and scientific material from the auditorium premises and transformed the auditorium into a marriage hall! One would not believe me, if I say Rs. 25,000/- were spent just on the flowers! Isn't it a cheap business? We are a scientific research institute. Govt. funds us heavily for doing research. Would president be happy to see all flowers but no scientific material in the atmosphere of a research institute? Will he be happy to see all non-scientific staff, including spouses of the faculty at the cost of no student in the hall? Postdocs and mathematics students didn't even get a mail for passes! Cheap, cheap.....very cheap!
But, otherwise, cheapo 6 was not a cheap business at all! Considering the budgets of all the conferences held here, I heard that this was the most heavily funded one. I don't have any knowledge of the details, but the treatment was royal! The quality of talks, information coverage and scientific efforts involved at the core of the coference was awsome. I am very much hopeful for this conference blossoming into a great success....a milestone in the field of computation......the reason, it was for!......and I think this is the message one should take home! After all Mistakes are the secret of success
Congrats!
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4 comments:
Interesting post! I think Cheapo 6 also had a standard time, +1 IST(or 0630 GMT)!
I am also very much about concerned about the power crisis. It is difficult to convince people about the need to switch off lights. What about the lights on the colonade? We dont really need those either after say 8 p.m.
What i find very amusing is that while i wasn't considered worthy of a mail inviting me to collect a pass for the talk, K.M. did send me a mail asking if my children wanted to attend it.
grr.
shanta
Great Observation...I didn't know of this!
Samudrika
It is true! There are very few, who know the value of the facility. Even I feel, there has to be a compromise between aesthetics and economy
Kate
That was really sad. It was a complete mess! Unfortunately, CHEP didn't have any hold on this.
Did you manage to attend the session, any way?
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