Dec 20, 2010

IISc's part time research program in CS field includes only Comp. Sci. & Automation. I have begun to do background study on the topics in an attempt to find any open research topics to work on. I am also in periodic discussion with my manager at office to check for topics which might have interest to my company as well so that there is some kind of synergy in the work which i would be doing to what company is also would be working on.

Looks like a considerable amount of math involved in research. I found this while going thru the dept website and the prev projects which were taken by

students... http://www.csa.iisc.ernet.in/research/research.php So, I have to re-do my engineering math to get a hang of it again.!!

I should be preparing for IISc entrance test which would be held sometime in april, 2011. Forms will be available in Feb it seems. Have to keep acheck on website. I am not sure if the score would be valid for more than a year, but would like to attempt this and also in april 2012.

I should also be taking up Gate exam next year, i.e 2012 Feb. Now, I wish i had taken up Gate this or prev year already so that i would have got a feel of it.

The WANT to do Research

Back in 9th grade, while i was doing experimental studies on developing a feasible alternative to Wax candle with chalk and different types of oils, to developing postulates on right angled triangles, to trying to explain few phenomena in magnetic properties, to developing a new Base system which i named "Base Om System" , to theory which i formulated which could possibly turn the way people look at sub-atomic particles! to many many more attempts to SEE beyond by an enthusiast, an amateur researcher and sometimes possibly insane dreams to change the proven postulates of the world. I always wanted to do something out of the ordinary. I wanted to to something which makes a positive difference to lives of the people around the globe.

The want was always there. It had only lost its way and had no proper direction. Now, its time to set things straight and to get to work.

In the course of next 45 months, i wish to pursue my highest academic dream, the dream to earn a Ph. D degree. A dream to make a positive difference to this world. A dream to pursue knowledge.

And this is my Mission. I call it "Mission Dr VMD"

What I had planned

After I took up BE course in Information Science & Engineering at MSRIT, Bangalore, the road for next few years of my life was pretty clear. Though i was never a tech savvy person or awesome at coding, i was drawn towards taking up projects and few other technical stuff.[much of the credit of which goes to MKN, probably my fav teacher]

Though i enjoyed the challenge, it was more of a induced habit/behavior for first couple of years.

I was pretty darn sure that after BE, i would be taking up a job and start working, and probably could never break for higher studies.

Only option which i had was distance education. I heard from a cousin of mine that BITS Pilani offers MS degree as a distance learning program provided that the company which i ll be working in had a tie up with the university.

Once i joined McAfee, my current working place, i was over joyed by knowing many of my colleagues were pursuing MS at BITS . The eligibility was a year's exp in industry, so i was just waiting for the right time to apply and in next couple of years, i would have an MS degree :) june/july 2011 - june/july 2013 i would do MS degree. So was happy about the plan and quietly satisfied.

Few Years back...

Few years back, when i was in PUC 2nd year. I had a dream of studying Nuclear Physics and becoming a professor and eventually get a PhD for a crazy theory i was working on that time [Well few people tot of it as crazy :)]. But fate had it that i had to make a decision weather to take up my passion or to on a proven method to get settled early in life and support family, by becoming a software engineer in 4 years and getting a descent job in an reputed MNC.

The evening when i had to make that decision, i was walking across balcony of my home, I was visualizing the name board which i cud have by side of the door, saying "Dr Varun M Deshpande Ph.D(Physics)"

The other visualization i had was that of the pay cheque i would eventually get.

As this decision of mine would greatly affect my family, i had to take the safer option and keep my research aspirations at bay as of now or probably for ever.