The Rocket boys who made the ‘October Sky’ a ‘November Sky’

Well it is not the rocket boys of Coalwood but the rocket boys of Bangalore. Although people won’t call us that way we have called ourselves ‘Rocket Boys’ after our rocket was successfully launched on the auspicious day of Deepavali. The festival of lights stood as a witness for this launch and what better day could we have chosen for this.

Being a science enthusiast, I like experimenting and playing with science. Along with me Adithya, Kiran, Sathya and the most important of all, my uncle Murali Mohan (I call him Murali Chikappa) joined together to execute the experiment which I thought of doing. Well since younger days I was interested in rockets and wanted to experiment with one. Others who joined me were equally interested in this experiment.

People while referring to any easy work say ‘it is no rocket science!’ but does that mean rocket science is that difficult? But if it is challenging and exciting then who cares if it is difficult. I was browsing the web for help regarding making rockets. I found an interesting link which said Water bottle rockets. What else does one need to start of with when you want to build a low budget rocket? As I browsed through the link, I came to know there was a whole community behind it. In the west it is an undergraduate level science project where groups of students demonstrate their rockets by launching it. Lot of enthusiasts like us, have experimented with these rockets and there is a lot of information about it on the web. Well when I came to know about the building of the rocket, I discussed about it with my group. We started designing the rocket and its launch pad. As the name itself suggests, a water bottle is needed for the rocket. We also needed a parachute to recover the launched rocket and a launch pad to launch it.

We picked a big cool drink bottle which was sturdy and which could withstand the crash during fall in case the parachute fails. Murali Chikappa had brought special material to make the fins and nose of the rocket. The fins were attached to the inverted bottle and a nose was designed to create enough lung space to house the parachute. The nose was tied to the bottle and placed over the bottom of the inverted bottle. We prepared a nice big parachute of 32 inches and with the help of strings tied it to the bottle and placed it in the area below the nose cone (pay load area). The rocket was ready to some extent and now we had to prepare the launch pad. The design was finalized and Murali chikappa who was indeed our chief architect had asked a plumber to prepare it. Ah! When did plumbers get involved in rocket making? Don’t get surprised after all it is a water bottle rocket and who else can prepare the launch pad for it. Ya the lauch pad was made out of PVC pipes. They were arranged in an H-Shape framework in order to provide a firm base for the launch. The plumber got the launch pad ready in a couple of days and all we had to do was to fix some accessories to it to help the launch.

Provision for fixing a cycle pump to the launch pad was made, and clamps and other necessary accessories were mounted on the launch pad. Now it was time for some testing. We threw the rocket from top of the house and tested whether the parachute was opening. Adithya really helped us out in this testing. After a number of trials we fixed various defects in the parachute. The final touches were made to the apparatus before the launch.

The first test launch was exciting. We were nervous because all the work we had done before was theoretical. This was our first practical experience of flying our own rocket. The apparatus was assembled on top of our house. The bottle was filled with water till the half mark. The bottle was inverted over the launch pad and fixed tightly using the clamps so that the water inside should not leak. Air was pumped into the bottle using the cycle pump. This increased the pressure inside the bottle. After the pressure inside the bottle reached an optimum pressure (which we came to know from a meter attached to the pump) we stopped pumping air inside the bottle. Then we pulled the clamp that was holding the bottle. The water gushed out of the bottle opening, and drenched me completely. In no time the rocket was around 30 feet above our head. Wow it was an achievement. We jubilated with excitement and happiness. The first test launch was a real success and it was a source of inspiration for the rest of the launches we made. Well after this launch we celebrated a pollution free deepavali by launching our rocket as many times as it excited us.

This was not the end… The rocket went on for its display at two science exhibitions. While it became an inauguration event at the science exhibition in Sri Vani Education Institute, Subramanyanagara it won an award at the other science exhibition. We had named the rocket AZAD and it proved to its name. It was a colorful and wonderful November Sky for us when our hard work turned into reality when the rocket had kissed the sky. I would like to thank and congratulate all the team members who made the rocket a big success.

Are we killing democracy?

It has been 60 years since we got our independence. The political system of our country (Democracy) has bestowed its citizens with the right to form their government. Recently on May 10th 2008, polling went on in 89 constituencies across 11 southern districts of Karnataka in the first phase of the assembly elections. 55 percent of 17.3 million eligible voters voted and Bangalore recorded the lowest with just 40 percent turn out.

I have heard many answers given by people when you ask why you didn’t vote. “I wanted to teach them a lesson!”, “If I vote or not vote how does it matter?”, “I do not have my name in the voter’s list”, “I do not have id proof to do the voting”, “All the candidates are corrupt and are power mongers who give least importance to development, so why should I vote them?” and many more. Since 60 years, many governments have been formed and in the future, continue to get formed. But what has been the difference! Most of the cabinet ministers in the formed government do not have a healthy history or they do not have the vision to lead India. Who is responsible for this?

The unethical act of a party which failed to keep up to its promise of transferring power, brought the necessity of elections in Karnataka. The people of Karnataka were given the responsibility to elect a stable government which would successfully run for its complete term (5 years) concentrating more on development rather than political instability. Did we execute our responsibility? The voting statistics says it all. A couple of days back I was travelling in a bus. There was a conversation between 2 people, one who had casted his vote and the other who did not. The person who had voted made a strong statement “People who did not vote are like people who are dead!” It was indeed correct. We are living in our country, we want good facilities, and we have been given the responsibility to elect a government which would give us what we want, and at the end of the day it is the same we who will blame the government for not doing any work. Is it ethical on our part to put any such blame on the government when we have not voted?

The election commission had given the opportunity to add your name to the voter’s list. They had published the information in papers and news channels. Did we take it seriously to register our names in the voters list? No we were least bothered about it. Probably we even expected the election commission to come to our door steps begging to add our names. I think if there was a rule in the constitution saying that you would be given remuneration for the month only if you show the proof that you have voted then probably we would have taken that extra pain of registering our names and execute our right of voting!

I agree with many people saying “All the candidates are corrupt and are power mongers who give least importance to development, so why should we vote them?” but is that a solution to prevent corrupt candidates from being elected. We have the right to elect and not to elect a person. If you do not want to vote then register your voting right, but say that you are not interested in voting anyone. This would probably give you chance to prevent the corrupt candidate from being elected.

Are we trying to forget our responsibilities as citizens? Are we taking voting, elections and hence democracy lightly? Do we need stringent rules to wake us up and remind us of our duties?

We should feel proud that we are born in India, the land of culture and diversity. As Indians it is our responsibility and duty to work towards country’s progress. Don’t you think your vote is precious? If you had never felt that India is your home and electing its leader is your responsibility, then you must rethink about calling yourself an Indian. Let us all vote and make democracy live longer.

Wish Petrol bunk meters were Autorickshaw meters!

If you have ever traveled in an auto rickshaw in Bengaluru on the same route more than once, you understand what I am saying. I do travel nowadays from Domlur to Corporation in an auto. The meters installed in them might be weather sensitive! (Innovation isn’t it). They show different fares everyday for the same route I travel. According to actual tariff released by the Transport department the distance between Domlur to Corporation is 6.5 Km and so the tariff is Rs 39 (now it is 39+7 because of the revised rates). But the tariff shown by the meter usually oscillates around that figure. A small tolerance in the figures is acceptable but sometimes the meters run as if they are running a 100m race. They show Rs 45, Rs 48... ! I and my friend necessarily make some time while traveling so that we can fight out and get the justice. But usually they won’t give us the opportunity to fight with them. Our conversation in an auto with a illegal meter usually goes like this.... Navu: “En sir, meter hinge odthaidhe! (What sir, meter is running like this!)”. Once they come to know that we have learnt about the illegal meter they are using they usually switch off the meter and say “nimage dina corporation ge estu duddu agutho astu kodi sir (daily whatever fare you pay to travel to corporation in an auto pay that much)”. But yaradru Bakra sikadre topi hakodhantu nija.

So beware guys whenever you are into such a situation, where you think the auto rickshaw driver is cheating you, just note down his Driving License (DL) number which is usually displayed on the back of driver’s seat usually visible to the passengers. If you don’t find any such DL just don’t commute in such autos. Make a note of the Auto rickshaw's registration number put up on the number plate. Call the police and lodge a compliant. Another advice is to board an auto with a digital meter, although they are also corrupt sometimes. But if you think why all the fuss...! Then just pay whatever money the meter shows and enjoy maadi ...... :)

Are you tired of Bangalore Infrastructure? Then Run

This is what the placards standing on the newly constructed NICE Road said on the 26th of January 2008. I am talking about the Great ELCIA run organized by the ELCIA. It was a marathon conducted for the right cause, on the right venue on an auspicious day. It was for a right cause because we all know how Bangalore Infrastructure is! Thanks to some wonderful and care taking projects undertaken by the concerned authority. It was on the right venue because of all the fuss that some headless politicians have created about this Bengaluru-Mysore NICE Corridor troubling Mr. Kheny who has taken the all the pain to provide the people of Bengaluru and Mysore this world class infrastructure. It was an auspicious day because it was 26th of January - The Republic Day of India.

It was a long time since I had run 100m at a stretch and first time in my life that I had run 3.5 Km marathon. Some how I had not participated in the marathons so far conducted. Having traveled 3.5Km in a vehicle I really had no idea of how difficult it would be to run 3.5Km marathon. I had even thought of running for 7 Km. But now I know the pain. But the good thing about any marathon is you get free T-Shirts, Cap, Energy drinks, Napkins and who can forget the certificate. I think most people get lured by the comfort they are given during this marathon...just kidding.

Yellow painted everywhere on the day with banners, placards and slogans criticizing the condition of our city's infrastructure. Mr. Misra one of the Lead India Finalists flagged off the event by waving the ECLIA flag. Participants ran for the 100m finish. Probably they forgot they have to run 3.5Km. I took a slow step by step run... probably after 1Km i couldn't go anymore. I stopped by and had some glucose. Walked for some distance and started running. My legs were giving up and I could not run anymore... Thanks to the cameraman who was capturing some AXN video, he asked me to jump over the camera kept on the road. Glucose...water...Glucose...water I pushed hard by taking intermediate pit stops. I saw the finish line and made up my mind and forgot all the pain in my leg and ran hard and finished the race but to my surprise already around 150 to 200 people had finished the race and I had to get satisfied with the fact that I had completed the race.