New Year Resolutions: 2014

The past few years have taught me some quintessential life lessons, but love and hope dragged me out of the turmoil. Well, I guess it's called growing up. I couldn't blog or even do the usual things I do, in fact I was so busy finding myself that I even forgot I lived through 15 months already. Since, I didn't write about the past for so many months, it wouldn't make sense to think back and write it all in detail. I'd therefore keep going back and forth to the past whenever necessary in my future posts.

Well, that's quite a serious paragraph, isn't it?
Now, let me come back to the present. It's December 31, 2013 and I've been numb about the whole year, part of which I chose to not remember. I mean I just wanted to erase the bad memories and now I seriously don't remember a few phases, which I take a good thing. Concentrating on the good memories, this is the year when I bounced back with my better half. And trust me, it's been more than amazing till now, no wonder I'm with her!

I will be turning 22 this year and all these years have been a growth story. Every year I decide on a few resolutions and I try to make them come true. This year being no different I've come up with a few resolutions. Let's hope that I can seriously turn them into reality.

1. Get Back In Shape. Please?
Adding about 30-40 pounds to my already not-so-amazing figure wasn't a good idea. I weigh about 195 pounds approximately as of today. This is way over the suitable weight for my height. Moreover, this actually makes me look obese. With a flab popping out, loose biceps, double chin and family pack tummy, I already look like an old man. Adding to the look, my weight also has made me, the epitome of laziness, lazier. I can barely run for 2 minutes now, which makes me avoid walking whenever possible. With growing health adversities, this would possibly be one of the biggest contributor in reducing my life span if not controlled. Coming from a diabetic family, I really don't have many other options than to reduce my weight. Actually, it's more about being fit and healthy. So, I pledge that I will work on my health and body and make it my primary goal for 2014!

2. Find other ways of socializing, drink less?
This year has been the year I 'finally' started drinking. And believe me when I say this, I have been addicted to it. It started out as a thing to do at friendly gatherings, but eventually it ended up being the reason to meet friends more often. Initially, a lot of clubbing and alcoholism served as a temporary relief for the problems I faced, but soon it became the reason for a lot of things. Failing grades, losing people and falling sick being just a few of them. I mean what was I thinking right? Well, now that I look back and see, I feel the same. Part of my downfall in 2013 was because of alcohol. It was literally affecting my judgement. After I drink, I become a happy person, tend to accept people easily (thereby making friends with people whom I'd never befriend normally) and be everything I ever wanted to be. Moreover, I've noticed that my brain works faster when I'm drunk. Faster, but not always in the right direction. But, the double chin and the extra fat are also because of the Black Label larges and the Grey Goose shots. So in 2014, I would reduce my drinking to a bare minimum and drink only when extremely necessary in inevitable situations.

3. Think Positive. Be Positive.
My better half actually made a very good point about me. She said that I make my backup plans better than my actual plans, and that is why my actual plans fail. I have this tendency to make backup plans for almost everything so that I'm always in a win-win situation. It's a good business strategy and works well in personal life too, but not always. It's good to have backup plans so that we don't get hurt when something fails, but it's dangerous to heavily bank on the backup plan. I've recently come across a whole set of people who believe in being positive. Sounds too cliche right? Initially, I also laughed it off, but when I came to think about it, it made sense! Being and thinking positive eliminates all possible failing elements and leaves just what you want. One may argue how thoughts can actually change the reality. But Gautama Budda, a spiritual Indian Guru once said and I quote, “We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.” This actually got rooted deep in my mind. Although I still feel backup plans are necessary, being positive wouldn't give a chance to the backup plan. And in 2014, I wish to implement this quote in my life and see miracles happen. Wouldn't hurt you know?

4. Dream Less, Work More?
I have this bad habit of making amazing plans and leaving them in middle or never even initiating them. I dream a lot. And day dreaming is like my middle name. I see myself as a highly ambitious and subtle person, but inside I'm a different case altogether. My ideas, ambitions, inspirational talks and charisma takes people by an awe, but am I actually going in the direction I want to? I recently got a United States patent, Outstanding Student Award in college and strong praise from different sections of people about the way I do things. But the lesser known fact is that I dream a lot. I work hard for a few things but most of them are still just left as dreams. I think I can do much much more. Maybe that's the reason why I always feel like an under-achiever, although people see me otherwise. This year I graduate from college and take up family responsibilities and start working full-time too! So, I feel 2014 should be the year I turn my dreams into reality by strategically planning and achieving more than I can. And yes I can do it!

Although the list is never-ending for a person who analyzes himself more than he analyzes others, I think these are the main things I'd like to work upon. These would improve my mental and physical health, make me an achiever in my eyes and also carve way for miracles!

Cheers, to the start of one an year filled with responsibility, growth, achievement, hard work, seriousness and of course love!

Wishing you all a happy and an eventful New Year 2014! Be safe and inspire the world!

Set Goals. Work Hard. Achieve. Repeat.

My Submission to the Access Facebook Award 2012

The Access Facebook Award 2012 will go to the best actionable idea of how to use the Facebook platform to deliver a human rights, human development or social good outcome. So, this was my submission:

What is your idea?

Elections in India are subject to extreme scrutiny as election frauds, cash for vote scams and counting errors are on an all-time high. Traditionally, India has been playing a pivotal role in International economy as it is the fastest growing economy after China. Elections play the most important role in deciding the fate of this intellectually sound country.

Although, voting systems in India are digitalized now, there is still plenty of possibility of election fraud. This makes a politically powerful authority to lead the world’s biggest democracy, instead of the people’s choice. Election Commission of India and the Government of India would love to see a fair and square election. This is where Facebook can help.

Facebook Polls are an efficient way to know people’s views. Communities, businesses and even non-profits have benefitted immensely with Facebook Polls. This idea can be molded into a secured web-based voting application.

Facebook which is the most visited website in a country of over a billion people can help conduct fair and square elections. Through Facebook we can create an application by which the Election Commission of India can conduct elections. Each eligible voter gets his Unique Identification Number (UIN), issued by the Indian government, registered under this highly-secured Facebook application. Through this UIN one can log in on the day of election and cast their vote. At the end of the election period, the application will count the votes and display the results in the Parliament of India.

All the results of the application can be stored in a domestic Facebook database with Government access. This way both parties have definite set of rules laid regarding privacy, accessibility and usability to the results.

This would revolutionize the basic definition of elections and would be immensely beneficial to, both Facebook and India. This would not only make a billion people use Facebook but would also increase the credibility, accountability and the impact Facebook can have on about 17% of the world population. This can later be used in other countries.

Why is your idea needed?

India is one of the poorest countries in the world. Suffering with the population crisis, India tries to accommodate each and every citizen with the basic needs of food, clothing, education and shelter. Politics in India play a major role in deciding different educational, governmental, business and health policies. Having a fair election would help choose a democratic power of the people’s choice. This would enhance people’s faith in the government and moreover, this would allow better policies to be made.

India also constitutes to major part of the International Science and Technology man power. With engineering being an Indian family’s first choice of career path, it produces a set of fine Engineers every year. But these Engineers, don’t have sufficient resources to get higher education, as the present Indian Government has a closed opinion on Foreign Educational institutions in India and also funding Indians to go abroad for education.

Similarly, many such issues are pulling India down, and stopping it from becoming a technological superpower of the world in spite of its immense talent pool and low cost of labor and business.

Election processes in India have been the epicenter of debates all along. With the ruling party indulging in inappropriate methods to dilute the process, the status quo is as such. It’s astonishing to see such practices and yet not being able to do anything because of the lack of a platform to integrate the population and know their opinions. Social media is the new big thing. With Facebook dominating the social media, the idea of indulgence of the common man in business, politics and public affairs through Facebook seems legit.

To summarize, this idea would increase Facebook’s range in the world, benefit India’s socioeconomic, business, health, public and legal policies and in future would pave way to making Facebook help provide a platform to conduct elections.

How are you making it happen?

A team of people from Technology, Business and Political fields would be needed to make this happen. As of now, the idea is in its pre-mature stages but efficient marketing from the social media can make it possible.

How will you keep it going?

Facebook-Government alliance centers can be set up in every state of India, which monitor the application. These centers would help people to register, log in and cast their vote. Each center will be equipped with the state-of –the-art facilities to maintain security, assure proper functioning of all systems and to keep a check on illegal procedures people may use.

Election Commission of India along with Facebook can help raise sufficient funds for this project and such a project would be socially acceptable in a modern “techie” culture of the growing population of India.

The raised money can be channeled through publicly elected members from the team to the project. Although the scale of this project may seem daunting, efficient planning and resources can make it happen.

What are the risks?

With great power comes great responsibility. Similarly, with such a big project come bigger risks.

The risks may include:

1. Security:  Security of the application would be the first and foremost concern. With the growing     number of hackers around the world, nothing seems impossible.  Maintaining the security of the application by preventing breach of the procedure, excluding fake UINs and preventing misuse of the application.
2.  Political Acceptance: A project of such stature needs to be accepted politically in India. The procedure is to present a bill in the Parliament suggesting the pros and cons of this project. After carefully scrutiny of the project and immense intellectual debate, the government will take a decision.
3.  Creditability: For the project to be considered, people would question the credibility of Facebook and the team working on the project. For this purpose, both the team and Facebook would have to come up with substantial evidence that proves their credibility. For this, the team may contain eminent leaders of the Indian society who are working on the same lines.
4. International Balance: For a project of such stature, the government would also consider how this project will affect its ties with allies, companies, and governments.

Overall, the risks are way too many. But one step at a time can solve the issues and make this happen. The end result would overshadow the difficulties of the process.

What is your Track record?

I am a senior in Electrical Engineering at Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Florida.I’m a lover of Technology, Politics and Community Service. I run Munificence, a non-profit that concentrates on socially relevant needs of the society.  Munificence serves as a mediator between the financial institutions and the ones in need. Its aim is to eradicate poverty in India and to keep a check on the various social issues of the society. My idea is to integrate technology, politics and community service to help bring forward a societal change in the way things work in developing countries, that now stand as the back bone to the world economy. Given a chance, I would love to elaborate this idea more with specific details on the technical, political and business aspects.