Santosh Avvannavar's Blog, page 53

Mathematics Teacher

Quite early in my school I had realised that teachers understands that there exists a potential that needed to be tapped ; or not been refined and brought forward. When I scored promising marks in mathematics the teacher did a favour of altering my potential. All I had to do was to go deeper in effort, practice and not settle for second best. I knew there was no way to fool myself or them. The day 8th standard results were announced, my mathematics teacher looked deep into eyes in a serious note lifting the eyebrows and said, you did very well in mathematics. You have secured 89! It’s was a sense of pride that made me to feel worth the effort.

During 9th, in one of regular unit test I did miserable badly in my growing favourite subject mathematics. The scoldings by a caring teacher was ‘the horse is becoming donkey’. This thought enabled me to become a person that I am today. In next two years I went to top in mathematics. I could have never dared to walk into the class without a rough book, note book, box with required instruments for the class, pencil with sharpener, rubber, ink pen. But without such admonitions, I might have just survived and not thrived in my chosen field. Such higher ups expectation would actually bring potential or self true. These and several other experiences have made me believe teachers can do miracles! Maybe you could try it out on yourself or someone you believe in. Best wishes

Sr Agatha

– Santosh Avvannavar

Mani & Tamilmani

A man clad in dothi, turban with an umbrella in hand knocks a door and asks for, “Good morning, My name is Mr Narasimhaswamy, can I see Mr Mani?”

The man at the door step in a simplest attire says, “Good morning sir, I’m Mani. Please come inside, it’s hot out there. How can I help you?”

“I’m teacher and new principal to your son Tamilmani”, says Narasimhaswamy relaxing in an arm chair

“Oh! We are blessed to have you here. I could have come to receive at bus stop if I was aware. My apology”, says Mani offering a tumbler of water

“I wanted to check if you’re are open to join the school as a student. Whenever I inquired about you to your son on various things for example, did you write a letter to your parents? A quick reply was, ‘Sir, they don’t understand?’ I felt as he would grow ‘knowledge’ would apart both.” Says Narasimhaswamy

Mani listens patiently and requests for few hours before he could broad bus with him. He expresses interest and promises to return at the earliest. Principal was surprised to see his eagerness to join the school. Principal enjoys great hospitality at his home but Mani arrives late than promised.

Mani rushes home with apologetic gesture for delay and requests Mr Narasimhaswamy to forgive. Being seated at bus stop to catch the last bus that has got delayed to arrive due to technical reasons. In the wait, Narasimhaswamy opens the talk, “If you don’t mind, may I know, why you agreed to join school?”

Mani replies in a humble tone, “I couldn’t study because of priority and poverty. However, I would like to thank my parents for giving values through their own ways. In order to quest my hunger of learning, granny use to narrate stories, sing songs. My father taught me new ways of cultivating the land. My mother taught me and my newly wed wife on using available resources to manage home. My friends like me who couldn’t go to school worked on brining community together. I created my own world in others.”

Listening closely to Mani’s words Narasimhaswamy asks, where did you go leaving me at your home?

“I had promised to help a family today, my friend wife is in her trimester. She was to be taken to hospital that 20km away from here. It’s first child for them and they are excited about it. Here we try to live as one family. Then I had to convince my wife and promised to take her with me. I inquired if she is interested in joining school. She felt ashamed with a thought of sitting on a bench. Then I had to hand over the remaining work to others. Hence there was delay in my return.

In meanwhile the bus arrived, both hurried to the door.

Narasimhaswamy held Mani by shoulder and said, “I can only provide knowledge to your son but the real experience lies here, in your village. I would like to send your son and urge others to visit your village during vacation. Share your experience that is going to add value, love, humility and honour to his present and future. You don’t need schooling!”

– Santosh Avvannavar, Author of She: Ekla Cholo Re

Four Pillars Of My Life: My Name Is ____

‘My name is ____’, couldn’t get through the final word inspite of great struggle. I was never been able to get through till I turned the age of twenty two. I’m not sure if many would understand this inability to speak. Doctors call it as ‘autism’, which I wasn’t aware of it for several years.

People often mocked at this inability by trying to repeat my incomplete word or sentence or an alphabet of a word. With growth this looked insult, this eventually led to skip first day (freshers day) at school or college or events that needed interaction. This situation was more challenging while using public transport, conductors who didn’t understand the situation often were impulsive while handing out a ticket. I don’t blame them because of their stress of handling hundreds of commuters. But I often looked for empathy from others.

Several situations have led my mother into sadness. Her self motivated dose often fell flat on sharp words from relatives. They often termed me as a ‘handicap’. I don’t think any mother would bear the pain of hearing that she bore an ‘imperfect child’. I often vented out the anger in bathroom through a running water to hinder the real pain. I spent several minutes trying to explain myself that there would be silver lining in my life. At few times a force that often pushed me towards to end life, suicide!

I thought may be new environment, South America would help to begin a new life. But the pattern of education that required to make presentation on regular basis shattered the dream much earlier than otherwise. I had to return ! After a gap of frustrating one year, I choose Mechanical Engineering. If someone had asked, why I choose that over the other branch of engineering? I choose to overcome the humiliation from a class that might have both genders. I had become sensitive, this led to making fewer friends. I did most to avoid any situations that demanded conversations. But how long could I avoid? During a class hour an English faculty, Prof. Rajeshwari not being aware of the situation asked me to introduce but I couldn’t get through my name. Tears trickled down my cheeks in frustration!

One day Dr Tamilselvam, Head of Dept of Mechanical Engineering happen to mention, ‘I’m low on energy’. He identified my challenge, his warm words was the first pillar to build confidence. This gave rise to urge to search that could solve the stuttering. With support and faith in believing its curable from my mother, Mrs. Bharathi who became my second pillar. This search got us introduced to McGuire Programme that provided with several videos and promised to deliver best possible result in four days. But a thought that ran across was, how can over eighteen year old problem could be solved in four days? A small push from mother gave hope and rise to the third pillar, Mr Kaushik Valluri, Director of the programme. He did the right thing of calling us and adding confidence to the searching soul. I still remember his words, ‘I shall overcome the problem.’

This took me to attend the first four days programme out of which about two and half days was cut out that included TV, Phone, Internet, Peer contact. After this I was asked to make a first call to the person I desired. I choose my first pillar, Dr Tamilselvam. He was delighted on hearing me speak and able to get through few words and sentence with little struggle than earlier. This followed a call to second pillar, my mother, the emotional moment still is afresh and often makes my eyes moist. This was perhaps the first time I couldn’t sleep. The joy was unbearable! On the last day, I dialled to Prof. Rajeshwari and requested her if I could say my name now, ‘My name is Yesvanth Darma Dev D‘. I’m sure the other side would be emotional moment like mine.

Fourth pillar are all the people that accepted me over the time! I take this opportunity to thank you all for being kind and supportive.

Meet my pillars –

Earlier I was last, but now I’m first!

(The article is written by Santosh Avvannavar)

 

 

 

Story of Ritual & Love

Rohini, it’s already close to 9 pm, could you please break your fast? asks Rohan

Looking at watch Rohini replied with smile, ‘Twenty minutes for nine. And I’m in middle of prayers. Hence don’t disturb.’

‘My hunger doesn’t understand these rituals’, says Rohan trying to trick her to end fast

In meanwhile of waiting their daughter, Roshini joins them.

Mom, you should have these tasty homemade chocolates. I tried these myself, says Roshini

Rohini in dilemma over the situation between break fast and doing for just sake. Seeing too late in response Rohan grabs a chocolate and puts in mouth of his wife, Rohini. Their daughter rushes to give to their neighbors saying thank you.

Rohini was dared not to eat early but Rohan said something that her to break fast earlier than otherwise.

What did he say?

Rohan said, ‘These rituals exists to tame rebellious mind and as all religions teaches to love one another.’

(Santosh Avvannavar)

The Creative Break Activity

 

The activity was to connect the dots with minimal instructions. The outcome of this was interesting to see students working in unidirectional. In order to bring creative thinking on the same task, students were taken through a session on understanding the ‘importance of forming new rules’. A lateral thinking activity was carried out. This exercise helped them to understanding that creativity doesn’t have boundaries. We re-did the creative activity break. The results were different from the first exercise.

Courtesy: Nathalie Sejean

 

BUGman 3

Mr BUGman

Today we bring to you to an interview of our BUGman 3, Mr Bharath Kumar who shares his experience of being QA Engineer.

About your background / work

I am basically from Mangalore , Karnataka. I completed my B.E in Information Science and Engineering from Sahyadri College, Mangalore. I started working in Sevam Tech in 2013 , later worked in Wipro Technologies. Currently I am working as QA Automation engineer in Medlife International Pvt Ltd.

Key Things to Succeed in IT Industry

“Love your job but NEVER fall in love with your company”

Challenges for a tester

New automation frameworks, Rapid testing techniques and faster release of the products.

Where you see Testing field 5 years from now ?

Until development testing will be there. Manual testing scope will decrease in future.Quality is about how the company runs and delivers value and experience to its clients. QA is a perfect place from which to see how, who, and what gets done.

How does BUGman Book Help Aspiring Testers ?

This book will tell about environment in any organization. It will give overview of testers lives, key technical stuff. The gossip between employees and how they work with the managers in company is a very interesting part of the book.

What do u feel about Interview section in the Book – BUGman ?

In interview section, I liked the Author’s views. He mentions about politics inside the company. It happens in the most of the companies and it’s the fact. Other than that BUGman told about internal interview process, expected questions in interview and how interviewer will think about the candidates is also well highlighted.

How important is attitude, communication, innovation for a tester ?

Attitude : Tester needs to break the system in different ways. Break it is the attitude before the customer does.

Communication: Tester should able to communicate effectively to all the stakeholders across the life cycle, especially convince the Product to prioritize the bug and developer to fix it.

Innovation: In Software industry one has to update yourself every day. Innovation is the mantra to survive. As a tester one should need to know the latest technologies, tools available in the market for testing etc.

If you were to select an applicant as Q.A., how would you go about ? 

First round : Logical questions. It tells how fast candidate thinks about the problem.

Second round : Manual testing questions. Give candidate a real time scenario and expect him to cover various positive and negative test cases that shows if he thinks out of the box.

Third round : Probe into Automation framework and also ask analytical and behavioural questions.

Could you brief on the career path for Q.A.? 

QA professionals can move into other areas of the organization, PMs, Scrum master , Build and release engineer etc. They can also build on their testing skills and keep moving up the ladder.

Bug Us: If you have question to Mr. BUGman kindly comment. We would revert at the earliest.

~Happy BUGend~

Story of Asset

Meena:  Mohan, what’s the matter with you? You seem to have built a world of illusion. 

Mohan:  I’m concerned about future of our children. 

Meena:  What are you concerned about? It seems good to me! 

Mohan:  I’m thinking of setting up a big roof (house) in for them with spacious individual     room for each. There will garden for younger to plant vineyard. Our older child will have a play ground. For their children a mansion in the first floor. What do you say? 

Meena:  I don’t think that is required.

Mohan:  (Disappointed on hearing response from his wife) How about a car that they could use to drive for travel or for weekend time? Our younger one is showing lot of interest in vehicles.

Meena: I don’t think that is required.

Mohan: (Sadness and restless looming on face) How about purchasing some land so that they continue the legacy of father to cultivate?

Meena: I don’t think that is required.

Mohan: (unable to believe that his wife is unsupportive) I’m thinking of saving some money for our children. That would atleast be a great asset.

Meena: I don’t think that is required.

Mohan: (in angry) I never thought my wife would be so unsupportive on anything good I come up!

Meena: (after a moment of silence) Mohan you angry is genuine and right but you would be more disappointed in future at the age of emotional need over today.

Mohan: What did you mean by that?

Meena: You take effort of building a house in our middle of village but are you sure that children would stay with us. Do you? They might not!

The car you purchase for them will become outdated by the time they grow up. I don’t want your car to become an antique in the garage. They may like to buy new trendy and latest one!

You loved be a farmer, we yet to see if one of children would want to be a farmer. As we see, many are migrating to city.

Saving money for them would devalue their strength. Money can make them lazy, selfish and egoistic.

Mohan: But I want to do something for them. They are our children!

Meena: If you want to do something, “Don’t make asset for them, make them as a assets”. Give them a education, morals, spirituality of all religion, equality, humility, peace and love. – Santosh Avvannavar

(Idea was germinated while listening from a talk of Dr Meena Chandavarkar)

Issac Barrow

I was asked an interesting question, would you like to have a person better than you in the circle?

I narrated this story to answer in reply to the curious mind, “During 1666-67, Issac Newton presented his work that he did during his spare time to Prof Issac Barrow. Prof Barrow was fascinated and touched by his work that inspired him to give up his job and become a student to Issac Newton.”

You Smile, I Smile

Yesterday while flipping pages and siping coffee in Cafe Coffee Day, two older woman walked inside on purchasing coffee powder at the display counter. My attention did move from flipping pages to them because of a thing that they wanted from the waitress. The coffee powder packs were given out in a paper cover not in carry bags. This would mean holding them in hand but that seemed difficult for them could be because of physical state. They kept asking the waitress to arrange one carry bag! Unfortunately, customers believe that one need to oblige to such requests. The waitress kept moving in and out of drawers to see if a miracle could happen. But that was far off from happening! She grew restless seeing the two woman waiting in eagerness as their eyes were constantly on her. They seemed unhappy with this inability of the waitress.

Sipping coffee took my attention to the cover that I own from purchasing books while ago. Two things for awhile- should I hand over this and receive all the appreciation or not to loose my cover. In next moment my conscious arouse calling for the attention of the waitress. I hand over to the waitress, letting it her to hand over those two woman with no expectation of ‘thank you’ from them. Waitress was brimming with smile on the miracle and made herself to them. Frown faces lite up! They thanked the waitress and it seemed their faith is restored of ‘customer is king’. The waitress was about aide goodbye from being relieved, one of the two stopped for her again got a moment and asked her, “how did you manage to get one?” With no hesitation the waitress pinpointed towards me. They both turned to me and nodded to gesture ‘thank you’. I lifted my thumb to symbolise “we all won”. I walked out of the cafe shop thinking ‘I smiled because of they smiled’. – Author of this story is Santosh Avvannavar

BUGman 2

Mr BUGman

Today we bring to you to an interview of our BUGman 2, Mr Jeevan P who shares his experience of being QA Engineer.

About your background / work

I am Jeevan P, coming from a small district Mandya, Karnataka with the education background of Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical. I am having around 12+ years of exp. Completely into Quality Engineering and worked forthe companies like Geneva, Yahoo! SDC as Prinicipal Engineer, QE.

Key Things to Succeed in IT Industry

Learning: A day without new learning is a day waste in the IT industry.

Technology and soft skills should be upgraded periodically to keep with pace of software industry

Implement: One should have a mixture of hard/smart work attitude and apply the innovative ideas/skills wherever necessary.

Process: Easy to adopt to any work/company culture and process.

Challenges for a tester

Tester should be flexible enough and easy to adopt to any process or STLC in the agile world. Expect frequent builds a day and have to certify without compromising the build quality, because it is expected from any tester. Also flexible enough in implementing the new trends/ideas to impress your BOSSes. Always have a aggressive attitude towards build quality, customer satisfaction, on time support during any production outages.

Where you see Testing field 5 years from now ?

Software testing field is a multi-billion dollar industry which cannot be vanished easily. There is a lot of scope in the quality engineering. E.g. Automation may replace the manual efforts, unit testing coverage, acceptance testing, testers starts contributing towards security testing. All this said scope of tester would remain forever, given the individuals adopting new testing techniques and types of testing.

How does Bug Book Help Aspiring Testers ?

BUG helps in understanding how the area of software testing is, how the recruitment happens across various positions, interactions between the employees/managers and may actually help youth to explore the software testing area and work on it.

What do u feel about Interview section in the Book – Bug?

– Good exposure on how the interview process happens for various positions.

– How the interaction happens between the hiring manager and interviewers.

– Different types of sample interview questions.

– Factors considered for selecting candidates, many of them candidate itself doesn’t know.

How important is attitude, communication, innovation for a tester ?

Attitude, Communication, Innovation – All 3 are important to testers and are all inter-related.

Attitude: Tester should have enough patience and can succeed when he/she has very good attitude or passion towards his/her work.

Communication: Tester should be very assertive, and be able to communicate on the ongoing activities effectively. So that people should respect testers.

Innovation: Testers should constantly innovate else his growth and career can come to stand still in the future. Tester should find the right tool / practice to implement the innovative ideas and showcase its worth to the organization.

E.g. UI Layout automation – This was an unexplored area, which I was able to find a right tool and helped reduced manual testing effort.

If you were to select an applicant as Q.A., how would you go about? 

– Applicant should have strong technical skills as well assertive

communication skills. Ablity to explain the key skills mentioned in the

CV.

– Applicant should understand his/her own strengths and weaknesses.

– Applicant should be keen to learn new things and be able to apply on the day-day activities.

– Applicant should have Out Of Box thinking capabilities and be able to adopt to any work/company culture.

Could you brief on the career path for Q.A.? 

QA has lots of scope as mentioned earlier and he/she can choose any depending on the software-testing trend:

One should opt to move towards horizontal initiatives like Security,

Performance, Penetration testing etc

Current / future software testing trending areas like,

– Big Data testing

– Data ware housing

– White/Grey Box testing initiatives

Bug Us: If you have question to Mr. BUGman kindly comment. We would revert at the earliest.

~Happy BUGend~