Event Management – Academic Events

ACADEMIC EVENT MANAGEMENT

CONFERENCE CONVENTION SEMINAR WORKSHOP UNCONFERENCE etc
ACADEMIC EVENT MANAGEMENT

A Primer

By

VIKRAM KARVE

We may classify events can in a few broad categories based on their purpose and objective: 

1.  Leisure Events  [leisure, sport, music, recreation] 
2.  Cultural Events [ceremonial, religious, art, heritage, and folklore]
3.  Personal Events [weddings, birthdays, anniversaries]
4.  Organisational Events [commercial, political, charitable, sales, product launch, trade fairs, shows, road shows etc]
5.  Academic Events [ conferences, workshops, seminars, symposium, unconference]

In this article – let me focus on Academic Events – since that is what I am most conversant with – having been an HR/Training Manager and Professor for many years in my long career – and having participated in and actively presenting papers (and also passively attended as delegate). 

As a part of my work – both in the Navy and in Academia – I have organised many Conferences, Seminars, Workshops, Symposia etc.

Of course – I have organized and participated in many other types of events as well – and may write about it subsequently.

The two main stakeholders in an academic event are the organisers – and the participants – or – delegates.

From the academic point of view – the Organisers view the event as one-way communication – a gathering where they impart information to the attendees. 

Of course – there may be other commercial motives and career ambitions as well.

The Delegates may look at the event from different points of view. 

There are a number of reasons why persons attend academic events like conferences – learning experience, enjoyment, professional networking, seeking peer group approval and prestige [by presenting their research papers] – or as a perk or reward for good performance etc.

Conference: A meeting of individuals or representatives of various bodies for the purpose of discussing and/or acting on topics of common interest or theme. 

A conference is a large event, lasting several days and attracting a large number of delegates. 

Typically a conference may attract more than a thousand delegates (1000+ delegates)

A session is an unbroken period within a conference.

The plenary session is a session at which all delegates are present. 

The “Graveyard Shift” is the session immediately after lunch – when most delegates are likely to feel drowsy, have a siesta and nap off. 

A poster session affords opportunity for authors of papers which are not actually presented in the conference to display posters, summaries and abstracts of their papers to delegates and stand by to discuss and answer questions. This is held during conference session breaks outside the main conference hall in the foyers and adjacent lobbies.

Convention: A convention, or congress, is a gathering of greater importance than a conference, much larger in size, with a few thousand participants, with a formal agenda and programme, with the aim of formulating policy.

Seminar: A seminar is a small to medium sized event with the number of delegates ranging from 20/30 to around 100/200. 

Seminars are compact one or two day events designed to educate and inform delegates of the subject(s) of interest and discuss issues of common concern.

Symposium: A symposium is a Seminar where only a single topic or subject is discussed in an informal way encouraging inter-delegate-speaker communication and debate.

Colloquium: In a colloquium one or more experts or eminent academicians deliver lectures on a subject followed by a question and answer session. 

A colloquium is purely academic in nature.

Workshop: A workshop is a small gathering of delegates to discuss and exchange ideas on specific topics or to solve particular problems. 

It is like a symposium but more formal in nature.

Meeting: A meeting is a much smaller event – maybe involving a few executives or invitees – discussing business or a precise agenda.

Information Flow: In a symposium and workshop the flow of information is between all the participants, delegates and speakers; whereas in a seminar and colloquium the flow of information is primarily one-way from the speakers to the audience. 

Of course – in a meeting – there is more of presentation, deliberation and discussion with the aim of collective consensus and decision-making.

Clinic: A clinic is a meeting of a select group of persons with common interests, confronting and discussing real-life situations and problems, organised for the purpose of diagnosing, analysing and seeking solutions to specific problems.

Unconference: An “unconference” is a facilitated, participant-driven face-to-face conference centred on a theme or purpose.

Even at traditional conferences – the most productive moments often occur during informal networking – tête-à-tête – and discussions between the formal sessions – in tea and lunch breaks – and in the evenings over cocktails/dinner/get-togethers etc

That is what an “unconference” aims to achieve.

The cardinal premise of an “unconference” is that there are no spectators – in an “unconference” – everyone is a participant.

This sets the stage for everyone to actively contribute and is another factor in making this event so unique.

The idea of “unconference” probably emanated from the Fundamental Law of Conventional Conferences: 

“The sum of the expertise of the people in the audience is greater than the sum of expertise of the people on stage...”

The aim of an unconference is to break the barrier between the audience and the speakers on the podium. 

Members of the audience and participants write topics they are interested in on boards, consolidate the topics, and then break into discussion groups.

With the advent of the internet and increasing virtual interaction – meetings, conferencing, networking and modern forms of “formal” and “informal” web-based communication and learning technologies – the concept of “unconferencing” is more attractive than traditional conferences of the “old mould” type.

So how does one plan and organise such academic events...?

There are so many aspects and factors to be considered – topic, venue, dates, programme, speakers, papers, delegates, technology, communication, budget, accommodation, food, entertainment, PR, promotion, publication, sponsorship, commercial aspects, check-off lists… 

I will end now. 

But – more on this topic – and about other types of events – later on my blog. 

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 
1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve
2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

Copyright Notice:

No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.

Copyright © Vikram Karve (all rights reserved)

This blog post is a revised repost of my article written 25 years ago in the 1990s and posted online earlier at url: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2010/09/event-management-conference-seminar.html

Are You Thinking of Migrating to New Zealand to Study Work and Settle

Are You Thinking of Migrating to New Zealand to Study Work and Settle Down...?

Musings on the “Student Pathway” to Migration

By

VIKRAM KARVE

STUDENT PATHWAY

In the 1970’s – my classmates used the “student pathway” to migrate abroad to the US and settle down there permanently to realize their “American Dream” (those days – USA was the most sought after destination for youngsters who wanted to migrate away from India for a “better life”).

In fact – before “liberalization” (1991) – owing to various “socialist” restrictions – the “student pathway” was the only way to migrate and settle down in a foreign country.

“Liberalization” and “Globalization” created new options for aspiring migrants – like the “foreign job” option and “onsite work” option etc – which facilitated migration to a foreign country – but – even now – most aspiring migrants use the “student pathway” route to migrate and settle down in the country of their choice.

During my recent visit to New Zealand – I interacted with many youngsters from India – who were on the “student pathway” to realize their dream of settling down in New Zealand.

Today – in view of various favorable advantages and promising prospects – many youngsters want to migrate to New Zealand – and – they use the “student pathway” – since – New Zealand’s immigration policies include a post-study work pathway for international students who have completed a New Zealand qualification – which lets you find a job and get work experience in a field related to your studies and makes it easier to apply for residence and finally acquire citizenship.

All the youngsters I met in New Zealand – some students – and some working after completing their studies – all of them were desperate to settle down in New Zealand – and – not even a single youngster wanted to return back to India.

(In fact – New Zealand is such a lovely place that even visitors feel like staying on there forever – and – most visitors feel sad when their stay in New Zealand comes to an end and they have to return home)

The youngsters told me that one good plus-point of studying in New Zealand is that you can “earn while you learn” – since students are allowed to work part-time for a specified number of hours every week – and since the hourly “minimum wage” is quite good – students can earn enough to meet their daily needs.

Once they got accustomed to the “better life” in New Zealand – they did not want to return to India – and they wanted to permanently settle down in New Zealand “at any cost”.

I could see this desperate desire for residency (and finally citizenship) in most of the youngsters I met in New Zealand.

One of my friends who has settled down in New Zealand told me that this desperation (to remain in New Zealand) makes youngsters vulnerable to exploitation – especially after they complete their studies and are looking for a job in order to get a work visa – and later – when they want residency – in order to achieve their long term goal is to permanently settle in New Zealand.

She also told me another shocking fact.

She said that it was “our own people” who exploited young Indian migrants the most.

By the term “our own people” – she was referring to erstwhile Indians (who migrated from India to New Zealand many years ago and had got New Zealand Citizenship) – it was they who were exploiting new Indian Migrants the most.

I was shocked to hear this – that – in most cases – new migrants were being exploited by employers in their own ethnic communities.

I did see many young “Indian” migrants working in stores, malls, hotels, restaurants, cafes etc. – but – I was impressed by their “dignity of labour” which is a sign of egalitarian society – it was good to see that students/youngsters were ready to do any type of work to earn some extra money.

In fact – in the very café where my friend and I were sitting – it was an “Indian” migrant who was managing the counter and also serving us.

She told me a few stories – but – I thought they may be apocryphal.

But then – a few days ago – I read three news reports which shocked me.

Here are the url links to the news reports (click url to open on a new page):

1. NZ dream turns to nightmare for international students

URL: 

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11760721

2. Student Visa: ‘It's not about education’

URL: 

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11759352

3. ‘Sleep with me if you want your visa’ boss tells student worker

URL: 

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11760729

Let me add a disclaimer that what is described in these news reports may be aberrations – and may not be representative of the broad reality.

In fact – from my experience of the excellent social life I observed in New Zealand – I feel that these reports may be rare isolated exceptions – and – New Zealand certainly has a superior quality of life than most places.

Yes – New Zealand is a great place to visit, to study, to work – and – if you want – to migrate, reside and settle in.

But – if you are thinking of migrating permanently – you must make yourself aware of various aspects of the realities of life there.

The aim of this article is to generate a bit of awareness.

I do not intend to dissuade youngsters from migrating abroad to realize their dreams of a “better life”.

In fact – I would encourage youngsters to migrate to places where they can achieve their fullest potential and thereby contribute more to the world.

However – aspiring migrants must ensure they are aware of the pros and cons – especially if they are using the “student pathway” – so that they don’t fall victim to “education trafficking” and become vulnerable to exploitation.

EDUCATION TRAFFICKING

A newly coined term “Education Trafficking” refers to the phenomenon of enticing aspiring migrants to take the “student pathway” to get a permanent residency in the country of their choice.

These aspirants pay huge amounts of money to use the “student pathway” to migration since education is expensive in most developed countries.

(It is well known that education has become big business and there are many “stakeholders” who want a share in the pie).

The root cause of the problem of “Education Trafficking” does not lie in the new “host” country to which students want to migrate.

The root cause of the problem lies in the “donor” country “exporting” students – where various “Agents” and “Consultants” mislead and exploit gullible youngsters who are desperate to migrate overseas for a “better life”.

If you want to use the “student pathway” to migrate for a “better life” – please do so by all means – but ensure that you perform “due diligence” and carry out a “reality check” – so that you do not become vulnerable to exploitation once you migrate to the land of your dreams.

----------------

Dear Reader: Have you read my previous blog posts based on my observations during my short stays in New Zealand…?

Here are a few of the URL links: 

DO YOU WANT TO MIGRATE TO A FOREIGN COUNTRY FOR A “BETTER LIFE”…? 

URL: 

http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/11/do-you-want-to-migrate-abroad-for.html 

BOMBAY in New Zealand – Travel Tales

URL: 

http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/11/bombay-in-new-zealand-travel-tales.html 

Milford Sound is Awesome

URL: 

http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/02/milford-sound-fiordland-south-new.html 

WHY DO PEOPLE MIGRATE...?

URL: 

http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/07/why-do-people-migrate-conversation-with.html 

New Zealand Foodie Memories

URL: 

http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/01/food-photos-new-zealand-trip.html 

NEW ZEALAND FOOD DIARY OF A PURE VEGETARIAN

URL: 

http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/02/food-diary-of-pure-vegetarian-in-new.html

Also – I intend writing a few more articles on my visits to New Zealand – and – I will post them in my blogs in due course for you to read and comment upon. 

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve
1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve
2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post
© vikram karve., all rights reserved. 

Edited Repost of My Article BEWARE OF “EDUCATION TRAFFICKING” first posted online by me Vikram Karve on 07 Dec 2016 in my Academic and Creative Writing Journal Blog at url: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/12/student-pathway-to-migration-beware-of.html

CAREER CHOICE - MILITARY versus BUSINESS and INDUSTRY

CAREER CHOICE - MILITARY versus BUSINESS and INDUSTRY

DEFENCE SERVICES – A GOOD CAREER CHOICE IF YOU LIKE A LIFE OF MEDIOCRITY AND OBSCURITY

Muddled Ramblings of a “Retired” Mind

By

VIKRAM KARVE

Disclaimer:

These are my personal views, muddled ramblings of a “retired” mind, to be taken lightly, and these personal musings do not constitute career guidance advice. Please choose your career after carrying out your own due diligence. 

Copyright Notice:

No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.

Copyright © Vikram Karve (all rights reserved)

a SOFTWARE CEO and an AIR FORCE CHIEF 

For the last few days the media is going all gaga over the appointment of an American (of Indian Origin) as the CEO of a Software Giant.

Recently, a new Indian Air Force Chief was appointed.

This event was ignored by the media and I did not see the new Air Chief being featured or interviewed on any prime news channel.

There was just a brief mention of the appointment of the Air Chief during the news and a small news item in the newspapers.

On the other hand, the appointment of the Software CEO was headline news in the print media and is being discussed widely on many features pages in newspapers and magazines and on all TV Channels.

The Software CEO is an American.

He left the shores of India, his country of birth, and migrated to the USA to seek a “better” future and realize his “American Dream”, and we, back at home, celebrate his success.

The Air Chief is an Indian who remained in India to serve the nation.

We entrust him to guard our skies.

But it is the Software CEO who is in the limelight and no one seems to be taking any notice of the new Air Chief – in fact, most Indians who are celebrating the success of the American CEO may not even be aware of who is the Air Chief of their own nation.

A day may even come when the American CEO may be awarded an Indian Civilian “Padma” Award, like so many Foreigner “Indians” (NRI and PIO) have been given in “recognition” of their achievements abroad, whereas many deserving resident Indians, who spend their entire lives serving the nation, may be ignored.

Today’s youngsters admire successful business icons and achiever entrepreneurs much more than the obscure soldier who quietly performs his hazardous and tough job in some remote place, on the ground, on the seas, or in the air – and some people will even insensitively remark that the soldier is “paid to die for his country”.

You may like it, or you may not like it, but these are today’s modern priorities.

There was a time (in the pre-liberalization days) when defence services were considered a good career option.

Liberalization, Globalization and the Software Boom has changed all that.

Values and Aspirations have changed owing to the opening up of opportunities.

In the world of business and industry, especially if you migrate abroad to the developed world, there are great opportunities to achieve power, wealth and fame, if you have merit and are prepared to work hard.

A MILITARY CAREER

Let’s come back to the successful newly appointed CEO of the Software Giant.

The 46 year old CEO graduated in Engineering in 1988 obtaining a Bachelor of Engineering Degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering.

Just imagine – suppose he had chosen a Military Career, and joined the Army, or Navy, or Air Force, after his Engineering Degree.

Where would he have been today?

Even if he had got all his promotions, most likely he would be serving in obscurity as a Colonel, Captain or Group Captain in the “Technical” Branches.

By the way, Technical Officers are considered “second rung” in the defence services and have limited career opportunities vis-à-vis generalists.

In the military, at least for most technical officers, opportunities for power, wealth and fame are limited.

So, no matter how brilliant or mediocre he was, he would have been trudging along in the professional straitjacket of military anonymity.

Like in most government jobs, seniority matters more than merit, career progress is slow and time-dependent, you will be put in the queue and both the meritorious and the mediocre will be promoted when their turn comes.

And even as far as career prospects go, the government civil services (IAS, IPS etc) are much more attractive than the armed forces.

CAREER CHOICE

If you are youngster on the verge of choosing a career, the choice is yours.

Do you believe in merit?

Are you ambitious?

Do you yearn for material success and have a hungry desire for power, wealth and fame?

Are you prepared to work your ass off to achieve your dreams?

Then, the world of business, entrepreneurship, finance and industry beckons you, and I am sure you know what to do, and, maybe you are already doing it.

On the other hand, if you want a steady job with “lifetime employment”, and if you are content to live a parsimonious life of mediocrity and obscurity, then the defence services may be a good career option.

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 
Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work. 

© vikram karve., all rights reserved. 

Disclaimer:

1. These are my personal views, muddled ramblings of a “retired” mind, to be taken lightly, and these personal musings do not constitute career guidance advice. Please choose your career after carrying out your own due diligence. 

2. All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Copyright Notice

No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.

Copyright © Vikram Karve (All Rights Reserved)

© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

SWIFT CODE of BANKS

SWIFT CODE OF BANKS

SWIFT code is a standard format of Bank Identifier Codes (BIC) and it is unique identification code for a particular bank.


These codes are used when transferring money between banks, particularly for international wire transfers. Banks also used the codes for exchanging other messages between them.


The SWIFT code consists of 8 or 11 characters (When 8-digits code is given, it refers to the primary office)

SWIFT CODE comprises following:

• First 4 characters - bank code (only letters)

• Next 2 characters - ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country code (only letters)

• Next 2 characters - location code (letters and digits) (passive participant will have "1" in the second character)

• Last 3 characters - branch code, optional ('XXX' for primary office) (letters and digits)

For example the SWIFT Code of HDFC Bank is: HDFCINBBXXX

HDFC - Bank Code
IN - Country Code for India
BB - Location Code (Bombay - now called Mumbai)
XXX - Primary Office Branch Code

and the Swift Code of State Bank of India Pune Branch is: SBININBB238

SBIN - Bank Code
IN - India
BB - Bombay
238 - Branch Code

For more details of Swift Codes of Banks in India click the link below:

http://www.theswiftcodes.com/india/


NB:

A sudden "googly" from my Seafarer son who rang up from the high seas and urgently wanted to know the "Swift Code" of his bank put me in a tizzy and I found out the information which I am sharing for benefit of all those ignorant guys like me.

This is the power of internet where you can instantly find information literally at your fingertips. In earlier days, you would probably have to trudge down to your bank to find out, and, sometimes, even those guys at the branch would be clueless.

UNFINISHED LOVE

UNFINISHED LOVE

Short Fiction - A Love Story

By

VIKRAM KARVE

Here is a story from my creative writing archives.

I wrote this “old fashioned” romance long long back, sometime in the early 1990s, more than 20 years ago, so you may find the writing style a bit archaic and amateurish.

Dear Reader, do indulge me - please read the story and tell me if you liked it

© vikram karve., all rights reserved (1992)

UNFINISHED LOVE

JAYASHREE entered my life the moment I saw her photograph on Sanjay’s desk. 

And my life changed forever.

Till that moment, I had never wanted anything belonging to anyone else.

I stared transfixed at her photo, enthralled, captivated by her beauty.

“Sir, this is Jayashree, my wife!” Sanjay said, getting up form the swivel chair.

He picked up the framed photograph and showed it to me.

I took her picture in my hand and looked intently at her, totally mesmerized.

What a stunning beauty she was! 

Never before had the mere sight of a woman aroused such strong passions, and a yearning desire in me to this extent.

Sanjay was talking something, but it didn’t register.

I hastily said, “Cute!” for I believe that thoughts can transmit themselves if they are strong enough!

I thought Sanjay seemed just a trifle taken aback, but he smiled, and pulled out a photo-album from the drawer. 

He began showing me the photographs and started describing his home, his family, his wedding, his honeymoon - the wonderful days they had spent together in Goa.

I took the album from him and looked at a photograph of Jayashree in a bathing suit which was so revealing that she might as well have worn nothing, but she conveyed such innocence that it was obvious that she had no inkling of this.

She looked ravishing. Yes, she was absolutely breathtaking. Her breasts were boldly outlined under the flimsy fabric and she radiated a tantalizing sensuousness with such fervour that I could not take my eyes off her.

“Cute,” I instinctively and unthinkingly said once again, and I bit my lip. 

It was the wrong word, but Sanjay didn’t seem to mind. 

He didn’t even seem to be listening.

Dear Reader, before I proceed further with my story, let me tell you something about myself.

My name is Vijay. 

At the time of this story I was the Master of a merchant ship - an oil tanker. 

Sanjay was my Chief Officer – my number two!

He had joined recently and it was our first sailing together. 

I had not met him earlier, but in due course he proved to be an excellent deputy. 

He was young, just thirty, he ran the ship efficiently and I liked him for his good qualities.

But there was something in his eyes that I could not fathom but I shut my mind to it.

It’s extraordinary how close you can be to a man and still know nothing about him. 

Sometimes I wondered whether he was much more naïve than he looked or was he a lot more shrewder than I thought?

“Captain, may I ask you a personal question?” Sanjay asked me one evening, the first time we went ashore.

“Sure,” I said.

“Captain, I was wondering, why didn’t you get married so far?” Sanjay said with childlike candour.

I sipped my drink and smiled, “I don’t really know. Maybe I am not marriage-material.”

“You tried to get married?”

“Yes.”

“You loved someone?”

I didn’t answer.

And as I thought about it, I felt depressed. 

Life was passing me by. 

I looked around the restaurant. 

The atmosphere was gloomy-dark and quiet. 

It was late - almost midnight.

Sanjay offered me a cigarette. 

His hands were unsteady. 

He seemed to be quite drunk. 

As we smoked, he lapsed into silence – his eyes closed.

When he opened his eyes, I observed a strange metamorphosis in his expression. 

He looked crestfallen - close to tears.

Suddenly, he blurted out, “I wish I had never got married.”

With those few words, Sanjay had bared the secret of his marriage.

I attempted to smoothen my startled look into a grin.

I was ashamed to find that, inwardly, I was glad to hear of his misfortune.

I wondered how could I desire and yearn for Jayashree to this extent without ever having met her in flesh and blood, merely by seeing her photograph?

But it is true. My heart ached whenever I thought of her.

We sailed from Chennai port next morning, and headed for Singapore. 

It was the monsoon season and the sea was rough. 

As the voyage progressed, the weather swiftly deteriorated. 

The ship rolled and pitched feverishly, tossed about by the angry waves.

As we neared the Strait of Malacca, I began to experience a queer sensation - a strange foreboding. 

Though I was moulded in a profession where intellect habitually meets danger, I felt restless and apprehensive. 

I had felt and fought occasional fear before, but this was different – a premonition – a nameless type of fright, a strange feeling of dread and uneasiness.

I tried my best to dispel my fear, thrust away the strange feelings. 

But all my efforts to get rid of my fear failed. 

The nagging uneasiness persisted and soon took charge of me. 

It was so dark that I couldn’t even see our ship’s forecastle. 

The incessant rain and treacherous sea created an eerie atmosphere. 

I was close to panic as we negotiated the treacherous and hazardous waters of the Strait.

As I stared into the pitch blackness which shrouded the hour moments before the breaking of dawn, a strange tocsin began sounding in my brain. 

It sounded a warning I could not fathom.

The ship was pitching violently. 

I felt sick with fear and stood gasping for air, clutching the telegraph. 

I had to get outside, into the fresh air, or I’d suffocate.

As I groped my way along the rail in the bridge-wing, I heard a shrill voice behind me, “Don’t go away, Captain! Please stay. I can’t handle it alone. I can’t. Please, Sir. Don’t go!”

I turned around. 

It was Sanjay. 

He looked at me beseechingly with terror and fright in his eyes.

It penetrated to me in flash of revelation what I’d done.

I had transmitted my own fear into my crew. 

Sanjay was the Chief Officer. 

For him, to confess in front of the crew, that he could not handle it, brought home to me the fact of how desperate he was.

I had to take control at once.” You are not supposed to handle it as long as I’m around,” I shouted. “Go down to your cabin and catch up on your sleep. I don’t want useless passengers on the bridge. Get out from here.”

The moment those words left my mouth, I instantly regretted what I had said, but it was too late now. 

Sanjay was close to tears, humiliated in front of the crew. 

He shamefacedly left the bridge and went down to his cabin.

Suddenly, a searchlight was switched on, dead ahead. 

Instinctively I shouted an order to the helmsman to swing the ship across the ship across to starboard. 

I crossed my fingers, desperately praying to avoid a collision. 

It was a near-miss, but the searchlight kept following our sheer to starboard.

I was angry now. 

I stopped the engines, picked up the loudhailer, rushed out the bridge-wing, leaned over, and shouted, “You stupid fools. Are you crazy? What the hell do you think you are doing?”

“We are in distress,” a voice answered. “Throw us a rope.”

I called the boatswain and told him to throw over the monkey-ladder.

“Be careful, and report quickly,” I told the bosun and the crew.

Ten minutes must have passed but there was no report. 

The silence was disquieting, ominous. 

I decided to go down to the deck. 

Before I could move, four men entered the bridge. 

They were wearing hoods. 

As I started at the nozzle of a carbine pointed at me, comprehensive dawned on me pretty fast. 

This was piracy on the high seas. 

Incredible, but true. 

I had never imagined it would happen to me. 

Undecided as to my next move, I stood there feeling far from heroic. 

There was no question of resistance. 

After all, this was a merchant ship, a tanker, and not a man-o’-war. 

Saving the lives of the crew was of paramount importance. 

The man pointing the carbine at me said softly, “Captain, we are taking over. Don’t try anything foolish. Tell the crew.”

Suddenly, there was deep shuddering sound followed by a deafening roar. 

The ship rose on top of a steep quivering hill and slithered down its slope. 

There was a resounding thud followed by reverberating screeching vibrations. 

We had run aground.

Suddenly the ship lurched wildly, throwing everyone off-balance. 

Sanjay suddenly appeared out of nowhere, made a running dive and grabbed the carbine from the pirate. 

It happened too quickly, and so unexpectedly, that I was totally dumbstruck. 

Everyone seemed to have opened fire. 

Bullets wildly started the bridge. 

There was pandemonium, as crew members joined the melee, grappling with the pirates. 

I hit the deck and froze.

I don’t know who pulled me up, but by then everything was calm and quiet. 

The Chief Bosun spoke: “The pirates have been overpowered. But the Chief Officer ...”

I followed his gaze. 

Sanjay lay on the deck, in a pool of blood. 

I knelt down beside him. 

His face was vacant, but he tried to focus his eyes on me, whimpering: “Jayashree, Jayashree, Jayashree ...” 

I shook him, he tried to get up, but slumped back – Sanjay was dead!

Six months later I knocked on a door.

There was long wait. 

Then Jayashree opened the door.

Her gorgeously stunning dazzling face took my breath away.

She was even more beautiful than her photographs.

Dressed in white sari, she looked so proud in her grief that I felt embarrassed. 

I had myself not yet recovered from the shock of Sanjay’s sudden death.

I said, awkwardly, “I am Captain Vijay.”

She looked directly into my eyes and said, “So I see.” 

Her dark eyes were hostile.

“I am sorry about what happened. Sanjay was a brave man, and we are all proud to have known him.” 

My words sounded insincere and I felt acutely uncomfortable.

“Proud!” she exclaimed, her magnificent eyes flashing, “Some people might feel grateful, especially those whose life he saved.”

I was stunned by the sting of her bitterness. 

Never had I felt such a burning shame - the shame of being held responsible for someone’s death.

I looked at Jayashree helplessly, pleading innocence, but it was of no use. 

It was hopeless now to try and explain. 

The hurt was deep, and I had to let it go in silence.

Jayashree excused herself, turned and went inside.

It was then that I remembered the real reason for my visit.

I wanted to hand over what remained of Sanjay’s personal effects - an unfinished letter, a dairy, a framed photograph. 

I would give her the letter first. 

Probably then she would understand the real reason for Sanjay’s reckless bravery, his suicidal heroics and his desperate concern about proving his masculinity.

When Jayashree returned, she was composed. 

I gave her Sanjay’s unfinished letter.

She took the letter in her dainty hands and started reading it.

As she silently read on, I saw tears well up in her eyes.

I do not know whether I did the right thing by giving her Sanjay’s unfinished letter.

Probably it would have been wiser to destroy the letter and the diary – better to leave things unspoken and unhealed.

But I had thought it would be better to exorcise the sense of guilt and shame.

Better for me. 

Better for Jayashree. 

Good for both of us.

It was not easy, but we both had to come to terms with ourselves.

Jayashree finished reading the letter and looked at me, her eyes cold.

I looked at Jayashree, deep into her intoxicating eyes, and she looked into my eyes too.

We looked into each other, transfixed, in silence, a deafening silence.

And suddenly Jayashree’s frozen eyes melted and she smiled.

VIKRAM KARVE 

Copyright © Vikram Karve (1992)

Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.

© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

Disclaimer:

All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

NB:

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About Vikram Karve

A creative person with a zest for life, Vikram Karve is a retired Naval Officer turned full time writer and blogger. Educated at IIT Delhi, IIT (BHU) Varanasi, The Lawrence School Lovedale and Bishops School Pune, Vikram has published two books: COCKTAIL a collection of fiction short stories about relationships (2011) and APPETITE FOR A STROLL a book of Foodie Adventures (2008) and is currently working on his novel and a book of vignettes and an anthology of short fiction. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories and creative non-fiction articles on a variety of topics including food, travel, philosophy, academics, technology, management, health, pet parenting, teaching stories and self help in magazines and published a large number of professional  and academic research papers in journals and edited in-house journals and magazines for many years, before the advent of blogging. Vikram has taught at a University as a Professor for 15 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes most of his time to creative writing and blogging. Vikram Karve lives in Pune India with his family and muse - his pet dog Sherry with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.

Vikram Karve Academic and Creative Writing Journal: http://karvediat.blogspot.com
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Email: vikramkarve@hotmail.com and vikramwamankarve@gmail.com

Twitter: @vikramkarve

      

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