Dr. Atul R Thakare

Note: This blog was written for ARAI Spandan inaugural issue, published in Dec. 2024 As every year, our college friends also planned a monsoon trip this year. However, the location was the bone of contention. Most of the scenic locations in the western region of Maharashtra, such as Mahabaleshwar, Ganapatipule, Alibaug, and Bhandardara, were already explored in our previous trips. So, this time we decided to go to the east of Maharashtra and take the road not taken. And on the occasion of Friendship Day, a bunch of college friends embarked on the journey to explore Chikhaldara Hill Station, also known as the Mahabaleshwar of Vidarbha. Two of us took an overnight train to Badnera station, and friends from Nagpur picked us up from Amravati. It was another two hours journey by road to Chikhaldara, although the distance is only about 80 km. However, the road offered diverse landscapes and we immersed ourself in the visual treats that each viewpoint alongside the road had to offer. We had b...

Disclaimer: This is a free-flow conversation that does not intend to hurt the sentiments of any gender. Location: GoodLuck Café, Pune   Thanks a ton for your help, Ajju and Raj. Now, This report can be termed as complete.’ Sanjay thanked while taking a bite of the perfect Bun Maska. ‘No need for thanks and all, Guruji. In fact, it was our privilege to collaborate with you on this Project.’ Rajesh replied. ‘Now, you are pulling my leg by calling me Guruji. I am just a year senior to you’ Sanjay clarified. ‘But senior is senior, be it a year or 10 years. Also, you have a Doctorate, Sanju bhai, so for me and Raj, you are Guruji.’ Ajay joined in. ‘No, I mean seriously, IT folks like you come with an advanced mindset. You guys actually added a lot of perspective to this project report. Cheers!’ Sanjay lifted the cup of coffee in his hand. ‘Thanks. With Perspective, I recollected that our perspective about Police also changed today in that Kondhwa R*pe case.’ Ajay expressed. ‘Actually, y...

Around this time last year, a professor from a prestigious research institute reached out to me, seeking a speaker for an upcoming symposium at their institution. I approached a senior colleague to deliver the technical talk, and he said he would check his availability. However, a week passed without any response from him—neither a confirmation nor a decline—leaving me unable to update the professor about the speaking opportunity. The professor expressed his frustration, saying, “I understand your colleague might be tied up with important work, but he could have at least returned my call once. After all, I am also a distinguished scientist at a renowned institute, not a junior staff member.” His anguish resonated deeply, bringing to mind the timeless truth: "Nobody is too busy—it's always a matter of priorities." And what the professor wanted here was to feature in the priority list. But it couldn't happen in the given time. As a result, my credibility took a hit, and...