A new beginning

Change is life.
Change is growth.
Change is good.

Sometimes, it comes upon us gently, and sometimes with a giant boom-crash-and-bang.

Either way, after the initial chaos, I believe change always leads you to a better and happier place. And it's something to embrace and welcome, to smile and feel good about.

What change am I talking of?

JAM magazine is changing. We are suspending the print publication, to focus all energies on the online space. As well as events and youth research.

The print magazine will - hopefully - come back in a month or two, with a new, improved design, format, content. And most importantly, a better business model.

But, if the online magazine serves its purpose - we won't have to.

Ideally, we could have managed both simultaneously. But, the logistical and financial burden of printing a fortnightly magazine was always upon us.

What point is there when life becomes a compulsory treadmill? You have to get off and get a breath of fresh air, take a walk in the park.

So, walk we will. I don't know the exact place JAM is going or how we get there. But this is where it starts.

Change means shifting out of 51, Kaliandas Udyog Bhavan. It means letting go of people, of physical things and most importantly, 'the way things have always been done'.

There is a lot more I want to say, but I will share it in the days to come.

In the meanwhile, I need the help and support of readers past and present. JAM never made a lot of money (and at this point, there are some debts to fulfil).

What we have earned over 15 years is enormous goodwill.

I seek the services of a couple of crack programmers - students in engineering colleges or recent grads - who can help me implement the online vision. A clean and simple, reader-driven, user-friendly website.

A platform for young people to express their thoughts and showcase their talents.

The original mission of JAM, which we must rediscover.

To become a cult classic, for a new generation. And the next.

P.S. As always, you can email me at rashmi_b at yahoo.com.

P.P.S. This blog appears as a matter of public record. We are in the process of personally communicating to subscribers, vendors, advertisers, suppliers, friends and well wishers.

Thank you all for your love and support.

Humour Writer found - 1

A couple of months ago I'd put out a 'humour writer wanted' ad in this space. Well, we did get a lot of response and a couple of them from true gems.

Shishir Dash of IIT Kharagpur is one of them. Read his hilarious take on India TV, published in a recent issue of JAM here. It's titled 'India TV ka aatank'.

Of course you really must watch a few minutes of India TV post 11 pm to truly appreciate... the beauty of his prose :)

OK, Shishir. Hope the maska inspire a flood of funnies from your side. The rest of the junta is also welcome.. to keep trying!

Wanted: humour writers

If you can tickle a funny bone or two with your wit and sarcasm, do write for us.

JAM is looking for writers to do:
a) MAD style movie spoofs (you do the script, we'll take care of the cartoons)
b) Satirical articles on current topics. Such as Sunita Williams orbiting the earth without a bath for 6 months... (you get the idea)
c) Original khaak e shayari
d) Braking news
e) Topical PJs
f) Or well... just about anything.

Do not send me random blog links, just one sample of your best work. And what you think you can do next... Email rashmi_b at yahoo.com.

JAM Engineering College Ratings - Final Update

UPDATE, MAY 2008: The JAM Engineering Admissions Guide is now out. You can order a copy online at 15% discount from here. It is also available at leading bookshops across India, distributed by IBD.

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The survey is done, the book being composed and the website under construction. The fruits of all these efforts should be visible in early June.

Thank you all, for your feedback and participation. And a few final requests. After going through the matter we found some bits of information missing and/ or inadequate. Hence would request write ups on the following.

Overview of engineering education for the following states:
- Himachal
- Uttaranchal
- Chhatisgarh
- Madhya Pradesh
- Goa
- Tamil Nadu
- Karnataka

The last two - we do have write ups - but they don't do justice.

If interested, please email me rashmi_b at yahoo.com and we'll send you guidelines. But, we need the matter in a bit of a hurry - a week at best.

If you can't write but would like to simply share the info you have with us that's ok as well. Drop me a line with your contact no.

A couple of other topics we need short write ups on:
- Unusual courses at IITs
- Coaching Class scene - Kota and others

After Engineering
We'd also like a few paras from some of you who are:
- working in core engineering jobs (civil, chemical etc)
- engineers who went into research
- engineers who went into something completely unrelated

You could give your brief background and share the journey so far, in brief.

Lastly, if anyone has any tips or specific advice for engineering aspirants - even if it's just a para - please send it in. We are including a lot of 'tidbits'.

And yes, those of you who have contributed articles will receive a cheque from us this month. In case you haven't sent your address, pls do so at the earliest!

JAM 'Downloads' Survey

JAM is coming up with a special issue on the 'Download' culture. It would be great if you could take two minutes to fill out this brief questionnaire.

In case you aren't in college anymore, put in wherever you studied and year of graduation into that space.

We're also looking for:
- an IITian who can write abt the download culture in the institute
- anyone who can do a humourous piece along the lines of a 'Day in the life of a Downloading Freak'. Perhaps, 'night' would be more appropriate.

Any other kind of contributions on this subject are most welcome. Email me at rashmi_b at yahoo.com