I am B Vinod, full name - Vinod Prasad Bollini. I am from India, from the South of India. Spent most of my growing years in Chinchwad, which is a suburb of the city of Pune, in Western Maharashtra. Speak Telugu as my mother tongue.
Education
Schooling
I did most of my schooling from Kamalnayan Bajaj High School, in Chinchwad, Pune. I did some of my pre-school at Trinity Public School, Hyderabad and Blue Bells Model High School, Gurgaon. I spent my eleventh and twelfth years of schooling, at Loyola Junior College and High School.
Higher Education
I graduated with a Dual Degree (specializing in Ceramics and Composites) from the Department of Metallurgical Engineering and Materials Science, at IIT Bombay, Mumbai, India.
Employment
I am currently employed with Schlumberger Oilfield Services, as a Field Engineer, with the Reservoir Evaluation Wireline Services Segment. I am posted to Doha, Qatar.
Impressions
Appearance
I am dark skinned, with curly, difficult hair. I am built moderately, and am about 175 centimetres tall. I have big, dark brown eyes. Also tend to walk with one shoulder a little lower than the other.
Nature
I quite often going out of my way to help someone. I am not very good in socially demanding situations, and prefer to let the other person take the initiative. I can be candid and unnerving sometimes.
Demeanour
I am cheerful, at most times. I do not like sharing my helping of food. I do not like my picture being taken. Given a choice, I'd rather sit in a corner and observe the proceedings. I am also prone to arguments, and insist on taking them to some end. Am vociferous and animated, especially during an argument.
Work
Engineering and Science
I am an Engineer at heart and love to explore the workings of anything intelligent. I have graduated with a major in materials science, but my first love has always been mechanical gadgets and devices. Also have an aptitude for simulation, modelling and computation; apart from algebra and abstraction. I am not comfortable with chemistry or biology.
Languages
I am also especially interested in languages. I can speak, read and write English, Hindi and Marathi, fluently. I can also speak Telugu(which is my mother tongue) and Tamil. I have learnt a bit(can read, write and speak) of German and French. My principle fields of interest are semantics and socio-cultural linguistics.
Computers and Software
I am also moderately skilled with computers. Can troubleshoot Windows, Unix/Linux and Mac OS-X based systems. Have limited experience in handling Solaris systems. Have assisted and adviced on system administration and configuration tasks. Have considerable experience in the area of web design and development. Have worked at the back-end in a PHP/MySQL based environment, and in the front-end on a variety of desktop browsers as well as handheld device browsers.
Interests
Debating
Am an avid debater, both competitively and otherwise. I like debating both on technical and social issues. Am a fan of the parliamentary style of debating. Also, prefer informed debating to speculative debating.
Photography
Like abstract photography. Love black and white or sepia toned media. Usually like to accentuate angles and perspectives in pictures. Do not like shooting animate subjects, with a few exceptions. Have experience with a range of digital cameras, and few point and shoot film cameras.
Cricket
Am a faithful follower of the game, although I have been unable to follow the games on television in the later years. Medium paced bowler, bowling first change;right hand batsman, batting one down; above average fielder, at point or extra-cover. Have kept wickets and bowled leg spin, when needed.
Trekking
Like hiking and trekking, especially in the monsoons or in the Himalayas. Have limited rock climbing and rapelling as well as river crossing experience. Like overnight trails and camping. Am quite resourceful, when it comes to fixing/setting up equipment or cooking, running a fire. Like to travel fast and light.
Food
I have a very large appetite and do not mind finishing other people's food, if they cannot. Love eating out. Am a huge fan of pani puri (a snack, usually available at roadside stalls in Western India). Usually like meat to be a part of my meal. Like the occasional beer or wine with my food. Love cooking, especially Oriental food and soups. Do not like it when people waste food.
Goals
Would like to do the following in life:
- Work for and towards documentation standards for languages and for the conservation of culture through languages.
- Start a community based sustainable infrastructure/energy enterprise, with a focus on rural India.
- Would like to be a consultant in the field of energy, innovation and third world development.
- Would like to be a travelling journalist/photographer.
