STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING FORUM OF INDIA [SEFI]

abhy_vivek · Silver Sponsor Joined: 26 Jan 2003 Posts: 688

Life of an Engineer (Structural engineer, to be precise) is mostly occupied by the Mathematical formuale and Engineering fundamentals / phenomenons, complex technical papers, thick books etc. Within common men there often exist a confusion, . . always; they feel life of a Civil / Structural engineer is very dry and boring.

The autobiograhy cum a Novel on a life of a Civil Engineer written by author Mrs. Usha Tambe (wife of renowened Civil Engineer Shri. S. R. Tambe ji) tried to explore the various trends occuring in the mind of a Civil engineer in very lucid language.

In current time, we all understand and have accepted the fact that Civil Engineers are Reading Less (though they spend more time of social media like whats-app, facebook, Linked-In and a like forums, especially the young engineers).

他们为什么这样做?

Besides these facts, about the need of mathematics and scientific fundamentals in the life of an engineer, one must understand and realise the importance of 'Humor' in the life. Many of us confuse between 'Humor' and 'time-pass'. Google and Webster define Humor as - "the quality of being amusing or comic, especially as expressed in literature or speech".

In life of an engineer, rather a human, he can sustain stress (mental stress) of various types for some time. More the stress - more the strain (i.e. impact on social and personal life), humor acts as a 'fuse' or a 'vent' or a 'shock absorber' in the life of an engineer and help to sustain the stress arising out of professional / perosnal work for a long time. Humor also increases the happiness around the team and helps to maintain the work progress. Humor increaess the life of a person and energies him to be creative and do more and more useful works.

One caustion here in this area is 'Excess of anything is always harmful'; same applies to the Humor also. In 24 hrs of a day 5minutes of humor is like an oasis.

Hence every engieer should presereve Humaor in his/her life !

Reg
Vivek Abhyankar
μmbai

N. Prabhakar · General Sponsor Joined: 25 Apr 2009 Posts: 474

Deleted as all 4 cartoons cannot be shown.

N. Prabhakar · General Sponsor Joined: 25 Apr 2009 Posts: 474

Dear Er Vivek Abhyankar,

What you say on humour in the life of structural engineers is completely correct.

For structural engineers, the commitment to provide the society's needs with safety and economy makes them serious in their professional work. Engineers are largely associated with material sciences which are too dry a subject to laugh at, and very rarely engineers laugh at themselves because they are seriously engaged all the time. Nevertheless, there are several instances of human behaviour in engineering field that provide humour, which become a good subject for making jokes or drawing cartoons.

I had the privilege of drawing cartoons over 200 nos. for The Indian Concrete Journal for a period of 19 years (1993-2012), thanks to the opportunity provided to me by their editors Mr. B.V.B. Pai and V.R. Kulkarni (later became ICI President). In May 2003, Ambuja Cements published a collection of my ICJ cartoons (80 nos.) in a booklet form in their technical series, thanks to the interest shown by their VP Mr. C.M. Dordi. I am sure many of SEFI members must have seen these cartoons. I am attaching below one of my cartoons to laugh at.

With best wishes,

N.Prabhakar
Chartered Structural Engineer
Vasai (E), Pin 401 208

VPandya · General Sponsor Joined: 09 Nov 2009 Posts: 841

Dear Sefi Engrs.,
This is a real story in my case. You all can take it as a joke.But this happened to me. I was working on a very prestigious project" HONG KONG CONVENTION CENTER " in a Chicago office of Skidmore Owings & Merrill with a very well known Structural Engineer Mr. Srinivas Iyengar , a Structural Partner in SOM.Some smart guy in the team on that project found out what was SOM Charging to Client for services of Mr. Iyengar. He told us SOM is charging $1500 /Hr. .In USA consulting fee at such senior level is around $200.0/Hr.Now I am a simple guy, so next timewhen Mr. Iyengar stop at my desk to know, how I am doing my part of the project,I told him we have a good and generous client.He ask me why you say that? I said they are paying you $1500.0/Hr. against typically $200.0/hr in USA .He said get you math right.Client is paying me in HONG KONG DOLLARS.So this comes out to be less than what a U.S. client will pay me .He gave a big smile and left.

I think world wide there should one currency US DOLLARS , so next time people like me do not get confused.

Regards.

Vasudeo迪亚体育
Structural Engineer

N. Prabhakar · General Sponsor Joined: 25 Apr 2009 Posts: 474

I am attaching herewith five of my ICJ cartoons.

N. Prabhakar

N. Prabhakar · General Sponsor Joined: 25 Apr 2009 Posts: 474

From the poor response one sees for this posting, there seems to be no need of humour in the life of an Engineer.

N. Prabhakar

VPandya · General Sponsor Joined: 09 Nov 2009 Posts: 841

Dear Er. N. Prabhakarji ,
In USA this is 4th July ( Independence day) long Week End. We all are on vacation, so could not reply to your post earlier. The best cartoon I like is about PROOF CHECKER . In America when a Structural Engineer working as Proof Checker on a complex Project Design and does not know what He is doing, we say " This poor guy, Proof Checker is still trying to figure out on this project" WHICH SIDE IS NORTH ."All GFC,( Good For Construction), ( In US we call it Drawings Issued for Fabrication and Construction) drawings in USA are suppose to show North arrow on the drawings. This guy ( Proof Checker ) working on the project for three months can not even guarantee if the GFC drawings are showing North arrow right.Please SEFI Engrs, do not take this as a joke.

Regards.

Vasudeo迪亚体育
Structural Engineer

mufti · SEFI Member Joined: 12 Mar 2010 Posts: 9

Dear Er. Prabhakar Sb.
No, I can assure you it is not like that. I enjoyed your cartoons thoroughly. In fact, I downloaded all five and put them in a folder with your name, for future reference and sharing with engineer friends.
I would definitely like to have more of the same.
Thank you!

Regards,
μfti

N. Prabhakar · General Sponsor Joined: 25 Apr 2009 Posts: 474

Dear Pandyaji and Mufti Sb,

Thank you for your kind words on my cartoons.

Er. Pandyaji, I liked your jokes. I was not seeking 'likes' of my cartoons from fellow Sefians , but expected few jokes from them under this posting, as you have done. Perhaps, they are too busy in their work.

Er. Mufti Sb, if you would like to see some more of my cartoons, please let me know your E-mail ID by writing to me (my E-mail ID:nrprabhakar@gmail.com) so that I can send the same to you.

With best wishes,

N. Prabhakar
Chartered Structural Engineer
Vasai (E), Pin 401 208

abhy_vivek · Silver Sponsor Joined: 26 Jan 2003 Posts: 688

Thank you very much Shri. N. Prabhakar sir and Pandya sir, for expressing your thoughts and experience on Humor. I have read the booklet on 'Cartoons' several times and congratulate you for the same. It depicts your vast experience and keen interest from each on the sketch in this booklet.

When we talk on Humor I can stop mentioning lectures of Shri. C. M. Dordi sir and (Late) Shri. A. P. Remedios and (Late) Shri Narendra Patel.
In normal Technical lectures the audience will have pain (headache) . . . even in the lectures by Dordi sir and Shri Remedios gave pain . . . but in stomache

Many Cultures around the world tried to explore the 'Origin' of Humor'. Greeks said origin of Humor is behind happiness, europians stated humor is behind natural need, other nations stated reason behind humor is mismatch in the world. . . Indians explored that the core origin of 'Humor' is behind 'sorrow'.

One should explore happiness give outlet to 'sorrow' !

Reg
Vivek Abhyankar