I am an engineering leader, a chess enthusiast and an avid reader. I have moved as a software engineer inUSA from my home country Bangladesh at 2005 leaving many of my family members, relatives, friends and good memories. In this journal I want to capture how are my days going here in this migrated place with my wife, son and daughter.
The recent TubeMogul Chess Club vs DropBox Chess Club ended up being a big margin victory for DropBox with a 3.5 - 0.5 score. The tournament was held at San Francisco Mechanics Chess Institute at December 3rd.
In the first board I drew my game while at other 3 boards we lost. Mechanics Director IM John Donaldson analyzed this game and was published in next TNM newsletter - http://chessclub.org/news.php?n=730
I have read, watched and listened enough in my life to wonder how come I haven't compiled a list of my favorite quotes or excerpts from those? This is an attempt to remedy that missing piece. I hope this will help me get back to my favorites as and when I need to revisit them.
This is one of the many such romnatic dialogues from Rabindranath Tagore who needs no introduction. I just picked one from his rich wealth to show my tribute to him. Below are the lyrics of the song and the full youtube video song sung by Rezwana Choudhury Bannya চাঁদের হাসির বাঁধ ভেঙেছে, উছলে পড়ে আলো। ও রজনীগন্ধা, তোমার গন্ধসুধা ঢালো ॥ পাগল হাওয়া বুঝতে নারে ডাক পড়েছে কোথায় তারে-- ফুলের বনে যার পাশে যায় তারেই লাগে ভালো ॥ নীল গগনের ললাটখানি চন্দনে আজ মাখা, বাণীবনের হংসমিথুন মেলেছে আজ পাখা। পারিজাতের কেশর নিয়ে ধরায়, শশী, ছড়াও কী এ। ইন্দ্রপুরীর কোন্ রমণী বাসরপ্রদীপ জ্বালো ॥
(2) Kar Baitha Bhool Woh Le Aaya Phool Woh, Usse Kaho Jaaye Chand Leke Aaye - from movie Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge
This time apology to audience who wont be able to follow hindi. This is sung by Lata Mangeshkar. The lyrics and the video follows.
(Mere Khwabon Mein Jo Aaye Aa Ke Mujhe Chhed Jaaye) – 2 Usse Kaho Kabhi Saamne To Aaye Mere Khwabon Mein Jo Aaye Aa Ke Mujhe Chhed Jaaye Usse Kaho Kabhi Saamne To Aaye Mere Khwabon Mein Jo Aaye (Kaisa Hai Kaun Hai Woh Jaane Kahan Hai) – 2 Jiske Liye Mere Hothon Pe Haan Hai Apna Hai Ya Begaana Hai Woh Sach Hai Ya Koi Afsaana Hai Woh Dekhe Ghur Ghur Ke Yoonhi Door Door Se Usse Kaho Meri Neend Na Churaye Mere Khwabon Mein Jo Aaye Aa Ke Mujhe Chhed Jaaye Usse Kaho Kabhi Saamne To Aaye Mere Khwabon Mein Jo Aaye
(Jadoosa Jaise Koi Chalne Laga Hai) - 2 Main Kya Karoon Dil Machalne Laga Hai Tera Deewana Hoon Kehta Hai Woh Chup Chup Ke Phir Kyun Rehta Hai Woh Kar Baitha Bhool Woh Le Aaya Phool Woh Usse Kaho Jaaye Chand Leke Aaye (Mere Khwabon Mein Jo Aaye Aa Ke Mujhe Chhed Jaaye) – 2 Usse Kaho Kabhi Saamne To Aaye
(3) “What's in a name? that which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet.”
― by William_Shakespeare from Romeo and Juliet
(4) Kane Kane Shudhu Ekbar Bolo, Tumi Je Amar - from Bengali movie Harano Sur, starring Suchitra Sen and Uttam Kumar.
If you ask anyone of my earlier generation in Bangladesh (and in Kolkata, India) you will understand the impact this movie and this song have had on them. It's music was by Hemanta Mukherjee, and sung by Geeta Dutt and the movie was released in 1957. The movie is regarded as one of the finest Bengali movies of the period. The lyrics and the video song given below.
তুমি যে আমার, ওগো তুমি যে আমার, তুমি যে আমার, ওগো তুমি যে আমার, কানে কানে শুধু একবার বল, তুমি যে আমার, তুমি যে আমার, ওগো তুমি যে আমার। আমারি পরাণে আসি, তুমি যে বাজালে বাঁশি, আমারি পরাণে আসি, তুমিযে বাজালে বাঁশি, সেই তো আমারি সাধনা, চাইনাতো কিছু আর, তুমি যে আমার, ওগো তুমি যে আমার। তুমি যে আমার দিশা, অকুল অন্ধকারে, দাওগো আমারে ভরে, নীরব অহংকারে, তুমি যে আমার দিশা, অকুল অন্ধকারে, দাওগো আমারে ভরে, নীরব অহংকারে। জীবন মরুর মাঝে, এসোগো বধুর সাজে, জীবন মরুর মাঝে, এসোগো বধুর সাজে, সেই তো আমারই জিবনে, তোমারই অভিসার। তুমি যে আমার, ওগো তুমি যে আমার, কানে কানে শুধু একবার বল,তুমি যে আমার, তুমি যে আমার, ওগো তুমি যে আমার।
(5) Chul Tar Kobekar Ondhokar Bidishar Nisha - from poem Banalata Sen bu Jibananda Das
Although I picked only this line from the poem - it would be appropriate if I would be able to put the whole poem as the heading for this entry. Here is the poem for you to judge by yourself -
(6) O people, I have been appointed over you, though I am not the best
among you - by Abu Bakr Siddeeq’s (RA) at the Inaugural Speech when he was elected as Khalifa after death of Prophet Muhammed (pbuh)
“O people, I have been appointed over you, though I am not the best
among you. If I do well, then help me; and if I act wrongly, then
correct me. Truthfulness is synonymous with fulfilling the trust, and
lying is equivalent to treachery. The weak among you is deemed strong by
me, until I return to them that which is rightfully theirs, insha
Allah. And the strong among you is deemed weak by me, until I take from
them what is rightfully (someone else’s), insha Allah. No group of
people abandons military/armed struggle in the path of Allah, except
that Allah makes them suffer humiliation. And evil / mischief does not
become widespread among a people, except that Allah inflicts them with
widespread calamity. Obey me so long as I obey Allah and His Messenger.
And if I disobey Allah and His Messenger, then I have no right to your
obedience. Stand up now to pray, may Allah have mercy on you”
[Al-Bidaayah wan-Nihaayah (6/305,306)]
(7) Jeo Na Shathi, Cholecho Ekela Kothay, Path Khuje Pabenako, Shudhu Eka - from movie Durdesh, sung by Syed Abdul Hadi
This song was sung twice in the film; first when Shoshi Kapoor and Shormila Thakur were young and second time when they were old. The video song link I gave below is when they were old - and this is the one with most impact on the audience. In course of twenty years, the repentness Shoshi shows was something that moved me even when I was only a few years old kid!
যেওনা সাথি৷৷ ও ও ও যেওনা সাথি চলেছো একেলা কোথায় পথ খুজে পাবেনাকো শুধু একা যেওনা সাথি ও ও ও যেওনা সাথি সেই দিনের এতটুকু ভুল নিয়ে গেছে কতদুর৷৷ আমারও স্বপ্নের মহল তাইতো ভেঙে যে হলো চুর যেওনা সাথি চলেছ একেলা কোথায় পথ খুজে পাবেনাকো শুধু একা যেওনা সাথি ও ও ও যেওনা সাথি আর যে সইতে পারিনা জ্বালা দোষ না হয় কিছু হয়েছে৷৷ পথ হারা পথিকটাতো ঠিকানা ফিরে পেয়েছে যেওনা সাথি চলেছ একেলা কোথায় পথ খুজে পাবেনাতো শুধু একা যেওনা সাথি ও ও ও যেওনা সাথি
(8) O Amar Bodhu Go, Chiro Shathi Path Cholar, Tomar Jonno Gorechi Ami Manjil Valobashar - from movie Keyamat Theke Keyamat
This is from Bengali remake of hindi film Keyamat se keyamat tak (Amir Khan and Juhi Chawla). The remake was well done by Slaman Shah and Moushumi - their first films and was a superhit. Slaman Shah later on became one of the legends of Bengali films although he was tragically short lived.
ও আমার বন্ধু গো চির সাথী পথ চলার, তোমারই জন্য গড়েছি আমি মনজিল ভালোবাসার। এক সাথে রয়েছি দুজন এক ডোরে বাঁধা দুটি প্রাণ ছিঁড়বেনা কভু এই বাঁধন আসলে আসুক তুফান। তুমি আমারই বলবো শতবার। হাত দু'টি ধরেছি তোমার মানবো না কোনো বাধা আর শুনবো না কারো কথা যে আর মন্দ বলুক সমাজ। তুমি আমারই, হায়, বলবো শতবার.
(9) A quote or scene from a Humayun Ahmed book - I keep it as a place holder for now because I am at loss to pick one from the thousands coming to my mind. I really need to make up my mind before I choose one. But I guess I may end up with Baker Bhai and his right hand Bodi. For now let me just quote that because I am failing the courage to try to watch that part of the episode again although its available in YouTube. Those who have grown up at that time, will only be able to relate to what I mean. Here is something for now coming out of Baker Bhai after he was sentenced to death -
"মুনা শোনো। বদিকে বলবা আমি ওকে ক্ষমা করছি। ফেরেশতা পর্যন্ত ভুল করে। সেতো একটা মানুষ, সেতো ভুল করবেই।"
(10) Afreen Afreen by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan- At different times I like different versions of this same song. I got introduced to it through the
Album: Sangam
Song: Afreen Afreen
Singer: Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
Music Director: Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
Music Arranger: Uttam Singh
Lyricist: Javed Akhtar
Today I finished listening to one of the most significant lecture series in my life - Dr. Yasir Qadhi's Series of Lectures on Seerah of Prophet Muhammed (pbuh). Initially I was listening to it from YouTube after knowing about it from Wali Bhai. Later Amin told me that he found an iPhone App named Yasir Qadhi where all these lectures are available in audio format and I could download it and listen to the audios offline. So this saved my data plan as in my first month I already crossed my 40GB plan just by listening to it while driving to office and coming back.
It's a 104 part lecture series containing approximately 175 hours of lectures by Pakistani descent but American muslim scholar Dr. Yasir Qadhi who stayed in Madina for 10 years for his islamic studies. Any muslim or non-muslim will be moved listening to this series. You will learn to be humble, polite, wise and humane to others. Dr. Yasir focused mainly on 2 things - rigorous academic analysis of Prophet's (pbuh) life, actions, teachings and the situations of Arab at that time; and how the we can relate those to our 21st century American muslim life.
I was in awe many times just listening to the incidents, just thinking about the patience of Sahabis (R) and their love for Islam and our Prophet (pbuh). Often I have been laughing loud or crying while driving on the way listening through my headphone, disappointed that I reached office or home already while in the middle of a great analysis of a particular fiqh issue. This work by Dr. Yasir is one of the most profound of its nature in English language. I can't think of anything else comparable.
I invite you to listen to it. I will now move into his other lectures, and then probably into Mughal, Roman and Persian empires, second world war, Mahabharat and so on that are freely available in YouTube.
Update: I have finished the Seerah series for a second time yesterday. Alhamdulillah. It was as beautiful as I felt when I finished it the first time in November last year!
It’s been 6 weeks since I joined TubeMogul leaving Salesforce. The
decision to leave Salesforce was not an easy one, as Salesforce is one
of the leading and most innovative software companies in the world with
approximately 17 thousand employees. When I joined there 8 years back,
they had a little more than 3 thousand employees. So I saw Salesforce
rising at a pace, that is only believable if you live in Silicon
Valley’s startup atmosphere. I was in a good book in my own department
and had a good network of people working in different departments; as I
have been working there for so long. There were further growth scope and
no doubt Salesforce pays good enough to employees in Silicon Valley (I
have to assume elsewhere too). So why move out of Salesforce at all?
Here was my rationale.
I have been working in IT Applications Development since my early
years in Salesforce. The first half (4 years) I was working on a Java
based module and the last half I have been working on Force.com / Apex
(Salesforce’s own programming language developed on top of Java). During
the second half I started feeling that I am getting out of touch with
the Open Source projects and Java community; as being an application
developer, I didn’t get a chance to do platform development which allows
you to experiment with lots of cutting edge new open source frameworks
coming out or the JVM based programming languages. So I considered
moving within Salesforce to one of their platform teams but then I
became part of a very large project (Project Delight)
which I didn’t want to miss. The project took 2 and half years to
finish and it was a very good experience in my career, seeing first hand
how a large number of teams, each having its own development culture
can work together to achieve a bigger goal and what various types of
obstacles can come on the way. But once that project was done, I was
getting ready for a bigger role on the next big project. But then I
started feeling that the core problems that are awaiting me, we have
already solved many of those in my last project. So instead why not jump
into something completely new, where I will be hopelessly helpless?
That’s when one of my ex-colleague simply submitted my resume to a
software company despite my reluctance (confession: I am a lazy person).
But as my interview was scheduled. I started looking into what is there
in the latest java world and I saw that the companies are moving to
Java 8. When experimenting a few programs in Java 8 following the Manning book,
I clearly understood it’s a complete revamp of the Java programming
language. Lambda expressions, streams, functional style programming are
few that excited me too much and I was no more ready to get back to Apex
coding (not that Apex is bad, its just proprietary). I honed my Java 8,
data structures and algorithm, spring and other open source projects
familiarity for couple of weeks to get ready for interviews.
As naturally happens, I got selected by a few companies and rejected
by a few others during the interview process. The job market is so good
that I had at least half a dozen more interviews waiting for me the next
week before I decided to stop interviewing and pick the best I had upto
that time. TubeMogul was a clear winner in many areas. Of them are –
They are complete java and open source shop
They have different engineering teams where you might be able to
move around over time – platform core (rtb), machine learning, big data
& stats, ui, udb, appeng and more….
They are the 5th best place to work in San Francisco Bay Area according to Glassdoor review of 2015
They are a mid size company (500+ employees) making it ideal for a growing company and yet not too small to go bankrupt
Their business domain Real Time Bidding (RTB) is something
completely unknown to me. So it will definitely pose challenges to me in
multiple levels (which is what I was looking for).
They offered me a decent package. Although I humbly note that if you
are working in Silicon Valley as a software engineer, most of the
companies will offer you a good package; otherwise they won’t be able to
attract or retain good employees.
I liked talking to each of the 4 people who interviewed me in
TubeMogul as well the recruiter who handled the whole negotiation
process in a very professional manner. My manager Murtaza is a very
composed man, something similar to Rajesh Misquita at Salesforce whom I
admire a lot.
I did let my team in Salesforce know 6 weeks ahead of time about my
decision. I went to Bangladesh on vacation for 3 weeks to attend my
brother’s marriage in between. I left a good relation with the
management and peers before leaving Salesforce. I will always cherish
the memories of working in such a nice a big company like Salesforce.
But it’s time to move on.
When I joined TubeMogul, I saw my assessments were mostly correct.
Except Java, I think everything else was simply unknown to me or I have
used/worked on more than a decade ago. I still have not mastered the way
to explain what RTB industry is all about. One of the very first things
I did here is formed TubeMogul Chess Club. The pace of work is fast and
everyone is very friendly. Let me go through a few more months, but as
of now I believe my decision was correct to join TubeMogul.
As a chess player I would like to encourage you to watch the movie Pawn Sacrifice which is centered around the 1972 World Chess Championship Match (the most famous and dramatic match in chess
history) between American Prodigy Bobby Fischer and Russian Boris
Spassky. The movie got released all across USA this week and I am
sponsoring 20 free tickets for this movie to our Bay Area Bangladeshi
residents. You may check one of the reviews on this movie here.
If you are interested to watch the movie together in a group show,
please email to baba@baba1.com and ashikuzzaman@gmail.com with your name
and phone number. If you want to bring your friend or another family
member, please mention in the email.
The movie showtime we
selected is next Saturday 3rd October evening at Century 25 Union Landing, Fremont. Total number of 20 free tickets will be given on a
first come first serve basis. From the same family, maximum 2 members
will be given free tickets.
Please feel free to email me or call me at 510.386.1856 if you have any question.
Sillicon Valley er dui software engineer er kothopokothon -
- Robindronath Thakur jotoi protibhaban hon na keno tini kokhonoi bhalo software engineer hote parten na. In fact, unar chakri i rakha daay hoto jodi ei pesha te ashten.
- Keno? Tor ei rokom mone hobar karon ki?
- Unar oi famous gaan ta shunish nai? "Jodi tor daak shune keu na ashey, tobe ekla cholo re....". Ei thekei bujha jay uni "team work" e bishshashi na. Arey kon software project keu ekla korte parbe, team work chara?
Ekjon election candidate er shakkhatkar nichchen ekjon journalist....
Jounralist: Shunlam apni MP election e darate chaan. To voter der ke apnar bepare kichu information janan.
Candidate: Nishchoi nishchoi...
Journalist: Apni ki shongskriti mona?
Candidate: Are bolen ki? Ami gan shuni, kobita pori... Ami holam Robindro vokto.
Journalist: Oh achcha. To apnar pochonder kobita konta.
Candidate: Robindronath er "Shesher Kobita".
Journalist: ... kintu ota to kobita na, uponnash...
Candidate: Are apni Robindro nather cheye beshi janen naki? Uni ki na bujhe emon naam dibe. Ki shob interview nite ashen pora shuna na kore. Next question e jaan...
Journalist: Ji ji. Gaan shunen bolchilen. To Fokir Alamgir er ekta gaan geye shunan dekhi.
Candidate: Fokir ke bollen? Are bhai Gorib Fokir der jonno to ami emnitei jaan diye dei. Ta jokhon eto kore bolchen to ekta gai ei gorib dukhi der jonno...
"Gorib Hoile Nijer Manush Chinna Chine Na.... Uchit Kotha Koile Pore Dekhtam Pare Na... Kaamer Shomoy Banglai Re Dakhle Mile Na... Are Bipoder Shomoy Rastar Pashe Deikhkha Dekhe Na..."
Journalist: Thamen thamen... thik ache. Next question, Bangladesh er President er naam ki?
Candidate: President er naam jene apnar labh ki? President ki korbo? Prime Minister er naam Jono Netri Sheikh Hasina. Amar voter der oi tuk janlei cholbe.
2015 US National Junior Chess Congress was organized by Bay Area Chess during January 24th and 25th at Santa Clara Convention Center in the hearth of Sillicon Valley. The tournament had 8 different Age Level group - for Under 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20. Two groups for Age Level 6 and 8 were held in 25th January while the other 6 groups were a 2 days event.
Ahyan Zaman, Bangladeshi American living in Fremont (California) won all the 5 games and clinched the National Junior Champion title in Age group 8 and Under. He is currently studying in 3rd grade of Parkmont School and is a regular member of the chess club NorCal House of Chess.
73 players participated in the Age 8 and Under group. Ahyan from Norcal House of Chess was 6th top seed by rating in this group. His final (5th) round game was the championship decider, where he faced top seed Adrian Kondakov of Berkeley Chess School which you can replay below -
In that same age group's team championship was won by NorCal House of Chess and Ahyan was part of that team. While he has a bunch of trophies at home, this is by far the largest and is close to as tall as him. After winning the tournament, his first question was - where am I going to store this trophy?
The presentation was given by four times Women World Chess Champion GM Susan Polgar. Here is a video of the part where Ahyan received the trophy from her after announcement by Chielf Tournament Director Tom Langland.
Thanks to current BABA EC and BOT committee, BABA 2015 election was held at Fremont on Dec 2, 2014 in presence of community members. The election was held for 2015 BABA EC Panel of President, Vice President and General Secretary, as well as two vacant BABA BOT (Board of Trustees) positions.
We are pleased to announce the election of Muhammad Quamruzzaman of Santa Clara to BABA BOT for a term of three years from Jan 1, 2015.
We are also pleased to announce that the panel consists of Ashik Uzzaman of Fremont as President, Helal Chaudhury of San Jose as Vice President, and Quazi Shahriar Rahman of Fremont as General Secretary was elected. This panel has selected the following members as 2015 EC committee :
1. Ashik Uzzaman President & Social Affairs Secretary
2. Helal Chaudhury Vice President & Finance Secretary
3. Quazi Shahriar Rahman General Secretary & Sports Secretary
4. Raisa Sultana Women & Children Affairs Secretary
5. Ananna Mohsin Cultural Secretary
6. Zeba Ibrahim (Soma) Public Relations Secretary
7. Ahmed Amin Publication Secretary
On behalf of BABA Election Commissions, we like to extend our sincere thanks to outgoing President Helal Chaudhury and other BABA EC committee for an excellent job and dedication. Thanks also to all members of BABA BOT for their constant guidance and advice.
Congratulations to the new BABA EC and new BOT members. Best wishes,
Zia Karim On behalf of BABA Election Commissions Jan 16, 2015
