Saturday, July 11, 2009
Reading my mind...
Hostel days
Thursday, June 18, 2009
The Real MBA degree... Please stand up!
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Loose ends
Monday, May 11, 2009
Sometimes...
Sometimes...
All you need is a patient ear,
Sometimes,
You want a hug, a warm embrace
Sometimes,
You need the hug, the warm embrace
Sometimes,
You want someone to say “It’s ok, tough luck”
Sometimes,
You feel cold, and want some warmth,
Sometimes,
You feel hot and tired, and need a cool calm,
Sometimes,
Sometimes,
you just don't, can't,
Sometimes,
you want to just go away with someone,
Sometimes,
you want someone to take you away,
Sometimes,
you want answers,
Sometimes,
you don't want to hear even a single question,
Sometimes,
you just want to break, out, free, away...
There are many such times, not sometimes, often... But there isn't that someone, just no one.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Vote - its not your right, nay, its a responsibility
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Mee ShivajiRaje Bhosle Boltoy

Friday, April 3, 2009
Work-Life balance... is there anything like that??
Monday, January 26, 2009
Back to debating
Can't believe its been more than 3 years since the last time I participated in a debate. I had forgotten my own voice!
I lost today. Qualified for the final round, but me and my team-mate came third among three. All three were separated my 1 point each, so it was one really closely fought contest. Worst part is, didn't win any cash :-(
Nevertheless, the best part was that I enjoyed it! I had given up debating after my team's loss in the Fr. CRCE memorial annual debate in my final year in engineering in 2005.
Felt great to be back in that debating atmosphere. Somewhere over the years, I had lost that edge. I don't know why... maybe out of fear, maybe out of shame of losing, maybe out of embarrassment or maybe out of sheer laziness, I had entirely stopped debating, and consequently, was completely out of touch with current affairs and issues. Well, now I'm back!
The Bhimbetka excursion
It isn't a particularly spectacular place, but I just HAD to get out of this campus! The extended weekend presented the perfect opportunity, and for once, I jumped at it.
This place is basically some rock formations and rock wall painting dating back about 9000 years to Mesolithic man. Most of there are hewn into solid rock by wind or water where, presumably, Mesolithic man lived, ate, drank, slept and hunted. As proof, all we have is wall paintings using 'geru' or natural orange/ochre paint, that is absorbed into the stone. This prevents the paintings from being erased by natural forces over time. The pictures mostly consist of cows, bulls, other random animals and hunting and party scenes.
The best part was that I got the first chance to unveil my new camera, the Canon SX10 IS. Had a field day taking photographs in every possible mode and situation. That was the highlight of the trip :-)
Thursday, January 22, 2009
An enviable death
Some crappy news channel was interviewing slain ATS chief Hemant Karkare's widow, and she was talking about her husband. For a typical Indian lady, she appeared very composed. While descibing the incidents, she made a very poignant statement.
"People envy the life of big people... People envious of the life of Shah Rukh Khan (people envy the life lead by famous people like Shah Rukh Khan), but my husband's death is enviable".
Hemant Karkare is really blessed, and I envy him - in life and death.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
It SUCKS to be undecided
And I don't know the answer!!!
There is this song that says:
"Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life...
the most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what
they wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year
olds I know still don't."
It's really easy for people to say that it's cool to be undecided; Yeah RIGHT! They won't understand how hard it is to answer the above questions when every person you meet after a span of more then a month asks them to you. They will never understand how it feels like to stand in a group of people who are discussing industry trends and career paths, when the only thing going on in your mind is :"F*&%, these guys are GOOD!". They'll never understand how difficult it is to motivate yourself to do things like studies.
And most of all, they'll never understand, that when you are really low, when everything around you seems to be going horribly wrong, when you are doubting your own abilities, how almost IMPOSSIBLE it gets to explain your most mundane actions. It seems surreal, when your very existence becomes inexplicable.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
The deepening void with not a straw to cling
Something snaps, and the floodgates open, and all those reflections come running out. Blindsided.
I guess I am quite an expressive person. My expressions and emotions are always hidden. But some of my closest say that my eyes say a lot; sometimes give me away. I wonder what my face says at such occasions, because not all can notice it. My parents have never been able to decipher them, many of my close friends can't see it. Vivek saw it rather instantly today, so I was wondering what gave me away. Cause, well, I was really Blindsided!
It's not that hectic life here is getting to me, because trust me, I can handle and have handled worse situations all alone. It's just like what they say, "sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind... the race is long, and in the end, it's only with yourself". I guess I took this far too seriously. And when you seem to lag in this ultimate race, even with yourself, thats when it strikes you that something is wrong, terribly wrong!
I won't go into what exactly got me upset. Actually there were too many things. An initiative I wanted to drive wasn't coming along, committee w is pressing, studies are in the doldrums, and many more. Details, maybe later.
But what got me most upset is that there is no one or nowhere I can vent all this out. What I meant before is that girls find it a lot easier than guys to express such feelings (Well, this may be a generalization, I'm not sure if I'm right). They talk to their girlfriends (and they all have at least one), and with whom they are absolutely free. They bare themselves to them, talk it over, and its over! But for us guys, and especially jerks like me, such relationships are few and far between.
I am finding it increasingly impossible to talk about my deepest feeling to absolutely anyone. Its not like I don't have close friends. My best friends can't comprehend my panic in such situations. I have spoken to them about these things many times, but they don't get it. I just come across as the neurotic guy who keeps cribbing about everything. There are very few who can even notice that there is something wrong, given my behavior, and even among those handful, hardly anyone can sympathize, let alone empathize with what I am going through this very moment. And that scares me. Am I becoming incapable of building a more-than-superficial relationship with anyone?
At such times, you need someone to talk to, someone to be with, someone to hold on to, and how much ever my pride might come in the way of admitting, someone to cling to, to hold on to for sanity. I don't have anyone like that. I just realized... that I really AM alone.
Monday, December 29, 2008
I hate examinations!!!
I have never studied (somewhat sincerely) till so late an hour, and I don't like it!!! When is this examination going to END???
Thursday, November 20, 2008
A candle for Manjunath Shanmugam
The Manjunath Shanmugam Trust, in an international corporate collaboration committee that was formed initially to get speedy justice to Manjunath, and then went on to work towards a larger goal of attacking corruption and unethical business malpractices in the country. It works extensively in organizing RTI workshops across the country and also constitutes an award for positive social action aimed at reducing corruption by individuals.
In college too, we observed a small commemoration ceremony for Manjunath Shanmugam on his death anniversary, by lighting candles and taking the following pledge -
"I acknowledge that integrity matters today more than ever - to me, to those in my life and to the wellbeing of all of the collectives of which I am a part.
I commit myself to set an example through ethical conduct for the furtherance of integrity and to work against all forms of corruption that I come across, in whatever ways possible.
I will not acceptor offer any advantage, gifts or benefits that would compromise my integrity.
I am prepared to explain honestly and be accountable for my actions when dealing with all spheres of society. Therefore, my actions will be transparent/
I will strive for high standards of service and ethical behavior and promote these values in those around me.
Through the above actions I hope to promote the welfare of all our people."
I only wish there were more people to take this pledge...
Saturday, November 15, 2008
This ones for Aditya
This is what he says about himself on Orkut: "Hi,I am very simple guy having positive way of looking towards life...!"
I knew him since my days at TCS training together in Trivandrum. Save was an extremely hard working, even workaholic to an extent, plain, simple and down to earth guy. He had a quirky sense of humor and a very typical 'professor' like style of talking and walking. Thats him - leftmost in this picture taken on the last day of training at Trivandrum.
Save breathed his last yesterday when he succumbed to a long undetected brain infection. May his soul rest in peace.
Monday, November 10, 2008
IRIS is over :-(
IRIS is a 4 day extravaganza held on the vast 193 acre campus of IIM Indore. It has a gamut of events covering a wide range of academic and non-academic interests for students from the top 30 B-schools in the country. From B-plan contests to gaming competitions, from Stock Market simulations to gaming competitions, we have it all. The culmination of the event is marked by a live concert in the institute main lawns.
But the crowning glory of this event, the flagship event (2 among 3) is Ashwamedha. Ashwamedha is our search for India's best upcoming manager. A continuous string of events, held over 2 days, are used to test the contestants on various aspects of an ideal manager's skill-set. From team skills, to intelligence, analytical ability, operations, finance, marketing; all are tested by innovative games and contests. We start with over 1500 participants from across the country. 2 online elimination rounds bring them down to the top 30, who are invited to the campus during IRIS.
This year, I was a part of the Ashwamedha Core team. That is how I realized the Ashwamedha philosophy. It's not just an event, not just a competition. It's an institution. Sounds like a lecture in OB? Well it did initially. But it makes a lot more sense after hearing the participants talk once the event is over.
Every year, it is out endeavor to make the event unique. Every year, the entire event is overhauled and new games are developed to be part of Ashwamedha. It was the same this year too. The first day put the 30 participants through a variety of innovative and interesting games testing various skills a manager should possess. After a grueling 15 hours on the trot, the participants were truly exhausted. But that was just half the journey.
At the end of Day 1, 6 top participants qualify for the next day. There would be no sleep that night for the chosen 6!
The 6 are then put through even more rigorous events and competitions. Out of the 6, the final is chosen after an open interview in front of a panel of 4 judges and an intimidating audience of 400 people!
But what was most interesting and educating was the entire experience. For me, Ashwamedha has transcended from an event, into an experience. The uniqueness of Ashwamedha lies not just in the fact that it is rigorous and trying, but that fact that it attempts to rise above the mundane and commonplace skills, and really tests tour mettle, your attitude, your very constitution. And not just for the participants, but also for the organizers. I can attest to that after sleeping about 6 hours in 3 days, and still appearing fresh and happy at the end!
So I hail Ashwamedha - 'Ekameva Jayate'!!!
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Back after another prolonged break
This habit is actually bad, really bad. Not sticking to something, getting back after a while, all apologetic, and swearing that I'll never do it again... and end up doing that again. Again and again!
Anyway, thats just another one of my flaws discovered. Whatever...
Events have been thick and fast since I last posted. The student alumni committee (of which I am a member) held it's annual alumni meet. It's called Footprints. Unbelievable amount of work went into that, and thankfully, all that hard work culminated in a successful event. Gosh, that weekend I was up for days. Personal record set: 45 mins of sleep in 65 hours!
Classes started in full swing, and this semester is hectic! Gosh, 10 courses and so many events this time. And I thought I was ready for anything!
Divali was spent at the insti... Couldn't get a break to go home :-(
My birthday was celebrated in style here. I was first dragged to the Melting Pot (thats the hang-out spot outside the mess). There, a bunch of 30 odd folks had gathered to give me my birthday wishes. This is how they did it:-
1) Shoved 2 packs of ice-cream down my pants
2) Then proceeded to give me birthday bumps
3) Doused me with Mirinda, and other smelly aerated drinks
4) Some more bumps
5) Then came the cake! Cut a nice pineapple (I think) cake.
6) And just when I thought it was over, someone shoved my head into the cake.
7) So I barely got to eat any of that cake, and then spent half an hour bathing that crap off my body!
So, quite memorable, I must say...
@EI, that job is called "Commercial Co-Pilot" :-)
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Learnings
What I learnt after 1 semester in India’s premier B school
1. Clearly, I am not the most intelligent, capable and awesome person in the world.
2. Hard work must pay, cause I am nowhere near my dream job.
3. Unable to figure out what my dream job is, still...
4. I am not afraid of any situation. After going through the rigorous schedule and crazy examination, I feel I am prepared for any eventuality. Bring it on!Wednesday, August 27, 2008
A new walk to take
It's still in a very embryonic stage, but at least I am liking treading this new road, this new walk...