I had never heard of a book called "Joker among the pack", a Chetan Bhagat-ish take on life at the IIMs. If I had, and if I had read it, I would have realised long back that all that happened for the first 4 days, was all big a farce. Just a way to rag the juniors, since ragging is legally banned.
It's called "HellWeek". All the 5.15 morning jogs, SAD classes, Yoga sessions, post-midnight assignments, threats of an 'F' in audit courses was all a load of crap. Ragging season ended last night, and quite predictable. So much so, that the joke was on the seniors. They announced that a PGP1 guy was caught with dope in his room, and he was to be expelled. The insti director was to address us all at 9PM, so the entire college assembled in the auditorium. There they gave us a lot of gyaan... But we were too smart for that; some wise-cracks actually questioned all their theories and claims!!! (I kept my mouth shut though).
It all ended with them coming out with it all. A big party ensued, after this 'welcome' for us. They predictable dunked many of us with water from the terrace, aseembling us purportedly to take photographs. After that, was a dance party, music, non-alchoholic drinks, the works...
The best part about this whole deal is, I CAN SLEEP PEACEFULLY TILL 9!!!!
Friday, July 4, 2008
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
The Longest Night...
Continues from the previous post.
I didn't actually come back that night. There were 2 assignments put up that very night, at 1AM in the morning! Had to miss the match. Shacked up in a friends room and was up till 5.10AM finishing the 2 damn things. 5.10 because at 5.15AM we have to report for 'Physical Exercise' sessions. That is followed by an hour of 'Self Awareness & Discovery' (long for SAD, and very aptly so!), and then uptil 8.30AM we have Yoga! Classes start at 9, but won't until day after tomorrow. And just to keep us busy, we have a continuos inexhaustable flow of assignments every day! And they range from serious case presentations to daily write-ups on what we did at Yoga today!
I say, ridiculous man! I can see anvay and nishant laughing their butts off when they find out about this.
It's just that I expected something else. From all the talk and hoopla, I just thought that the first few days would be full of fun, late night welcome parties, games of badminton, chilling with some music at 2AM in the morning. But it is nowhere near that. I guess I had just lost the groove to study after being away from it for 2 years. And this isn't just some study program, its the mother of all study programs.
It tirns our that the first 2 semesters are always the toughest. Adjusting is one, the course load is anyway quite high. So, can't complain.
We had a formal inauguration ceremony today. The faculty was introduced, and later we were addressed by Mr. Harsh Vardhan, Director with Boston Consultancy Group! Gosh, just blew me away! BCG was always like a halcion dream, unrealised, and to meet a director with them was way too cool!
So, guess i'll get back to the dreary routine. Gotta check the notice board for some more dreadful assignments. Later...
I didn't actually come back that night. There were 2 assignments put up that very night, at 1AM in the morning! Had to miss the match. Shacked up in a friends room and was up till 5.10AM finishing the 2 damn things. 5.10 because at 5.15AM we have to report for 'Physical Exercise' sessions. That is followed by an hour of 'Self Awareness & Discovery' (long for SAD, and very aptly so!), and then uptil 8.30AM we have Yoga! Classes start at 9, but won't until day after tomorrow. And just to keep us busy, we have a continuos inexhaustable flow of assignments every day! And they range from serious case presentations to daily write-ups on what we did at Yoga today!
I say, ridiculous man! I can see anvay and nishant laughing their butts off when they find out about this.
It's just that I expected something else. From all the talk and hoopla, I just thought that the first few days would be full of fun, late night welcome parties, games of badminton, chilling with some music at 2AM in the morning. But it is nowhere near that. I guess I had just lost the groove to study after being away from it for 2 years. And this isn't just some study program, its the mother of all study programs.
It tirns our that the first 2 semesters are always the toughest. Adjusting is one, the course load is anyway quite high. So, can't complain.
We had a formal inauguration ceremony today. The faculty was introduced, and later we were addressed by Mr. Harsh Vardhan, Director with Boston Consultancy Group! Gosh, just blew me away! BCG was always like a halcion dream, unrealised, and to meet a director with them was way too cool!
So, guess i'll get back to the dreary routine. Gotta check the notice board for some more dreadful assignments. Later...
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Destination: Planet-i
A lot has happened since I last wrote. It feels rather odd to be typing out my thoughts again.
A LOT of things were happening in life, which is what prevented me from writing. In reality, all the things that happened were more or less so weird, painful, exhilarating, that it is hard to put them into words. Some of these emotions are so private, meant for solitary ruminations, that it really becomes difficult to express them, even aloud, even if it is just me in front of the mirror.
So, it all started when I got admission to IIM Indore!!! The enormity, as I once told Mihir, is yet to sink in. Unbelievable, but true. So the last 2 months have revolved around planning the minutest details of my travel and stay for 2 years at the Indian Institute of Management, Indore, India. That, and eating, sleeping, watching TV, eating, sleeping.
And now I am finally here. It is a tantalising feeling, I must say. Since noon, I had these weird feeling in my stomach. I wasn’t concentrating at things I usually do. The moment we left, there was a lump in my stomach, a burning down my intestines. The moment we turned the corner off AB Road, and glimpsed the IIM logo painted atop the water tank, I could feel myself bubbling with excitement like a 5 year old.
The location and the place is spectacular to say the least. Situated atop a hill (rather unoriginally named “Prabandh Shikhar”, which directly translates into “Management Mountain”????), it gives a breathtaking view of the entire habitation sprawled around it. In the distance are lots of mountains, in varying shades of blue, azure and grey. I first moved into the Hostel Blocks to get my room. I have been allotted B-218. Rather sad block to be in; it’s the oldest, hence the most unclean and un-cool .
I did meet a lot of the other denizens of Planet-i, as we call it. Most of them had arrived today, and had spent the larger part of the day unpacking, hanging about, finishing formalities. Now we all plan to meet for dinner, from there head to the Auditorium for the SWAC address (which probably is an excuse for ragging), and lastly the Euro Final at 12.15 AM. SO I really don’t know when I’ll be back to my room on my first day at IIM Indore.
Way to start! Cheers! Later.
A LOT of things were happening in life, which is what prevented me from writing. In reality, all the things that happened were more or less so weird, painful, exhilarating, that it is hard to put them into words. Some of these emotions are so private, meant for solitary ruminations, that it really becomes difficult to express them, even aloud, even if it is just me in front of the mirror.
So, it all started when I got admission to IIM Indore!!! The enormity, as I once told Mihir, is yet to sink in. Unbelievable, but true. So the last 2 months have revolved around planning the minutest details of my travel and stay for 2 years at the Indian Institute of Management, Indore, India. That, and eating, sleeping, watching TV, eating, sleeping.
And now I am finally here. It is a tantalising feeling, I must say. Since noon, I had these weird feeling in my stomach. I wasn’t concentrating at things I usually do. The moment we left, there was a lump in my stomach, a burning down my intestines. The moment we turned the corner off AB Road, and glimpsed the IIM logo painted atop the water tank, I could feel myself bubbling with excitement like a 5 year old.
The location and the place is spectacular to say the least. Situated atop a hill (rather unoriginally named “Prabandh Shikhar”, which directly translates into “Management Mountain”????), it gives a breathtaking view of the entire habitation sprawled around it. In the distance are lots of mountains, in varying shades of blue, azure and grey. I first moved into the Hostel Blocks to get my room. I have been allotted B-218. Rather sad block to be in; it’s the oldest, hence the most unclean and un-cool .
I did meet a lot of the other denizens of Planet-i, as we call it. Most of them had arrived today, and had spent the larger part of the day unpacking, hanging about, finishing formalities. Now we all plan to meet for dinner, from there head to the Auditorium for the SWAC address (which probably is an excuse for ragging), and lastly the Euro Final at 12.15 AM. SO I really don’t know when I’ll be back to my room on my first day at IIM Indore.
Way to start! Cheers! Later.
Monday, May 12, 2008
'Swades' style
Something eerie happened the other day.
I was travelling back home from Hadapsar, and caught a shared 6-seater on the way. These are diesel auto-rickshaws, larger in size than the regular ones, and supposed to seat 6 people (including the driver). They actually fit 11 including the driver!
But what the heck, it's fun riding one if you get to sit at the back, with one leg and your ehad outside the rickshaw. So, anyway, this time I didn;t get my favourite seat. i was squashed on the inside of the rear section, with the shabby man smelling of country liqour. As usual, I had my MP3 in my ears, and quite oddly enough, it started playing 'Swades'. The setting was perfect, the situation was almost the same, and so was the transportation! Phew, eerie!!!
I was travelling back home from Hadapsar, and caught a shared 6-seater on the way. These are diesel auto-rickshaws, larger in size than the regular ones, and supposed to seat 6 people (including the driver). They actually fit 11 including the driver!
But what the heck, it's fun riding one if you get to sit at the back, with one leg and your ehad outside the rickshaw. So, anyway, this time I didn;t get my favourite seat. i was squashed on the inside of the rear section, with the shabby man smelling of country liqour. As usual, I had my MP3 in my ears, and quite oddly enough, it started playing 'Swades'. The setting was perfect, the situation was almost the same, and so was the transportation! Phew, eerie!!!
Recapitulation
A lot has happened since I last wrote. And that is partially the reason why I did not write anything for a long time.
1. Still trying to gather the ruins.
2. Got admission to one of the premier institutes in the country, and obviously, I am joining college soon. Had to quit my current job for that.
3. Totally immersed in thinking about the new college. All day all I think of is alumni-fresher meets, things to buy, climate at the new place, the course pedagogy, preparatory studies etc.
1. Still trying to gather the ruins.
2. Got admission to one of the premier institutes in the country, and obviously, I am joining college soon. Had to quit my current job for that.
3. Totally immersed in thinking about the new college. All day all I think of is alumni-fresher meets, things to buy, climate at the new place, the course pedagogy, preparatory studies etc.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
A most tumultous time...
This past 2 weeks, have been one of the most tumultous times I've been through...
1) I've had my life ripped apart, rent and torn to shreds. I've tried picking up the pieces, but it's tough.
2) Professional life is hard strung, what with delayed results and close-to-impossible assignments at work.
3) One of my best friends broke-up, and for that, I've kept my problems on the back-burner to try and be there for my friend.
4) And my nephew was born yesterday!!! Trust me, it really is one of the most beautiful sights I've seen till now. No kidding, you don't need a photo, you don't need a picture postcard, that image of that little kid in the cradle, all wrapped up, eyes scrunged tight shut, two soft feet wrapped in socks, and those tiny hands with the tiny soft fingers... the joyous father, the grandparents, the aunt... and most of all the mother... that tired, yet absolutely contented look on her face... I'll never forget those images for the rest of my life...
1) I've had my life ripped apart, rent and torn to shreds. I've tried picking up the pieces, but it's tough.
2) Professional life is hard strung, what with delayed results and close-to-impossible assignments at work.
3) One of my best friends broke-up, and for that, I've kept my problems on the back-burner to try and be there for my friend.
4) And my nephew was born yesterday!!! Trust me, it really is one of the most beautiful sights I've seen till now. No kidding, you don't need a photo, you don't need a picture postcard, that image of that little kid in the cradle, all wrapped up, eyes scrunged tight shut, two soft feet wrapped in socks, and those tiny hands with the tiny soft fingers... the joyous father, the grandparents, the aunt... and most of all the mother... that tired, yet absolutely contented look on her face... I'll never forget those images for the rest of my life...
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