The curtains fall.....

More than 820 classes, more than 1230 hours, 33 professors, innumerable guest lectures, presentations, assignments, project reports. Sweat, toil, blood and tears. Euphoria of A+s and the disappointment of Cs. Summers, ensemble, elections, public production, juniors nite, parties, placement processes, treats. Myriad of non academic activities, both value adding and non value adding. Finally today XLRI dream run ends. Today at 6 pm, the class of 2008 will move on to a new beginning. A new beginning as alumnus. As managers. For a lot many of us it is the last academic class we shall be having. As one of my close friend has put it, some one press the pause button and rewind...

My last bow

One of the few people in XL who were jobless enough to go volunteer, organize, hang around any event that happened on campus, yesterday I took my last bow. Retirement from all social activities in XL. They were immense learning experience. Lots of fun. Got to see that side of people which is normally not seen. Met some very talented people. Some very creative people.

Saraswati Puja was celebrated here. Some of the pics from that.

Public Production

Public Production at XL is that one evening when the students gang up and inflict a play on the citizens of Jamshedpur. This year was no different. The only difference was the play, it was completely done by XLers. From the writing to the casting to the sets to the costumes to the lights and sounds.

The theme of this year's play, The Shadows Within was Godhra Riots and its affect on individuals who are unconnected and meet on the train. Staged in an innovative split stage method, this play relied on lights and sounds to create the atmosphere needed for the play. My part in the play was behind the scenes, with the props and stage. Here is the stagecomm pic. The Group who rocked the stage, backstage.

Testimonial time

It is that time of the year again when you write testimonials for your friends and your friends write one for you. Then there are the year book photos etc etc. Each passing day reminds you how close you are to leaving the campus.

Some wonderful people, some people who you have grown close to. People who you look up to and who look up to you.

To part is the lot of all mankind. The world is a scene of constant leave-taking, and the hands that grasp in cordial greeting to-day, are doomed ere long to unite for the last time, when the quivering lips pronounce the word - "Farewell." It is a sad thought, but should we on that account exclude it from our minds? May not a lesson worth learning be gathered in the contemplation of it? May it not, perchance, teach us to devote our thoughts more frequently and attentively to that land where we meet, but part no more?

How many do we part from in this world with a light "Good-bye," whom we never see again! Often do I think, in my meditations on this subject, that if we realized more fully the shortness of the fleeting intercourse that we have in this world with many of our fellow-men, we would try more earnestly to do them good, to give them a friendly smile, as it were, in passing (for the longest intercourse on earth is little more than a passing word and glance), and show that we have sympathy with them in the short quick struggle of life, by our kindly words and looks and action. - Coral Island, R. M. Ballantyne

30 days

Well Ensemble'08 ended in a grand note. The last college fest that I shall be involved in. It also marks the beginning of the end of XL life. Some 30 odd days to go. Nothing happening in the campus. Lateral offers that were pouring in at the beginning of the year are now down to a trickle again. The usual gyaan giving sessions are on. Surprising how two years in a B school makes you so knowledgeable about life. XL in many ways is a microcosm of the entire world. You meet many different kinds of people here, from different walks of life, specialized in different fields of education....and then it hits you...that education is not the only thing that makes the people on the top tick....it calls for something else....and that something is found in the corridors of XL, in the mess, in the hostels in JLT....If RIT made a man out of a boy, XL added the finishing touches and in more than one way made me ready to go out and take on the world...here is to the last few days in this wonderful place, to some of the most wonderful people I met here, to the long lost younger sibling I found here.....

Christmas at XL

It was a different Christmas this year. On the 24th found myself in Rourkela where I discovered the makings of a consultant in me. Stayed as OCL's guest and went around RSP asking uncomfortable questions. The good part of the whole thing was that I got to visit another steel plant. There is something fascinating about steel plants, or rather huge machinery anywhere. Makes you feel so small, at the same time makes you wonder at the human intellect that has developed and designed these huge giants to do their bidding. Another good part, found that though I was a bit rusty, my knowledge of metallurgical processes has been retained.

So coming back to the good parts, spent the Christmas sleeping in late. Doing nothing interesting apart from worrying about the upcoming OCD term paper submission. 6th term and still worrying....well you need to in order to avoid an I. An I means an end to all your dreams and aspirations, you are deemed not to have completed the course.

Today Mercer has come down to campus for the Laterals. I miss out by a few days. Should have left in the first week of June, would have made 18 months. Always happens with me......anyway no point crying over what has happened....keeping a stiff upper lip and waiting and hoping for the best....

HRIS paper is on 9th Jan, damned....was planning to go to Bangalore for Celia's wedding and return on the 8th.....there should be a law against exams at the wrong time....

ya I am going around in circles again, was talking about Christmas, a long drive to V's place brought the Christmas spirit home. Good food, good time.....came back to a sumptuous spread in the mess....

Actually have been thinking a lot....about what MBA means to me.....what have I gained....actually MBA has helped me discover myself.....I know what I will bring to any organization.....I know the real person behind the mask that I project to be me....I know though my achievements have been modest, behind that there always has been me...the under confident lazy dreamer........but I know that more than anything else....as I stand at the threshold of life....I take greater pleasure in being the Kingmaker than be the King....that is my confession for the year....wishing you all a Merry Christmas and an even better and Happier New Year....

Movie I watched

Caught up with some great movies over the break. The last long break that I shall have. Loved the scent of a woman the most. It stars Al Pacino, Chris O'Donnell, James Rebhorn, Gabrielle Anwar, and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Al Pacino won the won the Academy Award for Best Actor and the movie was nominated for Best Director, Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay. It deserved to be. And Al Pacino has woven his magic in his style and brought out some fundamental questions on ones principles, on integrity, on courage, on leadership. Wonder how many of us will measure up to that standard of leadership and integrity that Charlie Simms set.

100 days

I don't know if there are regular readers of this blog other than myself....well for those who have been following my life through this today is a landmark...today marks that there are only 100 more days left till I bid goodbye to XL life....


XLRI.....my dream institute....place where there was more learning outside the classroom than inside....place where I made some amazing friends.....place where some Profs where walking Gods of the subject and some who.....well rather not say it....dunno who must be reading this....

On the subject of passing out.....2008 also marks a year when a lot of people are getting married...actually starts with my cousin in Dec 2007, then it is Lady C in Jan, the PS and Nid in March....Amul baby is also around as soon as we graduate....well looks like its raining marriages....

Beer Bath and other things......

Among other things, got to celebrate my birthday in XL. Well, the party rocked. And the surprise element added to the wow factor. These guys here put in lots of effort to organize everything. Thanks IQ, PK, ComB, Ferrari, Shady, Sana, Flt. Lt., Shilpa and AM. You guys rock. And the birthday gift, a fabulous book.....Bertrand Russell's History of Western Philosophy....leaving you with the photographs....

Getting the bumps.......


Beer Bath.......

The Cake.....

The After Effects....

Writer's block

I seem to be suffering from writers block again. Just a week back, had written and edited stuff for the blog...today am unable to do so. That got me thinking, may be there is something about this writers block after all. So here i just describe the week that went by.

The week went in the usual Pujo festivities. Some pandal hopping at last. Was accused of ditching friends while I went pandal hopping, but none will understand that sometimes, some one may just not feel like coming out of the shell that one has created.

Among other things watched quite a few movies, surprisingly for me. A must watch for any one is The Empire of the Sun, directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Christian Bale, John Malkovich, and Miranda Richardson. It is based on the novel of the same name by J.G. Ballard. Beautiful, moving tale about growing up when the world around you is crumbling.

Also watched a Korean movie, My Sassy Girl, a romantic comedy starring Korean actress Jun Ji-hyun. It is a movie about love, relationship and what it means to be special.

Other than watching these movies dint do anything much. Actually nothing much was there to be done also. Looking forward to next week, when with the SIP on, there will be more to write.

The Year that was...

2006....a year to remember...what started out as a yet another year heralded a change in my life.
The year started with a New Year party to remember at our place at Thane. Popat, Kachhu, Cheeku and yours truly. A wild party....a way to bring in the year that would be.

First week end saw me traveling to the other end of Mumbai, for XAT. The CAT results were out just before and I saw no hope for me. XAT was decent, as usual, one kindda tends to become used to this after umpteen number of attempts...looked around for Arjun; he was not to be seen. Big deal...went back home. Next day come to know that Arjun was dead drunk, too drunk to come for XAT. The realisation of what he missed dint hit home until later, when the results came.

Back to work, good old Syntel. Night shifts galore. Praksh was coming back for sometime, it was hell. Portal was supposed to be our domain now. New team members, Mani, Harikesh, and Sukant holding fort. Thanks guys!! You people deserve a mention.

Jan end, XAT results, I have an XLRI shortlist. Good. Then an XIMB and a GIM. Life looks up. Tell my project manager, Manas, that I might leave. The best words ever from him, "If you are going for the interview, go with the confidence that you will leave Syntel, else dont go." Words, that inspire, and command. My first boss, and role model, Manas Padhye. Hope I get a boss like you again.

Feb went in a flash. Reading up, work pressure being handled by the team. A team, spread across geographies, but united nevertheless. No MBA institute can better epitomise team work and team spirit. The big days of March. The first interview, XLRI.

March afternoon in Mumbai, bit hot. Quite humid. Reach the interview location. No mistakes this time. Previous candidate comes out, and yours truly barges in. Interview panel, PR, AP, Fr.A. PR looks up, who are you? Wish the floor opens up and swallows me. My dream institute. Come on. What did I do? Anyways, collect my wits. Stare stupidly as they mark the previous candidate. Anyways, the interview is on.

Come out dazed, stopwatch in pocket says interview lasted 6 minutes. 6 minutes, that's too less. Call up my Guru, Tanmay. Tanmay, diplomat, says, 6 minutes means they liked you or they dint. Am like, dude, I know that. Tell me something I don't know. Went over word by word analysis. Then Guru says, think you should make it. Tere mooh mein ghee shakkar...thanks mate. Optimism pays.

Rest of the interviews go in a blur. Work is getting hectic. It is getting irritating travelling in the Mumbai heat. Nights are getting longer. Kanjur station is a welcome respite, for home is just 15 mins away now.

March end. The wait ends. Results are out. I am in XLRI. Hand in my resignation to Manas. Maybe am the first employee, who asks him the format of the resignation letter. And he gave it to me. Gave him ample notice. But now, not interested in work anymore. Some how come to office and do the least amount. Train the new comers. Fraxing starts already.

Time to shift house. The lease has expired. We find one, closer to the station. Nice place. Bachelors shifting house. All our worldly possessions fit in two autos. We shift in. Cheeku decides to leave us, he is quitting Mumbai. He moves on. Now it is only the two of us, Popat and me. Kachadiya decides to shift in.

XLRI fees has to be paid. SBI goes on a strike. Heart in hand. I wait. Thankfully things work out. No issues.

One month, passes in a whirl. May end. My bags are packed. I am ready to go. My last day at Syntel. Exit interview is done. The HR lady asks, what happened, dint like the project. No, mam, loved the project. Leaving to follow my dreams.

At last, the day to leave. Guys come to see me off. Dadar station, Chalukya express; headed home, to Bangalore. Bye bye Mumbai, with all your heat and humidity, your floods and traffic jams, you taught me to take life, each day as it comes, and to chill out when your work is done, as if there is no tomorrow. Will miss you. Will miss a lot of people too.

Bangalore....home sweet home...some work to be caught up on. Lots of people to meet. And, of course my sweetest Ruchi. Fifteen days later, it is June and I am headed to Jamshedpur.

Jamshedpur, the place that made a man out of mama's boy. The place that taught me a lot and also taught me engineering. The place, that let me make friends. Some for life. And the place which gave me a better half in life.

Dusty, sleepy industrial town. Nothing much changes here. Moved in to XLRI. The place is small, but am looking forward to meeting the people.

XLRI. Dream world. A place where people dream to get in, then work their backside out to get out. Met some nice people, some super nice people, some good people and met a crazy air force pilot with a heart of gold. Fl. Lt. Rajat Shahi. Person par excellence. A gentleman to the core. But, yes, he is mad. Induction programme came and went. Lot of academic work. Met a quiet little girl, and a bond developed. A brother with his lil sister. Komal made an appearance.

First term showed how rusty I was with books. Writing notes in class was a torture. I had not used a pen after college, except to sign cheques and fill MBA forms. It was relearning how to study.

Introduction to XL culture followed. Adventure and village trip. The other side of life. Playing badminton and getting wet in the rain. Living a life.

September end, term 1 ends, the end term exams are on. Shit!!! I don't know a thing. Last minute studies and mugging. One week and the pain is over. I am headed back home.

Week later am back. It is the second term. Time for SIP. Companies, PPTs to attend, forms to be filled. Everyone wants a SOP, short and long term goals. Short term goal...that's a joke...it is to survive here. Calls to Ruchi increase. I am not able to handle this. Shortlists are coming out. List after list. Name in not there. Death is a great leveller, campus placements are too. It doesn't matter what you know or what you don't. Nothing else matters. It is one company that wants you.

Day 1, no luck. Day 2 no luck till the end. Have to move on to slot 2. That is bad. Heavy at heart go back to sleep. Am woken up by Rajat. "You are through in IBM". He actually spent the night waiting for the results. Thanks man. I am out of the process.

SIP end, time to catch up with all the missed work. Classes are on. The term is ending. The end terms are coming. And suddenly, it is time to go back home. End of term 2. End of 2006.

Overall a roller coaster ride. A year that saw me move on to chase my dreams. Sometimes there were doubts. Sometimes there were fears. I metamorphosed from a software engineer, to a student. And now, waiting for the new batch. I am a senior student. A year that taught me more than my other years put together. A year that showed me that the world is tough, but tough people survive. A year that was all things good, some things not so nice, some tough, some soft, some filled with laughter, some joy....spiced with little tears, some heartaches, a tiny bit of sorrow. Years will come, hope each year is as wonderful as the last. My wish for the new year is that I wish to start on the following long pending work:

1. Have some patience while taking decisions
2. Some career planning
3. Where do i want to go from here
4. Get a new hobby
   

Here is wishing myself a very happy new year.

dhaak......

I had started writing this post way back during Pujo last year. Never got around to publish it. Posting it as it is. Also there is a new video here. Dhaak....created by Rajesh Chakraborty, this does capture the essence that is Pujo. Aasche bochor aabar hobe, maa aabar aasbe....
___________________________________________________________

This is post long overdue. A lot has changed since my last proper post. My last day at Syntel was aeons back. In between I spent the months coming to terms with XL. In the blink the first Sem flew and here I am in the second Semester. But that is not the subject of this post. As the title suggests, this post is about the humble dhak.

"Dhaak", an image associated with Durga Poojo, "Dhaak", as can be described to a non bengalee, is a huge barrel-shaped drum, one end of which is decorated with feathers and on the other end the dhaaki, or the maestro; whose unsurpassed virtuosity finds expression in the frenzied pounding which invokes an almost hypnotic rapture.

In every Bangalee home, come autumn and young and old alike eagerly wait for the sound of dhaak. The first sounds, or as we say it dhakee porlo kaathi, brings with it the unfettered emotions of another year past. A year with its joy and sorrows, a year with its pain and triumph, everything is merged together on the five days of Pujo. Pujo aasche. Words that inspire. Words that trigger the memories of home. Every Probashi Bangalee, whereever he may be looks forward to planning to go home during Pujo. Every Bangalee, tracks his year by the Pujo. It is an expression of everything that is beautiful about life. It is an expression of the creativity, the spontaneity, the jubilation, it is an expression of life. And in this dhaak plays an important role of heralding the autumnal festival. No Durga Pujo can be complete without the hypnotic rhythm of the dhaak.

According to the Bengalee calendar, the days for the Durga Puja are counted on the basis of the sunrise and sunset while the tithi depends on the rising and setting of the moon. The Sasthi, Saptami, Nabami, and Dashami pujas are performed after sunrise even if they fall on the previous evenings. The Goddess is worshipped as a kumari or young girl, and later reveals herself in her true form on Mahasaptami (the seventh day of the moon). On Mahashtami (eighth day) and Mahanavami (ninth day) the celebrations reach a feverish pitch. On Dashami (tenth day) the idol of Durga is immersed in water. She is usually accompanied by what Bangalees hold as her family - Ganesha and Kartikeya - who are her sons, and the goddesses Lakshmi and Saraswati, who are supposed to be her daughters. This is a tradition unique to Bengal. The reason for this is that Durga is believed to come to Bengal not as the Mother Goddess, but as a daughter visiting her parent's home along with her children. She is believed to have lived a difficult life all year long in the Himalayan snows, and therefore a great deal of fuss about her comfort is made when she comes for a visit. The immersion of the goddess into the Ganga, after the pujo is over, is seen as the dissolution into the Universe of the Mother. This ceremony recreates that divine act of transcendence, as well as delivering a valuable lesson on the impermanence of all things, no matter how beautiful and valued they may be.

Threw and through

After XIMB threw me...(I made it to the centurian W/L).....I am finally through XLRI....

Paid off...at last

Lonely nights and interview frights

After a loooong time another post.....

The last three months have been hectic to say the least. Major reasons for them being
1) I gave the XAT
2) I got calls
3) I became the team lead and the biggest
4) XIMB gave me aroyal kick on my backside and put me in my place.

What ails me during interviews??? Why does it always happen that I can think of the best answers the minute I step out of the interview room??? Does it happen with all...or am I the lucky one. Come on...two calls from XLRI and two from XIMB in two years and still not an MBA is pretty hard to beat.

I still remember the first XLRI interview....it was a dream...till Dr. Rao from XL decided to ask your's truly's opinion on a goddamned case. Workers in a steel plant are on a strike for increased pay (happens everywhere). Management willing to incease only half. What will you do?

I confidently say....fire the workers (the paapi pet pe laath ka funda)....doesn't cut any ice with the panel. I step out of the room...to find Suchorita chewing her finger nails and Tanmay grinning his chesire cat grin. And a bolt strikes me...wait a minute...I could have negotiated......na tera...na mera....average le lete hain...why din't I think of it.....

Next comes the XIMB interview.....after the usual formalities (which included, what are you, who aer you, why are you here) comes to the brass tacks....what do you want to do after MBA. Moi, the great moi...comes out with pen and paper to explain a business plan....something that is a cross between a credit card and a hospital prescription...don't ask me what...even I was convinced it wouldn't work......of course it din't cut any ice with the panel....

Fast forward to 2006....XIMB....all tech stuff about meta....how the hell am I to know....its been two years sir since I last glanced at a meta book...but I had brought this upon me...thinking that the interview would be very short..i asked the panel to ask me on anything...the result...WL 119....hell to pay

It is not related to only MBA interviews...it is something in the thing called my head....but it still remains....why me???