Saturday, February 26, 2005

Nothing Much

It's been a real quite time over the past few days. Things aren't moving as fast as they used to move in college. Actually, there isn't much to update this blog with. Well, for something to happen, I must first go out of the coziness of my home. But then, it’s been the same case every time - from the minute I reach home, I loose all interest in traveling. Guess some things/ people will never change. I wonder what the others are upto?
The only news is that I've to join work in the first week of April. The date has been confirmed and the flight ticket would be sent by the company soon. I'll be one of the first guys of my college-mates to join. With most people expected to join only in May/June, I guess one can say that I will be richer by a month's experience first-up!!!! Oh, did I miss the money part? hehe

Wednesday, February 23, 2005

Bang Bang Bang

It's nice to be back in Bangalore. After all those senti good-byes in IIM Indore, it still feels great to be back home. Can't really say that I missed home as it has just been 3 months, and I have had nothing much to do in Indore except freaking-out. A time in life to remember, and a time now to think forward. With a month to go before I join for work, there is a lot of time in hand. Good old "The Hindu" feels as good as ever. Some respite from the TOI and ET that I used to browse through in Indore. Not that they were bad papers, but I do like a non-masala, non-specialized newspaper, and I've grown-up with The Hindu.

I used to hate these 30+ hour travels, but it wasn't that bad this time. Maybe I've got used to traveling, or maybe I had good company this time. The Business worlds and India today that Harish got with him were also helpful in passing the time. There is also one more way we spent time. Believe it or not, we were discussing marketing research. I don't know how, but we did end-up with these subject oriented discussions. Guess we are now addicted to looking at things differently.

More than Indore, I do miss Chennai and Nanganallur, my home for 20 odd years. The plan to visit Chennai this weekend sure excites me and I'm looking forward to that trip. Hope I can find a few known faces back there. But for the next few days, it's Bang, Bang, Bang.

Sunday, February 20, 2005

I'll Miss U

It's my last few hours in this campus. It was very difficult to pack my goods today morning when I wanted to just be with my friends and do some "bakkar". Seems some of the guys got totally sentimental in yesterday's party. As always, I left the party early yesterday. This college has changed me a lot, but hasn't been successful in making me enjoy a party, or even make me dance.
Today is also my last day with this computer which has been with me for over 7 years. I have upgraded it over the years with only the CPU cabinet and monitor resisting change. But now it's time to depart from this last remembrance as well.
I will miss my batch mates, my juniors, my computer, the 24*7 internet connection, and whatever I'm leaving behind. But most of all, I will miss u IIM Indore

Ok, that's somewhat over-exaggerated. Will meet everyone again during convocation, and given the fact that most of us will be in Mumbai/ Bangalore, we'll keep bumping at each other once in a while

Saturday, February 19, 2005

Emotional Fool

I wanted to write something better, but my brain is clogged with too much of emotions.....

As the final few days are moving fast
I stand here, motionless and thoughtless
Feelings are overcoming my stoical side
My heart is beating slower
My Brain is absorbing the moments of the present

The slow movement of the trees
Their response to the slender winds
Reminding of the wonderful times

Mountains surrounded by clouds
Still and emotionless
They are sober for my leaving?

The sound coming from the glass door
That, till yesterday sounded like a ghost's shriek
Now seems to be a cry for my absence

I entered this place seeking challenges
To change the path of my life
That was idling so calm

Seldom did I think, that
the immediate effect of the tornado
Does not even come close to the aftermaths.
Etched memories that make me feel weak

Friends, whenever you were happy
Your smiles caught onto me
At this moment of departing
I see tears dribbling from your eyes
Happiness of placements?
Or sorrow of leaving this campus?
I don't know why they are out of your eyes
But I feel them in my cheeks too

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Thursday, February 17, 2005

Remixed Fable

After a day of doing lots of nothing, I feel tired enough to take a break from my blog So let me present to you something that I didn't write myself, but still enjoyed a lot. This remix story was forwarded to me by my friend N.H.Krishnan. With so many online petitions floating around nowadays, and people forwarding them without putting their head to use, this story lends some food for thought.
Disclaimer: The message in the story is what we are concerned about, and the names are just to add a bit of masala


CLASSIC VERSION

The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter. The grasshopper thinks he's a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away. Come winter, the ant is warm and well fed. The grasshopper has no food or shelter so he dies out in the cold.


MODERN VERSION

The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter. The grasshopper thinks he's a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away. Come winter, the shivering grasshopper calls a press conference and demands to know why the ant should be allowed to be warm and well fed while others are cold and starving.

BBC, CNN, NDTV show up to provide pictures of the shivering grasshopper next to a video of the ant in his comfortable home with a table filled with food. The World is stunned by the sharp contrast. How can this be that this poor grasshopper is allowed to suffer so?

a.. Arundhati Roy stages a demonstration in front of the ant's house.

b.. Amnesty International and Koffi Annan criticizes the Government for not upholding the fundamental rights of the grasshopper.

c.. The Internet is flooded with online petitions seeking support to the grasshopper.

d.. Opposition MPs stage a walkout.

e.. Left parties call for "Bharat Bandh" in West Bengal and Kerala

demanding a Judicial Enquiry.

Finally, the Judicial Committee drafts the Prevention of Terrorism Against Grasshoppers Act [POTAGA]", with effect from the beginning of the winter.

The ant is fined for failing to comply with POTAGA and, having nothing left to pay his retroactive taxes, his home is confiscated by the government and handed over to the grasshopper in a ceremony covered by BBC, CNN and NDTV.

Arundhati Roy calls it "a triumph of justice". Koffi Annan invites the grasshopper to address the UN General Assembly

Tuesday, February 15, 2005

V-day Tests

It's always a pain making repeated visits for the same reason. More so if it is for something related to doctors and medicine. I have been visiting this clinic for the past few days to get some formality-sake medical tests done. The company which gave me a PPO has asked for varied tests like X-ray, blood, urine, HIV (!) and ECG. The first issue is that the clinic suggested by the college doctor is in a place called Annapoorna, which is not so near from this campus. The second issue is that some of the tests have to be taken with an empty stomach, and some after having food. That literally translates to multiple visits to the clinic. Add onto that the fact that I have to visit them again to collect the reports.
Okay, I accept that I am cribbing too much for a nothing job. But then, when the expected results aren't that big, the propensity to put efforts reduces.
The good part is that I am now a medically certified normal person. Nice to know that my heart is functioning properly on the valentine's day. But then, that was always expected.
The much hyped-about v-day went on without any significant happenings. I didn't hear any slipper-shots, and neither have I seen any guy with a slap-mark on his face. Maybe people are maturing

Monday, February 14, 2005

Let's talk movies

In a striking change from our usual time in this campus, we don't have any assignments to swallow our nights. That has made some of us fill the gap with movies. Though I don't have any distinct interest in movies, it's been a nice time-pass over the past week. The list of movies I've viewed include "The Butterfly Effect", "Frequency" and "The Others". The remaining are all Tamil movies. To have some revelation from my usual nostalgic blogs, maybe we can discuss these movies.

The butterfly effect is about the sensitive dependence of results on initial conditions. A small change in the initial conditions could have a huge impact in the final result due to something like an avalanche effect. The difference between an avalanche effect and a butterfly effect seems to be that the avalanche effect requires the change to be drastic enough to cause a significant impact (Inputs from physics majors are atmost welcome). Coming back to the movie, it has been narrated pretty well. The initial scenes which confuse us, the mid-segment which links and clarifies all the earlier happenings, and the remaining part which takes us along with it, all make the movie a good one to watch.

"Frequency" is a bit similar to "The Butterfly Effect" (TBE) in that both involve attempts to change the past. But unlike TBE, this movie does not involve.... well, I don't want to spoil your fun. Go watch the movies to spot the difference. To me, frequency is good, but not as good as TBE. Still, it’s very much worth watching.

"The Others" is a horror movie which failed to scare me that much. Albeit the guys who saw the movie along with me seemed to like it, the movie was a bit too slow to my liking. Ofcourse, I would agree on the fact that the movie has a good ending which gives some respite to the earlier slow narration.

Well, that’s that. Hope my views on the movies were atleast a tad interesting. But with my level of interest on movies, I guess there wouldn’t be any more reviews to follow.

Saturday, February 12, 2005

Parting and Departing

The first couple of guys left IIM Indore in the past few days. At the first strike of sun on the 10th, Arun became the first person to leave this campus for good. He had a silent departure with me and Bhasky seeing him off at the college itself. Well, not much of a feeling for me as I'll keep meeting him in Bangalore. The guy stays about 10 minutes from my house. Paresh had a better departure with a farewell separately for him on the eve of his departure. Though I missed his farewell because of sleeping early that day (gosh, 1 am is now too early to sleep!!!), I got the feel when other friends explained the happenings the next day. Still, I made it to the railway station to see Paresh off. The guy had a DDLJ kind of sendoff with MP running behind the train that had started, and passing Paresh's suitcase to him. If only I could have taken a snap of the moment!

The guys leaving early are getting a nice farewell by those leaving late. But what about us when we leave? We would then be one among the crowd and no one is going to feel separately for us. That's the trade-off we have to face for the gain of staying here and enjoying the last few days of college life and the nostalgia of the past years. Having completed all my exams, classes, and having a PPO (Pre-Placement Offer) since what seems like eternity, I am still in this lovely marooned hill-top only to ruminate and enjoy the years that have changed the course of my life.

In addition to the memories with my batch-mates, I have good retentions from the interactions with my seniors and juniors. Talking of juniors, the junior Tam gang gave us a farewell treat yesterday. Though some might term this as regionalization, it’s always nice to talk to people in your mother tongue, and discuss the stories of what happened back home. None of the other guys will understand our blabber about the variations in Tamil, Koundamani n Senthil, or even the lovely Besantnagar beach.

All is fine that ends fine. But when it’s not the end but the approach to the end, damn I do feel for parting and departing.

P.S. The term "Lovely marooned hill-top" has been copied from a mail from my friend Tarun. Couldn't help but adore the way he put it.

Wednesday, February 09, 2005

Farewell Party

The juniors gave us a good farewell party yesterday. The evening was filled with laughter and happiness with people ruminating over the past couple of years in this institute. What a time we have had!!! Starting from the high tension first year where we even had intra-group fights, to the current time when everything's chilled out. From the time when we used to catch the morning bus to reach the old campus, to the time when we had a "dharna" and moved to this scenic locale. With the PowerPoint presentation prepared by the PGP1 guys taking us back to those nostalgic moments, all of us felt the togetherness with which we have achieved whatever has happened here.

An outsider might not understand the true feeling of this post. If one thinks that we were just another of those batches of an IIM, then he/she is mistaken. Being the first batch to step into the new campus, we had to fight for every single thing. Be it the steps to reach the academic block (some guys had injured themselves during the trek sessions to reach the acad. block), or the shifting of campuses itself. It’s been a good learning experience. We learnt the hardship involved in change management even before it was taught in class.

Back to the farewell party, all of us were called on to the stage with some reference/ pet name and given memorabilia. Yours truly was addressed with the lines - "My mother would have been proud if Ram were her son. We still don't know who your girl friend is Ramanujam". Sounds bizarre? Even most of my friends here couldn't understand it. First of all, there is no relationship between the two statements, except that they have been copied from my testimonials in orkut. The first statement was made by a friend (Balaji) in appreciation of my principles like no copying, no non-veg, no proxies etc. The second one was made by another friend (Rajesh) just to pull my leg. Rajesh seems to have succeeded in making some people think that I have a GF. Well, the only way that this could affect me is, if a prospective GF thinks that I already have one. But when I am not trying for anyone, why should I care?

Tuesday, February 08, 2005

Sunset @ IIM-I

Am feeling quite a bit nostalgic in these last few days at Indore (hmmm. still >10 days to go). Quite fittingly, as the sun sets on my life in this college, I'm uploading some sunset pics taken from our institute


















Sunday, February 06, 2005

The Pain of Idleness

For a bunch of students who cribbed for 1.75 years over the stress and strain of MBA, the past one week has been a change.... a change they never expected to face this way. Yes, my dear friends, the paladins against stress can't take a single week of idleness. Sounds bizarre? Well, I am seeing and feeling it here. Without much to do in the last couple of days, my head has changed its direction of rotation twice in as many days.
I went to the library to take some book to pass time. Guess what I found - I'm no more interested in those 'non-value adding' novels!!! Took a book on Wall Street and came back. Now don't feel like reading it as it is very much like the books that I've been reading over the past 2 years. I need a break, don't I?
Couple of hours of browsing in the net without direction has reduced my liking for the World Wide Web. Is this what we studied as the law of diminishing marginal utility?
Maybe I should utilize this time by performing a SWOT analysis on myself... err I meant having an introspection. Did I actually succeed in moving from abstract conceptualization to actual experimentation?
OMG, whatever happened or not, I sure have been caught in this net of b-school jargons. I'm now contemplating if I will be able to communicate effectively with others

Saturday, February 05, 2005

Photos of IIM Indore

Some of the photos of our campus that we took on the 3rd
The Academic Block


The Faculty Block


Sunset visible from my college


Academic Block


MDP Block


View From MDP Block

Friday, February 04, 2005

Clean and Snap

It's been quite sometime since I decided to capture some part of this scenic institute in a camera. To put the decision into action, I borrowed Arun's camera and looked for a starting point.
What better place than my own den? But the den was so cumbersome. Thus started project RC (Room Cleaning). I arranged my books that were lying in the table, neatly in the rack. My clothes found temporary relief in either the washing machine, or the bureau. The loose papers were either filed or thrown away. Ah! My room is ready for the cleanest room contest. Am still puzzled as to how some guys (very few though) manage to maintain their rooms like this throughout the year.
Oops! I had spent so much time cleaning the room that I didn't have much time to take snaps. In a hurry I captured the digital image of the photo of Lord LakshmiNarasimha in my room to start on a sentimental note, and joined Arun and Bhasky in visiting the PGP office for some minor work.
Later, we started the photo session trying to save the beauty of our college in the digital world. We took photos in the academic block, the MDP block, and from the water tower, which is the tallest point of IIM Indore. The sunset was gorgeous and I only hope we have done atleast a little bit of justice to this beauty in the snaps. Will upload some of them tomorrow.
And yes, today also had some usual(!) events like a quiz, a party, and a movie Cameback inbetween the party as I feel the parties to be monotonous. Didn't watch the entire movie (Vaali-Tamil) either as I didn't like it.

Tuesday, February 01, 2005

Windingup the Deferrals

Finally, 5th term is over!!! Hold-on, am I not in the 6th trimester of this management course? Yes, that's true. But due to some unavoidable (!) reasons, some of my 5th term subjects were postponed to the 6th term. No friends, I did not keep arrears in any of the subjects. These are genuine postponements done by the college authorities.

The main reason behind the postponement of most of the subjects was the scheduling issue with most of the visiting faculties wishing to take classes only in the weekends. There were also the one-off cases like the O&F prof's mother expiring, and hence his inability to take classes as scheduled earlier.
Talking about O&F, that's the subject that got over yesterday. I have already written about the way the O&F quizzes went. The end-term was a bit different in that I still am not sure whether I wrote it well or not
Anyways, the main thing is that the exam is over and so is my 5th term. I was lucky in that just about 8 of my 5th term credits got added to the 6th term. There are people for whom this number is even bigger, and are still studying those subjects. God help them