Snapshots 07-09

25th April 2009

I was sitting anxiously with my mom & dad in the majesty hall of ‘Le Meridian’, waiting for my name to be announced. It was my PG convocation and I had no idea whether I was going to get the degree that evening or not.
‘God, from tomorrow I’ll definitely read The Economic Times (instead of some genuinely interesting pages of The Pune Times) .But please clear my ‘Current Affairs’ paper, my distinction in all the other subjects is worthless if I flunk in this one’
God was listening such prayers from me since I was in 10th Std.These prayers had one consistent demand, just the names of the subjects and the intensity of the prayer (which was directly proportional to the difficulty level of the subject) kept on changing.

Finally, my name was announced. I got up very slowly, adjusted my tie-knot. Mom & dad were clapping. I looked at their glowing faces, they were enjoying my convocation more than me. I went on the dais with plastic smile on my face. The chief-guest reciprocated the same. However, his smile was more fake . (Experience counts!) He handed over me the file and congratulated me.
‘Wait Sir, Let me just check up the file, whether anything is inside it or not.’
I got down from the stage with the echo of applauses roaring in my ears. Slowly, with thumping heartbeats, I opened the file.

BOOM ….The certificate was there.
The certificate, that was going to shout at every corporate recruiter from now on, that the guy holding this is a management graduate, was there.

Lesson # 5 :- Most of the times our prayers are answered.

It was only then, I clearly remember even today that precise moment, when I realized that this is the end, the end of the two most rocking years of my life.

24th April 2009

We were standing in front of our director’s cabin, waiting for the list to be declared. The list of the students who were smart enough to clear all the 85 subjects in the span of 17 months and finally getting the degree in the grand convocation ceremony at one the most glamorous hotels in the city. I was quite comfortable with other 84 subjects .My only concern was ‘Current Affairs’, which consisted of some objective questions from the Economic Times. Although reading this particular newspaper is considered as quite sexy in all B-schools , I don’t mind confessing that I never liked it.
And there I was, standing tensed for straight three hours, facing the consequences of hating the Eco Times.
Time flies when you are with friends. We were waiting till 8 pm. Cutting chai from R2 reduced our misery to much extent.

Then came the announcement, ‘No list shall be declared today, tomorrow in the ceremony every one will come to know whether he/she has got the degree or not’.

I kicked my bike and zoomed in to the wild traffic of FC road. There was this continuous stream of thoughts running in my head.
‘What if I don’t clear this subject’
‘What will happen to my job, will they take back the offer ? ’
‘Mom-dad are already excited about this convocation’

“ Are **** , **** , aage dekhke gaadi chala na…”

“Sorry, my mistake”

Lesson # 4: - You should concentrate only on driving, especially when you are driving in a city like Pune.

1 Sept 2007

“Get out of the class, NOW. And I am giving your entire group one red star.”
Mr. Singh fired as always.
The victim went out of the class with the fear of a lamb in his eyes.
His mistake: - the color of his socks was not matching with the colour of his trousers.

Career Development Program popularly known as CDP was the course filled up with many activities designed to check our capability to take load and face embarrassing situations. It was more intense and serious version of MTV Roadies without any retakes. ( I wont underestimate the learnings though)
The course had some clear cut rules.
1) Even if you have a single hair on your cheek, you are unshaved.
2) A single wrinkle on the shirt means your are untidy.
3) You have to finish the homework before coming to the class .You’ll get an exemption from the homework, only if you die somehow, the night before.
4) The colour of your socks should match exactly with the color of your trousers.
You are liable for the punishment if it is lighter or darker.

And the punishment was……
I experienced it in the first lecture.

“You stand up, explain me the cash flow quadrant” Singh sir said staring straight in to my eyes.
“Sir…mmmm” I was desperately searching for some words to explain my excuse.
“We are running out of time.”
“Err..Actually I was not feeling well so I could not read the book”
“I will take that reason only if you produce the receipt of the hospital in which you were admitted. Please sit down and you will write this entire book today.”

This is unreal man…I mean, I have been threatened with such punishments in the past, but no one is crazy enough to actually implement this. This is not a school. He must be kidding. However his eyes were communicating something else…

“ But Sir…”
“Start writing”
? Entire book ? Really? Unbelievable….
I went home at 12.00 in the night with a hand written copy of ‘ Rich Dad & Poor Dad’

Lesson # 3 :- The Terminator doesn’t exist only in movies. There are some guys (not robots) with whom you can not negotiate. Don’t mess with them.

6th August 2007

After one long PPT about a Japanese concept of Kaizen we were separated in to few groups. Kaizen was the most “famous” activity in our B-school.
The PPT talked something about the concept of continuous improvement.

However when the execution time came, we were told to actually sweep and clean the premises in and around the institute under this kaizen activity…. ..they never mentioned that in the PPT.

Brooms & buckets were ready.
Students, with bit hesitation, picked up the brooms and started sweeping. People on the street were surprised to see these blazer clad municipality workers.

I was the leader of one group. Sweeping the institute is not exactly the activity where you can show your leadership qualities.
“Sir, where is my broom and bucket ?” I asked the senior who was allocating the stuff.
“No broom and bucket for you dude…Pick up that Harpic and brush. You have been allocated the boy’s toilet” He said.
“What …?”
“Gent’s toilet… Loo. Samaz nahi aata kya ?” He was arrogant. But I couldn’t complain. He was our senior. And he was strong.

“Hey Chin. …this kaizen thing is damn crazy na” Here comes the cutest female in the class. A day before this damn kaizen we had talked for the first time. It takes a hell lot of time, efforts & intelligence to break the ice if a guy is introvert like me and a girl, gorgeous like her.

“Hmmm… yaah”
“ Disgusting man…sweeping the streets..”
“ I know…”
“Thank god, I am not doing this.”
“Why ?”
“ I’ve been allocated the directors cabin, I just have to arrange some files. What about you ?”
“I don’t know …yet…”
“Are bhai ..tu baate hi karta rahega kya? ye le gloves aur team ja ke saath toilet saaf kar.”
That same senior interrupted while giving me some orange coloured, sticky & wet rubber gloves.
Her expressions changed in a flash.
“Okay then.. I’ll go” She said staring at those gloves, as if I was carrying a live king cobra.
She’ll never shake hands with me again …I thought while putting my hands in them.

Lesson # 2 :- B School learnings are not only about flashy PPTs in AC classrooms.

3rd July 2007

After I messed up in SNAP, I was waiting for the result of the CET. Hoping to get in to any reputed & university affiliated MBA college.
My B- School, where I was already selected, was not affiliated to any university.
There was not any MBA degree and no powerful brand name.
Honestly I was hesitant to join.
So the CET result was the last ray of hope.

When I checked up the website, I realized that I have not cleared the CET with required marks for my dream college.
My prayer was not answered this time.
I was left with only one choice and I went ahead with that.

It was pouring like anything on that morning of 4th July 2007. I entered the campus for the first time in my life, completely drenched , at 6 in the morning to learn the most important lesson in life , the lesson that I was going to learn in bits and pieces for the next two years , the lesson every one learns only in a hard way, by experience.

Lesson # 1 :- Sometimes, God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers.