Term 8 started…and with it the last leg of this year…
Had the fortune of catching up with my ex-boss at ISB yesterday (Tuls, Ki, Su…if you are reading this…I am talking about Viji!). It was amazing to go back to the time when she was trying to convince me that I needed another year of work before I could think of an MBA. And how I though otherwise…at times without any sound logic backing up the argument.
Needless to say…she was thrilled to hear about ATK and where I shall be headed with it. it was funny though how she went… “I always knew you could achieve this…that’s why I supported you in your decision…” :)
Over the past year…there are a lot of lessons I have learnt. Most of which have not come through the courses…or texts…! My version of some of them…
· 1st day of Term 1: “Holy shit…I have got the worst study group in the world…I mean…wtf…this is worse luck than a blind guy stepping on cow shit…!”
Last day of Term 4: “Holy shit…what will I do without you guys…I mean…shit…this sucks…can we please form groups in the electives…can I come over to sleep on your sofa…shit man…this sucks…sucks…sucks…sucks…sucks…”
· Breakup of your grade:
o Hard work: 20%
o The people you hang out with and their grades: 20%
o Your study group: 20%
o The course TA: 30%-40%
o Miscellaneous: 10%
· At the end of the year:
o Non IT Guy: I know IT…what do you know…???
o IT Guy: I know IT…and finance…and marketing…and operations…and HR…and entrepreneurship…and I am applying to all these jobs…! HAH…!
Damn…!!!
Has you ever lost your train of thought while blogging because of some jackass call…!! Well…it happened right now…! So will continue with this series…
Also have to post my interview experience and learnings…shall do that as well…soon…!
Listening to Tanha Dil…! This song never stops making me feel numb…love it…
~a
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Saturday, February 25, 2006
good ending...
Yesterday was a pretty crappy day…except for the closure…(which btw happened only today…). Read on to decipher the cryptic statement…!
It all started in the morning…all was good…till…never mind…! So anyways…I was really really hoping to close my books yesterday…wrt my friends and their placements. Unfortunately things didn’t work out as expected…which was pretty sad. I was feeling low the entire day…actually tense…
Add to that the bloody movie…page 3…depressing shit. I hated the movie for its truth…one of those rare moments when I wish I never knew the truth.
But then…it was awesome spending time with myself. Everyone had gone out…and I am glad I didn’t go. Watched the movie…went for a walk…and it was breezy and cold…came back…wrote some stuff…and basically just had a good time with myself…!
The girls came back from dinner…so went to catch up on S and E. Spend some good time with E…she is cute when she is high…! :)
Then P called up and asked to come over. Went there…and the entire FOGP was there…and U as well. started chatting…absolutely every shit under the sun…ate maggi…drank…tea…started playing games…decent ones…had an awesome time…
Time: 5.45am…
“ab too sunrise dekhke hi soyenge…”
All of us go to the roof garden…awesome breeze…the moon almost fading out…sitting there doing nothing…absolutely still…looking at the campus top down…and how small things r from such a perspective…
Good ending…!
~a
PS:
1st leg of the placements is over. However, the work is far from over. Companies are lined up for this week as well…
The next one month…system sudhaar andolan. Will make sure that all the loopholes in the system are fixed to the best possible manner. No padhai this term…only social service…! :)
It all started in the morning…all was good…till…never mind…! So anyways…I was really really hoping to close my books yesterday…wrt my friends and their placements. Unfortunately things didn’t work out as expected…which was pretty sad. I was feeling low the entire day…actually tense…
Add to that the bloody movie…page 3…depressing shit. I hated the movie for its truth…one of those rare moments when I wish I never knew the truth.
But then…it was awesome spending time with myself. Everyone had gone out…and I am glad I didn’t go. Watched the movie…went for a walk…and it was breezy and cold…came back…wrote some stuff…and basically just had a good time with myself…!
The girls came back from dinner…so went to catch up on S and E. Spend some good time with E…she is cute when she is high…! :)
Then P called up and asked to come over. Went there…and the entire FOGP was there…and U as well. started chatting…absolutely every shit under the sun…ate maggi…drank…tea…started playing games…decent ones…had an awesome time…
Time: 5.45am…
“ab too sunrise dekhke hi soyenge…”
All of us go to the roof garden…awesome breeze…the moon almost fading out…sitting there doing nothing…absolutely still…looking at the campus top down…and how small things r from such a perspective…
Good ending…!
~a
PS:
1st leg of the placements is over. However, the work is far from over. Companies are lined up for this week as well…
The next one month…system sudhaar andolan. Will make sure that all the loopholes in the system are fixed to the best possible manner. No padhai this term…only social service…! :)
Friday, February 24, 2006
its not my usual...
Only 2 more to go…and I am sure they shall convert very soon as well. I realize that its not the best position to be in…when people all around you are getting jobs and celebrating…but then I respect them for holding on to their nerves and not giving up. that’s what makes me so proud of them…and I know that this very trait of theirs shall take them far ahead in life.
Records are being broken left right and center. Record for the highest domestic and international package ever in Indian B-school history has already been established. And it doesn’t stop here. The number of people who have got placed in the 1st 6 days itself is phenomenal.
A very disturbing email was sent by an R2 applicant about the ISB placements this year. What makes the entire situation worse was that the ‘details’ had come from a current ISB student itself…who ofcourse was no where close to senses when he spoke. Things written in that email make you wonder if that last strand of intelligence had also died an unfortunate death in that ass****’s mind when he gave off the ‘real scene’…!
All this makes you disillusioned. And I hate to be writing all this here. But I need an outlet. If there is one thing I could wish for right now…its to catch hold of that guy…shake him up…so hard that he realizes the difference between ignorance and reality.
People…and this is especially for students coming in…need to understand a few things about ISB. And I shall act as the preacher today…
If everything goes fine…then I shall be closing my books tomorrow and can plan for a nice party and a delhi trip. Lets see how it works…
Apart from that…nothing else…! Yah…the Jessica lal case was quite shattering. Was feeling horrible for hours because of it…and almost broke down this afternoon while watching her sister’s interview. The system sucks…and what sucks more is that I don’t want to do a thing about it knowing very well that I should. I just don’t have the balls…bastard me…!
Sorry for the post…its not my usual…
~a
Records are being broken left right and center. Record for the highest domestic and international package ever in Indian B-school history has already been established. And it doesn’t stop here. The number of people who have got placed in the 1st 6 days itself is phenomenal.
A very disturbing email was sent by an R2 applicant about the ISB placements this year. What makes the entire situation worse was that the ‘details’ had come from a current ISB student itself…who ofcourse was no where close to senses when he spoke. Things written in that email make you wonder if that last strand of intelligence had also died an unfortunate death in that ass****’s mind when he gave off the ‘real scene’…!
All this makes you disillusioned. And I hate to be writing all this here. But I need an outlet. If there is one thing I could wish for right now…its to catch hold of that guy…shake him up…so hard that he realizes the difference between ignorance and reality.
People…and this is especially for students coming in…need to understand a few things about ISB. And I shall act as the preacher today…
- This is the basic…and if you get this…you will get whatever you want. ISB is not…repeat…IS NOT…a magic wand that shall get you to where you want to be. YOU WILL TAKE YOURSELF THERE…AND ISB SHALL MERELY FACILLITATE.
- Which means that if you are looking for a career shift…from say IT to finance…you shall have to do that much more. It won’t happen just cause you are a fin major.
- ISB is a lateral school. We are not in the business of closing our placements within 3 days. We have…and will always have…month long placements…wherein people shall negotiate on roles, compensation and the toilet paper brand used in the office…for eternity.
- And hence…companies that comes during the 1st 7 days…are not the only companies that come. There is almost a 50% increment on that base…if not more.
- With 279 students…and the average comp as 10.1 lacs (last yrs stats)…everyone does not get more than 10 lacs. That’s precisely why the average…the sum of all salaries divided by the number of students…get it…is 10.1 lacs. Hence…there are people less than this number as well…
- The reason for this is the fact that not everyone pays the way the consults and the I-banks pay. Their business model is different. If an entire industry is surviving because of cost arbitrage then please don’t expect them to pay the equivalent of Bill Gates’ salary…! Please be realistic.
- …don’t think that anyone in ISB doesn’t want you to get a good job. Everyone at ISB is working towards the same. So please trust the system…and support it. and even if you wish to criticize it…do so by entering into it and suggesting improvements…
- And lastly…it is not that the top rankers get the best job. I wish I could share the stats of this yrs…but if we do a ‘CGPA adjusted compensation’…some guys will shock the toppers…! The entire thing is to simply stay focused…work towards your aim…network…leverage upon the batch strength in terms of its experience…and…pray…!
If everything goes fine…then I shall be closing my books tomorrow and can plan for a nice party and a delhi trip. Lets see how it works…
Apart from that…nothing else…! Yah…the Jessica lal case was quite shattering. Was feeling horrible for hours because of it…and almost broke down this afternoon while watching her sister’s interview. The system sucks…and what sucks more is that I don’t want to do a thing about it knowing very well that I should. I just don’t have the balls…bastard me…!
Sorry for the post…its not my usual…
~a
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
11 more to go...
Work work work…that’s been the mode for the past 3 days. The numbers r looking good…though there is still a lot of work to be done.
1. Sleep still remains an elusive dream…not more than 4 hours of it…!
2. I am running out of formal shirt…am passing off checks as formals now..!
3. Ties are even worse…wearing a blue tie…with a blue shirt…same shade…! :)
4. Legs are worse hit…who the f was the inventor of formal shoes…and at what point of time exactly was he planning to think on the lines of comfort…!!!!!!!
But largely its all good…is fun going through recruitment data…looking at loopholes and areas of concern…interacting with recruiters…convincing them of stuff…living off juice and sandwich…hanging out at the CAS office at SV1 (I just realized I haven’t been to the academic block for 4 days now!!!)…and what not…!
Things are shaping up…plz keep praying
~a
PS:
Friends Update
1. P got Castrol yesterday…he rocked it…!
2. A didn’t make it to the Castrol list. She has bharti today…so does banno and S
3. E has Hewitt and J&J. hope she makes it to Hewitt…plzzzzzzz
4. B got Irevna at 4 in the morning…! :)
5. S got TCG…and she might take it…!
6. 11 more to go…cmon guys…!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1. Sleep still remains an elusive dream…not more than 4 hours of it…!
2. I am running out of formal shirt…am passing off checks as formals now..!
3. Ties are even worse…wearing a blue tie…with a blue shirt…same shade…! :)
4. Legs are worse hit…who the f was the inventor of formal shoes…and at what point of time exactly was he planning to think on the lines of comfort…!!!!!!!
But largely its all good…is fun going through recruitment data…looking at loopholes and areas of concern…interacting with recruiters…convincing them of stuff…living off juice and sandwich…hanging out at the CAS office at SV1 (I just realized I haven’t been to the academic block for 4 days now!!!)…and what not…!
Things are shaping up…plz keep praying
~a
PS:
Friends Update
1. P got Castrol yesterday…he rocked it…!
2. A didn’t make it to the Castrol list. She has bharti today…so does banno and S
3. E has Hewitt and J&J. hope she makes it to Hewitt…plzzzzzzz
4. B got Irevna at 4 in the morning…! :)
5. S got TCG…and she might take it…!
6. 11 more to go…cmon guys…!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Monday, February 20, 2006
placements...and me...
So…I finally manage the 1st enter post the initial placement days.
The placement period at any campus is truly the most challenging one…at each and every individual level. And it actually goes for even the ones getting placed on the 1st day. ISB wasn’t any different…
The big 2 of consulting…(Mc-Donalds and BombayCG) started their tryst with the students on Friday. Mc was lookin at impressive numbers…and BCG was going strong on the sheer marketing efforts they had plugged in throughout the year. And the shortlist was essentially the who’s who of ISB. All the dean listers…the top extracurricular performers and the uniquely diverse candidates (a doctor turned detective…and a PhD Army Guy…and the likes).
I was part of the BCG shortlist…and was quite prepared. However, the other side didn’t seem to agree and I wasn’t part of the 2nd shortlist, that came about after the initial 2 rounds of interview. But then…I am to blame myself…I really wasn’t my best…!
Nevertheless, Saturday came and both the firms were into their 3rd rounds…! And with the day…came the remaining big consults…and the big FMCGs.
I was interviewing with ATK and Citi. Finally got in through ATK and closed the process by accepting their offer. And am really happy with it. Shall be posted most probably off Delhi…and the work is truly world class and almost similar, if not higher, when compared to the Donalds and the Bombays…! :)
It is such a relief of sorts…u hv been working towards something all this while…and then it finally happens. Forget the fact tht my mom knows shit abt the company…my dad tolds his friends tht I have got through some AT Carnage firm…and R after all my explanations regarding the compensation, role, location etc asks me “so…tell me…would you be now called an investment banker…???”
“ummmm…ATK is one of the world’s largest management consulting firm…so what part of this statement DIDN’T YOU UNDERSTAND…???????”
Offers closing in…VM cracked the highest offer on campus so far…and some really neat offers were made left right and center. Donalds took 10 students…an Indian record…!
Some sad moments also happening…but its awesome fun as part of the PLACOM to be fighting such issues and still reach home at 2 in the morning after a hard day’s work…feeling good about the fact that another 50 odd people and their families shall sleep a very satisfied sleep tonight…!
Waiting for a lot more records to be broken…and a lot more smiles on campus…!
~a
The placement period at any campus is truly the most challenging one…at each and every individual level. And it actually goes for even the ones getting placed on the 1st day. ISB wasn’t any different…
The big 2 of consulting…(Mc-Donalds and BombayCG) started their tryst with the students on Friday. Mc was lookin at impressive numbers…and BCG was going strong on the sheer marketing efforts they had plugged in throughout the year. And the shortlist was essentially the who’s who of ISB. All the dean listers…the top extracurricular performers and the uniquely diverse candidates (a doctor turned detective…and a PhD Army Guy…and the likes).
I was part of the BCG shortlist…and was quite prepared. However, the other side didn’t seem to agree and I wasn’t part of the 2nd shortlist, that came about after the initial 2 rounds of interview. But then…I am to blame myself…I really wasn’t my best…!
Nevertheless, Saturday came and both the firms were into their 3rd rounds…! And with the day…came the remaining big consults…and the big FMCGs.
I was interviewing with ATK and Citi. Finally got in through ATK and closed the process by accepting their offer. And am really happy with it. Shall be posted most probably off Delhi…and the work is truly world class and almost similar, if not higher, when compared to the Donalds and the Bombays…! :)
It is such a relief of sorts…u hv been working towards something all this while…and then it finally happens. Forget the fact tht my mom knows shit abt the company…my dad tolds his friends tht I have got through some AT Carnage firm…and R after all my explanations regarding the compensation, role, location etc asks me “so…tell me…would you be now called an investment banker…???”
“ummmm…ATK is one of the world’s largest management consulting firm…so what part of this statement DIDN’T YOU UNDERSTAND…???????”
Offers closing in…VM cracked the highest offer on campus so far…and some really neat offers were made left right and center. Donalds took 10 students…an Indian record…!
Some sad moments also happening…but its awesome fun as part of the PLACOM to be fighting such issues and still reach home at 2 in the morning after a hard day’s work…feeling good about the fact that another 50 odd people and their families shall sleep a very satisfied sleep tonight…!
Waiting for a lot more records to be broken…and a lot more smiles on campus…!
~a
PS: Even though people r after my life for a treat and all tht...i have a list of 19 people who have to get a job before i can even think of celebrating. the count as of today is 7...! hang in there guys...!
Monday, February 13, 2006
love that permeates much beyond a single day...
Never celebrated it…didn’t ever feel the need to…
Never bothered a heck about it…definitely didn’t buy someone a rose for 5K at an auction (and yes…this has happened in front of my own eyes…the very same with which I see…!)
Never thought it was even worth spending 5 microseconds on…there were better…far more important days to consider…
But what the heck…someone (and a marketing genius…would be my best guess)…has created the day…very smartly passed the entire buck onto some St. Valentine (who for all practical purposes was a divorcee…who cares…!)…however has managed (to near perfection) to move an entire generation towards the concept of the same. Impressive…
To this gentleman…and the feeling of love that permeates much beyond a single day…
Happy V Day…!
~a
PS:
Never bothered a heck about it…definitely didn’t buy someone a rose for 5K at an auction (and yes…this has happened in front of my own eyes…the very same with which I see…!)
Never thought it was even worth spending 5 microseconds on…there were better…far more important days to consider…
But what the heck…someone (and a marketing genius…would be my best guess)…has created the day…very smartly passed the entire buck onto some St. Valentine (who for all practical purposes was a divorcee…who cares…!)…however has managed (to near perfection) to move an entire generation towards the concept of the same. Impressive…
To this gentleman…and the feeling of love that permeates much beyond a single day…
Happy V Day…!
~a
PS:
- ISB has an awesome candlelight dinner scheduled for this evening. God damn it…I have my BCG dinner as well…! Career 1st…! :)
- Except for a few…many shortlists haven’t yet poured in. with placements starting Friday…I expect the new few days to experience a deluge of announcements. Damn my weak heart…!
Saturday, February 11, 2006
god...i loved the...
Scene 1:
Jaliawala bagh… “aapka aagyakaari beta…Bhagat Singh…”
Scene 2:
The tricolor is folded and presented to the mom, at the funeral
Scene 3:
The door-bell rings…mom goes to open the door. 2 soldiers with the trunk of her son
Scene 4:
“itna sab ho gaya aur main sirf dekh raha hoon…saala humhaari kuch aukaad nahi hai…”…(cries inconsolably)
Scene 5:
“…sochta hoon ki humhaare bacche kale honge ki gore…”… “hahahahahaha”… (gun shots)…
5 scenes…5 characters…my eyes…my tears…my feelings…my helplessness…
Rang De Basanti…! Rocking…!
I saw it for the 2nd time today…and the emotions are just the same. Such movies are not really movies…they are an experience…an experience that leaves my mind disturbed. I wish I could do something…I want to do something…but feel bound by so many things. It’s so hard to let go…when there is so much attached to you. But then…that is precisely why sacrifice is so hard…!
Suddenly the placements…this MBA…this anxiety and this ‘survival’ seems so trivial…! And yet here I was…preparing bloody cases and taken personal interviews…at times questioning…why…?
At times…it takes a movie to make you realize your worth…or the lack of it…!
God I loved the movie…
Watch it…!
~a
Jaliawala bagh… “aapka aagyakaari beta…Bhagat Singh…”
Scene 2:
The tricolor is folded and presented to the mom, at the funeral
Scene 3:
The door-bell rings…mom goes to open the door. 2 soldiers with the trunk of her son
Scene 4:
“itna sab ho gaya aur main sirf dekh raha hoon…saala humhaari kuch aukaad nahi hai…”…(cries inconsolably)
Scene 5:
“…sochta hoon ki humhaare bacche kale honge ki gore…”… “hahahahahaha”… (gun shots)…
5 scenes…5 characters…my eyes…my tears…my feelings…my helplessness…
Rang De Basanti…! Rocking…!
I saw it for the 2nd time today…and the emotions are just the same. Such movies are not really movies…they are an experience…an experience that leaves my mind disturbed. I wish I could do something…I want to do something…but feel bound by so many things. It’s so hard to let go…when there is so much attached to you. But then…that is precisely why sacrifice is so hard…!
Suddenly the placements…this MBA…this anxiety and this ‘survival’ seems so trivial…! And yet here I was…preparing bloody cases and taken personal interviews…at times questioning…why…?
At times…it takes a movie to make you realize your worth…or the lack of it…!
God I loved the movie…
Watch it…!
~a
Monday, February 06, 2006
...keep on moving on...anyway...
Placement prep on in full swing. There is so much to do…and everyday before I sleep I question myself on my ability to make it. It’s scary at times…exciting most often…but the god damn apprehension doesn’t seem to go away ever. Maybe that is what keeps me going on…!
Can’t believe that term 7 is coming to an end…and this is the last week of classes. This term literally flew by…! And surprisingly it wasn’t even half as hectic as I thought it would be. The prep did take its share of time…however academically the term was very chilled out. The courses were fun…and the amount of work needed wasn’t as much. Overall…a fun term. Let’s hope the next one starts with some good news…!
Everyday we get some 15 odd mails from the placement office…about the new postings. So everyday is like another adventure…trying to firstly figure whether you want to apply or not…and if yes…then how do you pitch. Its quite an art though…to customize resumes and EoIs according to the role and company…
Company X: Consulting
Senior Associate:
“…I see my skills sets best suited to a consulting environment. And my interactions with X on campus have given me a very positive vibe with respect to its culture and perspective. I must admit that the prospect of working for BCG is really exciting…”
Company Y: Finance
Associate:
“…I see my skills sets best suited to a financial research environment. And my interactions with Y on campus have given me a very positive vibe with respect to its culture and attitude towards work and ethics. I must admit that the prospect of working for Y is really exciting…”
Phew…! That was tough…!
Graduation day has been decided for the 8th of April. And we have been given a full 12 hours to ‘evacuate’…! By 9th April 1400 hours…everyone person on this campus should be seen with atleast 3 suitcases…and a box full of books…and probably a mouth full of not-so-good-to-hear words…!! Ma and papa r coming 7th night…and leaving on the 10th…! So we shall have to stay outside… (That’s if this evacuation business isn’t resolved) for a day…! Let’s see…!
It’s depressing to think of life after ISB…at times really depressing…!
…keep on moving on anyway…
~a
Can’t believe that term 7 is coming to an end…and this is the last week of classes. This term literally flew by…! And surprisingly it wasn’t even half as hectic as I thought it would be. The prep did take its share of time…however academically the term was very chilled out. The courses were fun…and the amount of work needed wasn’t as much. Overall…a fun term. Let’s hope the next one starts with some good news…!
Everyday we get some 15 odd mails from the placement office…about the new postings. So everyday is like another adventure…trying to firstly figure whether you want to apply or not…and if yes…then how do you pitch. Its quite an art though…to customize resumes and EoIs according to the role and company…
Company X: Consulting
Senior Associate:
“…I see my skills sets best suited to a consulting environment. And my interactions with X on campus have given me a very positive vibe with respect to its culture and perspective. I must admit that the prospect of working for BCG is really exciting…”
Company Y: Finance
Associate:
“…I see my skills sets best suited to a financial research environment. And my interactions with Y on campus have given me a very positive vibe with respect to its culture and attitude towards work and ethics. I must admit that the prospect of working for Y is really exciting…”
Phew…! That was tough…!
Graduation day has been decided for the 8th of April. And we have been given a full 12 hours to ‘evacuate’…! By 9th April 1400 hours…everyone person on this campus should be seen with atleast 3 suitcases…and a box full of books…and probably a mouth full of not-so-good-to-hear words…!! Ma and papa r coming 7th night…and leaving on the 10th…! So we shall have to stay outside… (That’s if this evacuation business isn’t resolved) for a day…! Let’s see…!
It’s depressing to think of life after ISB…at times really depressing…!
…keep on moving on anyway…
~a
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
lets see how it goes...
Almost a week has passed since the last entry…and a lot has happened…(as always). The campus is amazingly different. Its hard to visualize this state when you first enter ISB. You know…you have this… “oh, it will be courses and a lot of work…and then finally a job”…! Somehow…no one can actually predict…or even begin to imagine…the period between one preparing for a job and eventually getting one.
People are talking a different language…suddenly the newspaper is the hottest commodity on campus…CNBC the best channel…10 lakhs is passé…and London/NY is cool…!
The Pre-placement talks got over last evening…and quite a few of the companies are looking really good. They are taking advantage of a bullish economy and I have no reasons to believe that the placements this year shall be much better than last years.
Had the privilege of interacting with the MD of ICICI Securities, Mr. Mukherjee, last evening. Its so amazing to see people who have achieved possibly everything that we at this stage wish to achieve…and yet be the most down to earth and humble people around. During his conversation with his colleagues I overheard him say “Mr. Damodaran called me just when I was boarding the flight. He is really excited about the conference. That’s so nice of him. It will be an honor to meet him” (Damodaran is possibly the most prolific corporate finance professor in the world right now. Teaches at Stern, NYU.). Now, I have a strong respect for damodaran…but then at some level one is led to question whether he can even come close to the power that Mr. Mukherjee enjoys. And yet he chooses to acknowledge Damodaran’s greatness.
Its not an easy thing to do…and I know this…! Truly amazing…!
I guess at some level…the best thing that ISB has offered me…is the chance to interact with possibly the most powerful and smartest individuals all across the world. And realize that if there is one thing that binds almost all of them…its their humility. I would consider myself lucky if I could reach even half of where they are…on this front…!
Anyways…
So…the happenings…! Had a party this Saturday…the last one before everyone plunges into the rat race. Was quite a dud party…not many people turned up…! but then ok…I enjoyed myself…was very tired though from the 4 hours of cricket early in the day…!
ISB’s management, this year, had constituted a new set of awards for overall contribution in co-curricular and extra-curricular activities towards promoting the ISB brand. 4 students were awarded the ISB young leader award and a set of 34 were awarded the ISB Torchbearers Award.
A very nice way of appreciating the efforts of so many people…who in their own little way have played a crucial role in maintaining the honor of ISB. Congrats to the winners…!
The BCG shortlist came out. And the minute that happened there were a series of mails sent across…with mostly the following concerns:
The PLACOM has been thinking on how to handle this…and we met up last night…and this afternoon. A lot was discussed and I think we have a structure in place. It needs to be tested 1st before the actual launch…so the next few days shall be dedicated to the same.
Lets see how it goes…!
Lots to look forward to…! Lots…!
~a
People are talking a different language…suddenly the newspaper is the hottest commodity on campus…CNBC the best channel…10 lakhs is passé…and London/NY is cool…!
The Pre-placement talks got over last evening…and quite a few of the companies are looking really good. They are taking advantage of a bullish economy and I have no reasons to believe that the placements this year shall be much better than last years.
Had the privilege of interacting with the MD of ICICI Securities, Mr. Mukherjee, last evening. Its so amazing to see people who have achieved possibly everything that we at this stage wish to achieve…and yet be the most down to earth and humble people around. During his conversation with his colleagues I overheard him say “Mr. Damodaran called me just when I was boarding the flight. He is really excited about the conference. That’s so nice of him. It will be an honor to meet him” (Damodaran is possibly the most prolific corporate finance professor in the world right now. Teaches at Stern, NYU.). Now, I have a strong respect for damodaran…but then at some level one is led to question whether he can even come close to the power that Mr. Mukherjee enjoys. And yet he chooses to acknowledge Damodaran’s greatness.
Its not an easy thing to do…and I know this…! Truly amazing…!
I guess at some level…the best thing that ISB has offered me…is the chance to interact with possibly the most powerful and smartest individuals all across the world. And realize that if there is one thing that binds almost all of them…its their humility. I would consider myself lucky if I could reach even half of where they are…on this front…!
Anyways…
So…the happenings…! Had a party this Saturday…the last one before everyone plunges into the rat race. Was quite a dud party…not many people turned up…! but then ok…I enjoyed myself…was very tired though from the 4 hours of cricket early in the day…!
ISB’s management, this year, had constituted a new set of awards for overall contribution in co-curricular and extra-curricular activities towards promoting the ISB brand. 4 students were awarded the ISB young leader award and a set of 34 were awarded the ISB Torchbearers Award.
A very nice way of appreciating the efforts of so many people…who in their own little way have played a crucial role in maintaining the honor of ISB. Congrats to the winners…!
The BCG shortlist came out. And the minute that happened there were a series of mails sent across…with mostly the following concerns:
- 23 students find a presence in both the McK and BCG list. Damn!
- What the hell will happen on the 1st day…all these guys will end up with the jobs…and ultimately choose just 1…! Which means disastrous job losses…!
The PLACOM has been thinking on how to handle this…and we met up last night…and this afternoon. A lot was discussed and I think we have a structure in place. It needs to be tested 1st before the actual launch…so the next few days shall be dedicated to the same.
Lets see how it goes…!
Lots to look forward to…! Lots…!
~a
Thursday, January 26, 2006
life is happy...
This post will be a little ‘cryptic’…!!!
There is so much happening in life right now…its not even funny. People are telling me all sorts of stories…about stuff…and I don’t know what to do…whether to believe them…feel happy…or feel disgusted…or what…! And if what they say is actually true…then its very unfortunate…at some level unfair…!!!
Allright guys…I am done here…! (aka Krishna Ramaswamy)
And apologize for the incoherence above…!
Ok…so today is republic day. And inspite of being a holiday its been quite a busy one. Had a meeting in the morning and ever since have been studying for the branding exam tomorrow. If people (and logic) are to be believed…then we are required to read 650 odd pages of text for the exam. Most of which shall be new stuff…since class was hardly any concepts. Branding class used to be…
lalalalala…I am entering…lalalalalala…there u see me reading the case…lalalalalala…ok now I am doing CP…alalalalalalala…and here I am reading ET….lalalalalala…oohh break time….lalalalalal…CP again…alalalaa…sleep for sometime…lalalalal…sms people as if fighting for the fastest sms competition…lalalala… “and in the next class we shall deal with how to build brand equity”…wassaaapppp…!!!!
And mind you…this is not just one exceptional class…this is each and every class. That’s why I enjoy it so much…and do so much of CP. Cause the class is effortless…however the exam seems to indicate otherwise…!
The McK guys have formed an anonymous club here at ISB. I have a feeling they have come up with a different language or something…in order to communicate their plans on “how to crack the McK interviews” without shelling out with too much of information to the competition. They are seen dining together…chatting together…in class together…during case preps together. I hope they end up working together as well…!
A is planning a party this weekend…and if everything goes as per plans then the crowd might go thru the torture of bearing me as the DJ…yet again. I am really looking forward to it…desperately want to unwind myself before the big battle…! Plz do it A babu…! Now that my ‘other’ request cannot be fulfilled…wink wink (he knows what I am talking about!)
Rest all good…life is happy…
~a
There is so much happening in life right now…its not even funny. People are telling me all sorts of stories…about stuff…and I don’t know what to do…whether to believe them…feel happy…or feel disgusted…or what…! And if what they say is actually true…then its very unfortunate…at some level unfair…!!!
Allright guys…I am done here…! (aka Krishna Ramaswamy)
And apologize for the incoherence above…!
Ok…so today is republic day. And inspite of being a holiday its been quite a busy one. Had a meeting in the morning and ever since have been studying for the branding exam tomorrow. If people (and logic) are to be believed…then we are required to read 650 odd pages of text for the exam. Most of which shall be new stuff…since class was hardly any concepts. Branding class used to be…
lalalalala…I am entering…lalalalalala…there u see me reading the case…lalalalalala…ok now I am doing CP…alalalalalalala…and here I am reading ET….lalalalalala…oohh break time….lalalalalal…CP again…alalalaa…sleep for sometime…lalalalal…sms people as if fighting for the fastest sms competition…lalalala… “and in the next class we shall deal with how to build brand equity”…wassaaapppp…!!!!
And mind you…this is not just one exceptional class…this is each and every class. That’s why I enjoy it so much…and do so much of CP. Cause the class is effortless…however the exam seems to indicate otherwise…!
The McK guys have formed an anonymous club here at ISB. I have a feeling they have come up with a different language or something…in order to communicate their plans on “how to crack the McK interviews” without shelling out with too much of information to the competition. They are seen dining together…chatting together…in class together…during case preps together. I hope they end up working together as well…!
A is planning a party this weekend…and if everything goes as per plans then the crowd might go thru the torture of bearing me as the DJ…yet again. I am really looking forward to it…desperately want to unwind myself before the big battle…! Plz do it A babu…! Now that my ‘other’ request cannot be fulfilled…wink wink (he knows what I am talking about!)
Rest all good…life is happy…
~a
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
really exciting time ahead...
The 1st ‘big’ thing happened on campus. And no…its not me getting pregnant…!
The McK shortlist came out on Monday. They have, fortunately for all of us, increased the number to 35 (a jump of 10 from last year) and all the smart people were part of the list (quite possibly the reason why I wasn’t).
What was however a relief of sorts was that not all of them are the ‘top graders’…if I may even dare to say so. Maybe speaks for McK’s conscious decision to interview with people who they think bring more to the table than simply academic excellence…and that too in just a single (maybe insignificant) year of their life…!
Go on guys…rocks the McK guys…force them to take all 35 of you…! :)
A lot of action happening on the PLACOM front. There are concerns from the marketing segment of the batch that there isnt an exciting representation of marketing firms in the registered companies list. Which, I admit, is the truth. However…there is a reason behind it. Most companies have been used to hiring at the entry level…the Management Trainee position. Now for them to undertake a mind shift and start hiring for laterals, requires quite some convincing on our part. More importantly, the BD guys are not even sure whether students of ISB (you know the usual…5 years work ex…etc etc) will be willing to accept MT positions. So…there has been some gap on that front. We are working hard to fill that up…and insha allah…things will work out just fine…
And then the entire tiering process. But then that’s another story altogether…!
Really exciting period ahead…I hope at some level fate allows me to be part of the excitement…!
~a
The McK shortlist came out on Monday. They have, fortunately for all of us, increased the number to 35 (a jump of 10 from last year) and all the smart people were part of the list (quite possibly the reason why I wasn’t).
What was however a relief of sorts was that not all of them are the ‘top graders’…if I may even dare to say so. Maybe speaks for McK’s conscious decision to interview with people who they think bring more to the table than simply academic excellence…and that too in just a single (maybe insignificant) year of their life…!
Go on guys…rocks the McK guys…force them to take all 35 of you…! :)
A lot of action happening on the PLACOM front. There are concerns from the marketing segment of the batch that there isnt an exciting representation of marketing firms in the registered companies list. Which, I admit, is the truth. However…there is a reason behind it. Most companies have been used to hiring at the entry level…the Management Trainee position. Now for them to undertake a mind shift and start hiring for laterals, requires quite some convincing on our part. More importantly, the BD guys are not even sure whether students of ISB (you know the usual…5 years work ex…etc etc) will be willing to accept MT positions. So…there has been some gap on that front. We are working hard to fill that up…and insha allah…things will work out just fine…
And then the entire tiering process. But then that’s another story altogether…!
Really exciting period ahead…I hope at some level fate allows me to be part of the excitement…!
~a
Sunday, January 22, 2006
exciting time ahead...
As usual…long time…!
Its strange that inspite of the ‘heat’ on campus…I failed to write much about the entire placement season here at ISB. So here goes…my take on the placements…and what I am going through at this precise moment…
The PPTs (pre placement talks) are happening. At times 3 in number. The attendance at all of them have been more than satisfactory…and even the roles etc are pretty impressive.
Occasionally…the following sequence happens…
Student 1: “what the f*** is this company Agilent…never ever heard of it”
Student 2: “I know man…these weird companies coming over and all”
Student 3: “dude…I have heard of the company…its good”
Student 1 and Student 2: “F*** OFF”
During PPT
Agilent: “our salaries shall be between 17 and 28 lacs…depending on experience…”
Everyone: Jaws dropped…shat in pants…foot in mouth
Student 1: “ohhh man…Agilent rocks…was always my dream company”
Student 2: “I know man…mine too”
Student 3: “someone heard of this company ebay? They are coming for a PPT. is it any good”
Student 1 and Student 2: “F*** OFF”
Anyways…as one can deciper…moods and preferences are changing…faster than I can say “holy moly”…and the atmosphere is just mind blowing…
Not many people on campus are sleeping before 3…not many are getting up for their 8.30 class either. The race is to have “Ankur Warikoo Resume Version 19883.2” stored somewhere on your hard-disk…to have cracked 7897893 cases…to blurt out “so tell us something about yourself” in less than 23 microseconds…to get 3 suits stitched…to find as many ties as you can…and shirts to complement the same…!
The race is to find a job…! Well…not just that…it needs to be well paying…! The role is only incidental…!
Mckinsey asked for resumes last week…the shortlist is coming out tomorrow…! BCG’s deadline for application is tom. Infosys has posted some 24 odd jobs…! Mittal Steel and EDS have finished their process…DB is still wondering how the hell did the IIMB get away for so long…!
Spend my day working on my resume…working on others…reading cases…working on personal interview questions…attending PLACOM meetings…reading the newspapers…and the markets…and counseling people on what to do…(well…what not to do…given my history…!!!)
Exciting time ahead…looking forward to it…
~a
Its strange that inspite of the ‘heat’ on campus…I failed to write much about the entire placement season here at ISB. So here goes…my take on the placements…and what I am going through at this precise moment…
The PPTs (pre placement talks) are happening. At times 3 in number. The attendance at all of them have been more than satisfactory…and even the roles etc are pretty impressive.
Occasionally…the following sequence happens…
Student 1: “what the f*** is this company Agilent…never ever heard of it”
Student 2: “I know man…these weird companies coming over and all”
Student 3: “dude…I have heard of the company…its good”
Student 1 and Student 2: “F*** OFF”
During PPT
Agilent: “our salaries shall be between 17 and 28 lacs…depending on experience…”
Everyone: Jaws dropped…shat in pants…foot in mouth
Student 1: “ohhh man…Agilent rocks…was always my dream company”
Student 2: “I know man…mine too”
Student 3: “someone heard of this company ebay? They are coming for a PPT. is it any good”
Student 1 and Student 2: “F*** OFF”
Anyways…as one can deciper…moods and preferences are changing…faster than I can say “holy moly”…and the atmosphere is just mind blowing…
Not many people on campus are sleeping before 3…not many are getting up for their 8.30 class either. The race is to have “Ankur Warikoo Resume Version 19883.2” stored somewhere on your hard-disk…to have cracked 7897893 cases…to blurt out “so tell us something about yourself” in less than 23 microseconds…to get 3 suits stitched…to find as many ties as you can…and shirts to complement the same…!
The race is to find a job…! Well…not just that…it needs to be well paying…! The role is only incidental…!
Mckinsey asked for resumes last week…the shortlist is coming out tomorrow…! BCG’s deadline for application is tom. Infosys has posted some 24 odd jobs…! Mittal Steel and EDS have finished their process…DB is still wondering how the hell did the IIMB get away for so long…!
Spend my day working on my resume…working on others…reading cases…working on personal interview questions…attending PLACOM meetings…reading the newspapers…and the markets…and counseling people on what to do…(well…what not to do…given my history…!!!)
Exciting time ahead…looking forward to it…
~a
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
someday....
Sometimes I really wish I wasn’t at B-school…or in the corporate world…or anywhere close…
I wish I was working with nat-geo…clicking for them. Just me and my camera…! And my subject. Cause I possible cant even attempt to replicate the energy I derive from pressing that shutter button…imagining the result…from anything else that lies ahead of me!
Till this date my heart pounds when I go to collect my snaps…! I am a victim of my own expectations…and at times I really wish I could make it into my life…
…But I am no good at the art…
…but I don’t have the guts…!
Someday…
My Bharatpur snaps of nature…some of them…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/warikoo/sets/72057594049917951/
~a
I wish I was working with nat-geo…clicking for them. Just me and my camera…! And my subject. Cause I possible cant even attempt to replicate the energy I derive from pressing that shutter button…imagining the result…from anything else that lies ahead of me!
Till this date my heart pounds when I go to collect my snaps…! I am a victim of my own expectations…and at times I really wish I could make it into my life…
…But I am no good at the art…
…but I don’t have the guts…!
Someday…
My Bharatpur snaps of nature…some of them…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/warikoo/sets/72057594049917951/
~a
Monday, January 16, 2006
life has changed...!
Movie: Dil Chahta Hai
Remember that freak…who was sonali kulkarni’s (the girl who played saif’s better half) original boyfriend? And recall how to used to bloody time everything…right from his shitting moment to his breathing rhythm. Well…for people who know me…I am not that far off.
Has it ever happened to you that you come out of the shower in your undies…NOT draped in a towel…only to realize that your curtains are not pulled and there are people outside your window. And then you have to maneuver across in a rather james bond manner…making your way through the bed and study table (and duhhh!!! Not realizing that its better to just go back and get the towel)…and what nots…to finally make a lightening quick movement of your hand to pull the curtains…! Well...i am such a geek that I would make an excel sheet for the process…and then estimate the time I would require to handle each stage…!
Ok…so you get the point. For people who know me…I am this excel freak. Creating worksheets for just about everything…expenses to time table…to priority list…to ‘to-do’ lists...! I maintain a daily log of my life at ISB…and I was juts going through the same today.
Realized how much life has changed in just 6 months…within the same place…!
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
8.15 - 8.30 - Daily Stuff
8.30 - 9.30 - Gym
9.30 - 10.30 - Daily Stuff
10.30 - 11.00 - Internet
11.00 - 1.30 - Studies - Stats (G)
1.30 - 2.30 - Lunch
2.30 - 4.30 - Class
4.30 - 5.00 - Nothing Specific
5.00 - 7.00 - Class
7.00 - 7.30 - Nothing Specific
7.30 - 9.00 - Newspaper
9.00 - 9.30 - Dinner
9.30 - 10.00 - Telephone
10.00 - 10.30 - Lying down on the grass
10.30 - 12.30 - Studiess
12.30 - 1.00 - Walk
Total for the day: 16.75 hours
Sunday, January 15, 2006
10.00 - 11.00 - Daily Stuff
11.00 - 1.00 - Resume
1.00 - 2.00 - Lunch
2.00 - 4.00 - Studies
4.00 - 5.00 - Nap
5.00 - 9.00 - studies
9.00 - 10.00 - Dinner
10.00 - 1.00 - studies
1.00 - 2.00 - Nothing Specific
2.00 - 5.00 - Studies
Total for the day: 19.00 hours
Remember that freak…who was sonali kulkarni’s (the girl who played saif’s better half) original boyfriend? And recall how to used to bloody time everything…right from his shitting moment to his breathing rhythm. Well…for people who know me…I am not that far off.
Has it ever happened to you that you come out of the shower in your undies…NOT draped in a towel…only to realize that your curtains are not pulled and there are people outside your window. And then you have to maneuver across in a rather james bond manner…making your way through the bed and study table (and duhhh!!! Not realizing that its better to just go back and get the towel)…and what nots…to finally make a lightening quick movement of your hand to pull the curtains…! Well...i am such a geek that I would make an excel sheet for the process…and then estimate the time I would require to handle each stage…!
Ok…so you get the point. For people who know me…I am this excel freak. Creating worksheets for just about everything…expenses to time table…to priority list…to ‘to-do’ lists...! I maintain a daily log of my life at ISB…and I was juts going through the same today.
Realized how much life has changed in just 6 months…within the same place…!
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
8.15 - 8.30 - Daily Stuff
8.30 - 9.30 - Gym
9.30 - 10.30 - Daily Stuff
10.30 - 11.00 - Internet
11.00 - 1.30 - Studies - Stats (G)
1.30 - 2.30 - Lunch
2.30 - 4.30 - Class
4.30 - 5.00 - Nothing Specific
5.00 - 7.00 - Class
7.00 - 7.30 - Nothing Specific
7.30 - 9.00 - Newspaper
9.00 - 9.30 - Dinner
9.30 - 10.00 - Telephone
10.00 - 10.30 - Lying down on the grass
10.30 - 12.30 - Studiess
12.30 - 1.00 - Walk
Total for the day: 16.75 hours
Sunday, January 15, 2006
10.00 - 11.00 - Daily Stuff
11.00 - 1.00 - Resume
1.00 - 2.00 - Lunch
2.00 - 4.00 - Studies
4.00 - 5.00 - Nap
5.00 - 9.00 - studies
9.00 - 10.00 - Dinner
10.00 - 1.00 - studies
1.00 - 2.00 - Nothing Specific
2.00 - 5.00 - Studies
Total for the day: 19.00 hours
life has changed...!
~a
Thursday, January 12, 2006
...hopeful...
Long time…
!!
This term has started off with the placement bang…(as expected ofcourse). Am currently on my 17th version of the resume and it just doesn’t seem to stop. At times the content doesn’t fit well…at times the verb…and at times simply the indentation and font. Its actually an awesome art…and somehow I love spending time on it. however its coming at the cost of preparing myself on other fronts (browsing on markets, fin news etc) and that psyches me…! lets see…
The courses are pretty chilled out though.
Branding is one easy ride. Somehow (and don’t take this in a derogatory manner…especially marketing guys)…learning how to market and brand doesn’t seem to be something that requires prior knowledge. In the sense…this is my 1st marketing elective…and I was at ease with the concepts as much as the guy sitting opposite and majoring in marketing. This definitely wont have been the case had someone been sitting through a fin course (infact they might want to believe that fin electives are kinky in nature…with all the strips and straps and what have yous!).
So anyways…the prof Dr. Moorthy is a nice guy. Cracks jokes that aren’t exactly funny…and snorts at them…! :)
Data Mining is a rocking course. All the stuff that happens reminds me of my MSU nights…trying to set up neural net algorithms…and then learning about self-organizing maps and what nots. At times I miss that life…working with stars…looking up and realizing that that star up in the NE is something that you are trying to figure. You know everything about it…and yet nothing…! Suddenly the world used to feel so small...and insignificant…! Sigh!
Capital raising was fun…! The prof so wonderfully derived the fundamentals out of the class. And with such ease. It was as if… “oops…where did that come from…!!!” very nicely done. The load of the class is also not that high.
So hopefully this term shall be placements…jobs…resume…interviews…!!!
The Bharatpur trip was awesome. Absolutely awesome. Had such a fun time with everyone…getting up at 8…having breakfast under the sun…leaving for the sanctuary…cycling through it for some 20 kms…clicking snaps…loads and loads of them…going to the market all tired…and munching on local mithai…and junk food…going back…hot water bath tub…drinks…dinner…and spend the remaining night chatting…!
Bliss…!
Lots of exchange students are part of this term. And there are some really cool guys…and some really…well…girls…! For the first time I am actually experiencing the feeling of being in an international school.
And oh…some happenings…!
ISB hosted the leadership summit yesterday. Was a great event…awesome speakers…kept me engaged for all the time that I was there.
(http://isb.edu/campussbuzz1/Leadership_Summit_2006.html)
And then there was Ikshaa…the marketing summit…last Saturday. P (and his team) had been working on it like dogs. Unfortunately I wasn’t there…but from the word around it was quite a success. (http://isb.edu/campussbuzz1/Ikshaa_Summit2006.html)
And then…EDS had come to campus to recruit for their dallas office…strategy roles. They were in India for the 1st time…and lo behold…as per sources (so don’t quote me on this…!) they have taken 12 students. All of them for Dallas on 100K+ packages..! P is one of them…so the joke now is…daddy goes dallas…! (
Life is good…exciting…and a lot hopeful…!
~a
!!
This term has started off with the placement bang…(as expected ofcourse). Am currently on my 17th version of the resume and it just doesn’t seem to stop. At times the content doesn’t fit well…at times the verb…and at times simply the indentation and font. Its actually an awesome art…and somehow I love spending time on it. however its coming at the cost of preparing myself on other fronts (browsing on markets, fin news etc) and that psyches me…! lets see…
The courses are pretty chilled out though.
Branding is one easy ride. Somehow (and don’t take this in a derogatory manner…especially marketing guys)…learning how to market and brand doesn’t seem to be something that requires prior knowledge. In the sense…this is my 1st marketing elective…and I was at ease with the concepts as much as the guy sitting opposite and majoring in marketing. This definitely wont have been the case had someone been sitting through a fin course (infact they might want to believe that fin electives are kinky in nature…with all the strips and straps and what have yous!).
So anyways…the prof Dr. Moorthy is a nice guy. Cracks jokes that aren’t exactly funny…and snorts at them…! :)
Data Mining is a rocking course. All the stuff that happens reminds me of my MSU nights…trying to set up neural net algorithms…and then learning about self-organizing maps and what nots. At times I miss that life…working with stars…looking up and realizing that that star up in the NE is something that you are trying to figure. You know everything about it…and yet nothing…! Suddenly the world used to feel so small...and insignificant…! Sigh!
Capital raising was fun…! The prof so wonderfully derived the fundamentals out of the class. And with such ease. It was as if… “oops…where did that come from…!!!” very nicely done. The load of the class is also not that high.
So hopefully this term shall be placements…jobs…resume…interviews…!!!
The Bharatpur trip was awesome. Absolutely awesome. Had such a fun time with everyone…getting up at 8…having breakfast under the sun…leaving for the sanctuary…cycling through it for some 20 kms…clicking snaps…loads and loads of them…going to the market all tired…and munching on local mithai…and junk food…going back…hot water bath tub…drinks…dinner…and spend the remaining night chatting…!
Bliss…!
Lots of exchange students are part of this term. And there are some really cool guys…and some really…well…girls…! For the first time I am actually experiencing the feeling of being in an international school.
And oh…some happenings…!
ISB hosted the leadership summit yesterday. Was a great event…awesome speakers…kept me engaged for all the time that I was there.
(http://isb.edu/campussbuzz1/Leadership_Summit_2006.html)
And then there was Ikshaa…the marketing summit…last Saturday. P (and his team) had been working on it like dogs. Unfortunately I wasn’t there…but from the word around it was quite a success. (http://isb.edu/campussbuzz1/Ikshaa_Summit2006.html)
And then…EDS had come to campus to recruit for their dallas office…strategy roles. They were in India for the 1st time…and lo behold…as per sources (so don’t quote me on this…!) they have taken 12 students. All of them for Dallas on 100K+ packages..! P is one of them…so the joke now is…daddy goes dallas…! (
Life is good…exciting…and a lot hopeful…!
~a
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
Some snaps...
Some snaps of the ISB campus…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/warikoo/sets/1751540/
Some snaps from my TAPMI visit…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/warikoo/sets/1751570/
enjoy…
~a
http://www.flickr.com/photos/warikoo/sets/1751540/
Some snaps from my TAPMI visit…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/warikoo/sets/1751570/
enjoy…
~a
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
expectations...fears...2006
The year started well…
Had an awesome party on the 31st at ISB itself. Lots of people turned up…and the atmosphere was really nice. Don’t know why…it felt that we hadn’t had such a party for a long time now…wherein so many people just came together…and talked…and drank…and had a great time…!
The 1st was very chilled. Had an assignment to complete…which I started working on in the evening. During the day I was just generally…hanging out…! :) it was a pretty nice feeling…you know…you start the year…so much of hope…and prayers…and what have yous…and then on the 1st…you have nothing to do. So you go about wishing happy new year to some 345 odd souls…and gathering the same…! Its kind of a very simple…feeling…! (to be frank…I suck at explaining what it actually was…!)
Then in the evening…the boys gathered for a pizza dinner. The delhi boys (P, A and me) had our fighting scene with the Mumbai dumbasses…(A and G)…! In the end they accepted that delhi university is so much cooler…in every respect…than Mumbai univ. we had so much more fun back in college…which they cant even imagine…and not to mention the fact that I found R there…! Man…I miss those days…!
And then P and I had the quintessential Hindu-Hansraj fight…! I mean cmon dude…the Hindu cut-off is still higher (in all courses) than Hansraj’s…so what are you comparing. And yeah…about the fact that Hindu doesn’t have an attendance issue…and profs don’t come to teach etc…well…all I can say…is that Hindu is a pure democracy! :) you want to study…the profs will come…! Else they would anyday prefer to sit under the sun…and sip tea…!
Don’t have too many exams. Infact I got over the only one I had…today. and I have been watching movies for the past 3 days…everynight. Started with ‘Good Will Hunting’…then ‘Jerry Macquire’…and today ‘Traffic’. Really want to watch ‘Requim for a dream’…but cant seem to find it anywhere. Infact…while conversing with Ms. R yesterday I realized that I don’t tend to like those normal movies. The ones I truly liked…were the concept ones…’Pi’…’Eternal sunshine…’…Contact’…’titanic…!!!!’...she suggested this movie ‘changing lanes’…will try to watch it sometime…
Have to get done with the FENG assignment by tom…and then finish the ELP by day after. And then 3 days of awesome bird watching…! Yeah…am attending a fashion show…being organized at the Taj Krishna…!
Nahhh…! Am leaving for the bharatpur bird sanctuary…for 3 days. Should be an awesome experience…am so kicked about it…! tremendous clicking opportunities. And oh…my TAPMI snaps came out as well. the beach is surely a good place…! The snaps came out pretty well…! Have attached them…
Looking forward to a fruitful year ahead…lots of expectations…! and fears too…
Life’s good…
~a
Addition:
1. Just for clarification sake...the dumbasses that i have mentioned earlier...are yes...from mumbai. but they are one of the smartest people i have met..and i took the liberty of calling them dumbasses...just cause they are my friends..! naturally..this doesnt apply to all mumbaikars...(ahme...MG...!!!)
2. MG...i think you would be better off treating patients...than replying to my stupid comments...!
Had an awesome party on the 31st at ISB itself. Lots of people turned up…and the atmosphere was really nice. Don’t know why…it felt that we hadn’t had such a party for a long time now…wherein so many people just came together…and talked…and drank…and had a great time…!
The 1st was very chilled. Had an assignment to complete…which I started working on in the evening. During the day I was just generally…hanging out…! :) it was a pretty nice feeling…you know…you start the year…so much of hope…and prayers…and what have yous…and then on the 1st…you have nothing to do. So you go about wishing happy new year to some 345 odd souls…and gathering the same…! Its kind of a very simple…feeling…! (to be frank…I suck at explaining what it actually was…!)
Then in the evening…the boys gathered for a pizza dinner. The delhi boys (P, A and me) had our fighting scene with the Mumbai dumbasses…(A and G)…! In the end they accepted that delhi university is so much cooler…in every respect…than Mumbai univ. we had so much more fun back in college…which they cant even imagine…and not to mention the fact that I found R there…! Man…I miss those days…!
And then P and I had the quintessential Hindu-Hansraj fight…! I mean cmon dude…the Hindu cut-off is still higher (in all courses) than Hansraj’s…so what are you comparing. And yeah…about the fact that Hindu doesn’t have an attendance issue…and profs don’t come to teach etc…well…all I can say…is that Hindu is a pure democracy! :) you want to study…the profs will come…! Else they would anyday prefer to sit under the sun…and sip tea…!
Don’t have too many exams. Infact I got over the only one I had…today. and I have been watching movies for the past 3 days…everynight. Started with ‘Good Will Hunting’…then ‘Jerry Macquire’…and today ‘Traffic’. Really want to watch ‘Requim for a dream’…but cant seem to find it anywhere. Infact…while conversing with Ms. R yesterday I realized that I don’t tend to like those normal movies. The ones I truly liked…were the concept ones…’Pi’…’Eternal sunshine…’…Contact’…’titanic…!!!!’...she suggested this movie ‘changing lanes’…will try to watch it sometime…
Have to get done with the FENG assignment by tom…and then finish the ELP by day after. And then 3 days of awesome bird watching…! Yeah…am attending a fashion show…being organized at the Taj Krishna…!
Nahhh…! Am leaving for the bharatpur bird sanctuary…for 3 days. Should be an awesome experience…am so kicked about it…! tremendous clicking opportunities. And oh…my TAPMI snaps came out as well. the beach is surely a good place…! The snaps came out pretty well…! Have attached them…
Looking forward to a fruitful year ahead…lots of expectations…! and fears too…
Life’s good…
~a
Addition:
1. Just for clarification sake...the dumbasses that i have mentioned earlier...are yes...from mumbai. but they are one of the smartest people i have met..and i took the liberty of calling them dumbasses...just cause they are my friends..! naturally..this doesnt apply to all mumbaikars...(ahme...MG...!!!)
2. MG...i think you would be better off treating patients...than replying to my stupid comments...!
Friday, December 30, 2005
It’s so odd that the New Year's Eve is like every other night; there is no pause in the march of the universe, no change in the way the air blows and the birds fly, no change in the way we work and we learn; and yet no man has quite the same thoughts this evening that come with the coming of darkness on other nights.
If only we knew how to convert all days and all nights into New Year’s Eve, wherein even when we party, we do it with the enthusiasm large enough to drive any task to completion. Wherein even if we sleep we do it with the comfort and excitement of the next day. Wherein even if we are alone, there is hope for better days. And wherein even if we pinch ourselves in disbelief, we pray for that happiness to remain.
Here is wishing you a 2006 filled with New Years Eve...each and every day. May all your wishes and plans, work out just the way you wanted them to be. And may the 365 days of 2006 make you realize what an amazing thing life is.
(Inspired)
~a
If only we knew how to convert all days and all nights into New Year’s Eve, wherein even when we party, we do it with the enthusiasm large enough to drive any task to completion. Wherein even if we sleep we do it with the comfort and excitement of the next day. Wherein even if we are alone, there is hope for better days. And wherein even if we pinch ourselves in disbelief, we pray for that happiness to remain.
Here is wishing you a 2006 filled with New Years Eve...each and every day. May all your wishes and plans, work out just the way you wanted them to be. And may the 365 days of 2006 make you realize what an amazing thing life is.
(Inspired)
~a
Thursday, December 29, 2005
am in love....
99 days left for graduation. I was just discussing with G…as to how life will be after ISB. She is mighty kicked at the prospects of leaving this place in the next 3 months…! :)
As for me…its still an undecided thought. At times I feel very attached to the place…the people…even my room. And it feels sad to think of the day when my room shall be empty…with my bags all packed up…waiting for the new occupant. And then there are times when the future excites me to no end. I want to see what life will be like…after ISB. I want to start working…and contributing…! I want to travel…and click…do so much…
And I know…very soon I shall be blogging with just a day to go. And I don’t quite know the feelings that shall be within me…
Anyways…
So…I am in love. And this time its for real. Last night I spent 4 hours with ‘her’…and the feeling is something I cant express. I love every part of her…every sound of her. I can feel her…though cant touch her…! I am seriously in love…
The new song by strings… “Yeh hai meri kahaani”…from the movie Zinda.
Breathtaking delivery…awesome composition…powerful lyrics…wonderful rendition by strings. I am so totally in love…! The song hasn’t stopped playing on my computer since yest…repeatedly…
…Yeh hai meri kahaani
Tanhai ki zubaani
Har zakhm khil raha hai
Kuch mujhse keh raha hai…
…chubte kaante yaadon ke
Daman se…chuntaa hoon
Girti deewaron ke
Aanchanl mein
Zinda hoon…
In awe…!
Term 6 ended…and it was an awesome term…in terms of the course contents and the profs. I just have 1 exam…and 2 take-homes…which should not take more than 2 days to get done with. So am targeting the next 2 days for that…following which I have to wind up my ELP…and then prepare for the exam as well. Next week shall be placement prep at full bloom…!
And oh btw…I got my 1st new year DJ assignment…! I shall be ushering in the New Year at ISB with my music…on the 31st party…! And yes…thanks for your concern…I have purchased a head gear…I shall be wearing enough clothes to protect myself from mini bombs…and as the final precautionary measure I shall carry a AK-47 for my protection…!
Sorry guys…no other choice…! :)
~a
As for me…its still an undecided thought. At times I feel very attached to the place…the people…even my room. And it feels sad to think of the day when my room shall be empty…with my bags all packed up…waiting for the new occupant. And then there are times when the future excites me to no end. I want to see what life will be like…after ISB. I want to start working…and contributing…! I want to travel…and click…do so much…
And I know…very soon I shall be blogging with just a day to go. And I don’t quite know the feelings that shall be within me…
Anyways…
So…I am in love. And this time its for real. Last night I spent 4 hours with ‘her’…and the feeling is something I cant express. I love every part of her…every sound of her. I can feel her…though cant touch her…! I am seriously in love…
The new song by strings… “Yeh hai meri kahaani”…from the movie Zinda.
Breathtaking delivery…awesome composition…powerful lyrics…wonderful rendition by strings. I am so totally in love…! The song hasn’t stopped playing on my computer since yest…repeatedly…
…Yeh hai meri kahaani
Tanhai ki zubaani
Har zakhm khil raha hai
Kuch mujhse keh raha hai…
…chubte kaante yaadon ke
Daman se…chuntaa hoon
Girti deewaron ke
Aanchanl mein
Zinda hoon…
In awe…!
Term 6 ended…and it was an awesome term…in terms of the course contents and the profs. I just have 1 exam…and 2 take-homes…which should not take more than 2 days to get done with. So am targeting the next 2 days for that…following which I have to wind up my ELP…and then prepare for the exam as well. Next week shall be placement prep at full bloom…!
And oh btw…I got my 1st new year DJ assignment…! I shall be ushering in the New Year at ISB with my music…on the 31st party…! And yes…thanks for your concern…I have purchased a head gear…I shall be wearing enough clothes to protect myself from mini bombs…and as the final precautionary measure I shall carry a AK-47 for my protection…!
Sorry guys…no other choice…! :)
~a
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
past...and the present...
Have been pensive all day long. I think I know why…however at times I don’t think that’s the real reason. Lately a lot of stuff has been happening to keep me questioning…about reasons…effects…impact…the learnings…life!
Finance tells you…decisions can be safely taken based on NPV calculations. You have the right discount factor…and the future values…and you bring everything down to the present. This gives you the present value. If more than the current cost…you go ahead with the project.
And then you question… is the past really the past…? Does it truly have no role to play? I know of sunk cost…but how sunk is sunk…? When at each and every step your past is what brought you to your present…then how can the present and the uncertain future be so powerful to let people decide on what to do. Would you have been here if a different path had been taken…? If a different history had been scripted…? The answer is obvious…
Yet…the present always wins. And rightly so…because at some level you are always hiding the past. And your present is what people see…and judge you on…and that present…with each passing day…becomes the ‘new’ past…stronger than the original past…!
And in the end…its so amazing. Different people have seen you differently…because they were part of a different present…and thus a different past…! The same individual is not the same…anymore…!
Amazing…! And so beautiful…
~a
Finance tells you…decisions can be safely taken based on NPV calculations. You have the right discount factor…and the future values…and you bring everything down to the present. This gives you the present value. If more than the current cost…you go ahead with the project.
And then you question… is the past really the past…? Does it truly have no role to play? I know of sunk cost…but how sunk is sunk…? When at each and every step your past is what brought you to your present…then how can the present and the uncertain future be so powerful to let people decide on what to do. Would you have been here if a different path had been taken…? If a different history had been scripted…? The answer is obvious…
Yet…the present always wins. And rightly so…because at some level you are always hiding the past. And your present is what people see…and judge you on…and that present…with each passing day…becomes the ‘new’ past…stronger than the original past…!
And in the end…its so amazing. Different people have seen you differently…because they were part of a different present…and thus a different past…! The same individual is not the same…anymore…!
Amazing…! And so beautiful…
~a
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