What???

One day to go for my first exams in MBA life. And I am pretty sure that I am not at all prepared to face them. banging away on my keyboard, surfing the net, instead of studying.

I guess one gets mature as one grows up. Not to be fearful of the commonplace. One accepts such things as way of life.

I remember my school days. Studying regularly, fully prepared for the exams a week before.
I followed this policy even in the first year of my college.

Then gradually I lost the fear of exams. Last minute preparations became a common thing. Studying only what is necessary.

Why, you would ask. Maybe I became more relaxed or easy going, maybe i came to realise that more than marks what matters is your attitude and knowledge, maybe because it was due to my surrounding environment or maybe I just became plain lazy.

As i have grown up, I feel that I have changed quite a lot. I have become more confident, social, cool, relaxed. But I have also lost a little of that competitive spirit which I had in school days. I sometimes get satisfied very easily. When I see people with a drive or purpose of life, I began to respect them more. But somehow i can't seem to get that drive in my life. Maybe it may come later. Till then life can go on as it is. Enjoy it.

Till next time

Sarath

ANNIVERSARY

I just remembered. It's been exactly one year since I left my job, to try my luck in the "CAT" arena. So I guess it is Happy anniversary for me.
There have been many days in the last one year, when I have looked back at that decision of mine. Not with regret - but with pride. It was that one instance in life when I took such a hard decision, stood by it and made it worthwhile. Now as I am sitting in my hostel room at MDI, I reflect back at that decision.

I thank my family and all my friends who stood by my decision and encouraged me to work harder.
Pray to God that I dont chicken out in the future stages of my life when I would be facing similar situations.

Till Next Time

Sarath

Blasts

They have begun again. I am talking about the phenomenon called Serial Blasts-one of the things which has been haunting the major cities of India for the last decade or so.
Now it has started to become a daily occurence. Yesterday Bangalore and today Ahmedabad. When I heard about the blasts in Ahmedabad, I felt a little more sadder. I have spent some of the best years of my life in that city, and I have very fond memories of that place. Hearing familiar places like Bapunagar, Sarkhej, Maninagar but in the news as places of bomb blasts, it feels a little odd.

On hearing the news about the blasts, somebody was joking that they have started targeting cities with IIMs. After B and A, it is the chance of Calcutta. Have Bomb blasts become such a common occurrence in the Indian context that we have started taking it so lightly? Have we started accepting it as a part of our day to day living?
"Ok, Ahmedabad mai blast Hua? Kitne mare? Sirf Dus?"
Just think of the innocent people who lose their lives due to such activities.
We cant blame the government also for every such act. After all how many checks can one keep? To the limit it starts hampering people's freedom? And the fact is that most of them who get involved in such terrorist activities are locals desperate for money - nothing else.

I dont think I can give a permanent solution to end all such problems. But I keep on wondering, How long will all this keep on going? It should have an end somewhere, shouldn't it?

Till Next Time

Sarath

TRUST VOTE

UPA finally wins the trust vote after so much of drama and hungama.
I am very glad about it. Not that I am an ardent supporter of the nuclear deal or anything. More than than it proves to be a slap in the face of the LEFT parties, BJP and the BSP.

Indian parties have perfected the art of being opportunistic and irresponsible.
The LEFT, though it used to support the government was more of an opposition. It wanted to enjoy the advantages of power without the responsibility.
BJP, here is starting to appear as an opportunistic party. They were the ones who initiated the deal at the first place and now they are being fervent opposers. I am 100% sure that even if they come into power, they will implement the same deal with some minor cosmetic changes.
I dont have to explain anything about BSP-everything is crystal clear.

I would like to state here that I am not that great a fan of the congress also. But at least this time they had the guts to stand for the deal-a decision of their's and did not get bogged down by the blackmailing of the LEFT.

Here is a full text summary of the reply of a supposedly weak PM Manmohan Singh during the trust vote.

http://www.ibnlive.com/news/full-text-pm-slams-advani-in-trust-vote-reply/69334-3.html

Wish there were more leaders like him in Indian politics.

Till next time

Sarath

THE END

One of our seniors passed away recently. He had an asthama attack. A puja and a two minute mourning was organised for the peace of the departed soul.
While praying for his soul, many thoughts crossed my mind. Is there really heaven or hell after death? What happens when one dies? Does one see one's death approaching?

Though I am a person who tries to be positive most of the time, such experiences make me think about death. Have lost a dear friend and some of my relatives in the recent past. The passing of a near and dear one does leave a profound impact on a person. It gives me a feeling of how lucky i am still to be alive and living among my dear ones. One begins to appreciate the true value of life.

Still remember the last time I met my friend. We window shopped the whole of 2-3 hours and also indulged in BIRD watching. Talked a lot about the past, college life and our future. When I last saw him, he was smiling and waving at me from his gate. A week after that, he passed away in an accident and that last image of his is still etched in my mind.

Am glad that god has not given to us the power to look into the future, otherwise we would always have been worried about our death. Life is too precious a thing to be wasted away worrying.

Would like to quote a poem about life by Sir Walter Raleigh here
What is our life?

A play of passion, Our mirth the music of division,
Our mother's wombs the tiring-houses be,
Where we are dressed for this short comedy.
Heaven the judicious sharp spectator is,
That sits and marks still who doth act amiss.
Our graves that hide us from the setting sun
Are like drawn curtains when the play is done.
Thus march we, playing, to our latest rest,
Only we die in earnest, that's no jest

Till Next time

Sarath

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

I have been in hostels throughout my college life. One of the important events in the day to day activities of a hostel life is a birthday-anybody's birthday. Each college may have its own set of traditions on how to celebrate a birthday.
I was introduced to the MDI way of celebrating birthdays recently and I must say that it is absolutely rocking. The tradition is like this -
First of all on the day before the birthday, the roommate of the birthday boy or girl has to send a mail to all inviting everybody to the celebrations at 12'o clock-usually held at the "DOME"- a party spot on the terrace. The mail has to have the photo of the birthday boy or girl.
At 12'o clock the birthday boy is given birthday bumps by everybody - yes even those who dont know him sometimes take part. The roomie of the bday boy is also given bumps. Girls have a more civilised celebration.

Two cakes are brought. One for smashing on the birthday boy's face and the other one for cutting. It can practically be called cutting - even a knife is not used sometimes. Once the bday boy puts his finger on the cake, hands appear from nowhere and the entire cake vanishes in about 2-3 seconds. Amazing efficiency!!!!

It is followed by a treat at the all night canteen "ARCUS" in the campus, where the celebrations continue. Heard a song yesterday dedicated to the bday boy. It goes like this -

Ek din mar jaayega kutte ki maut
Gharwale bolege mar gaya @@##@@**.

Well that's a unique birthday wish!!!

Till Next time

Sarath

A PIZZZA TO SALVATION

Have been eating lots of pizza lately, What can I do; there is nothing else to eat outside in this city.
When you have an empty stomach to fill and the budget, a pizza occassionaly, I believe, is the best thing. People who advocate healthy, balanced food may scoff at my suggestion. But I say; you have most of the days of the year for eating GHAR Ka KHANA. A pizza here and there will do you no harm.

One of my friends, when he was asked why he ordered Pizzas most of the time replied, " When you eat the cheese at the centre of the pizza along with the other toppings, you feel like you have attained salvation. The feeling of utter satisfaction, happiness and joy. Who needs anything else after that?"
I believe, most of us who enjoy junk food, will agree to this explanation.
And the feeling of a full stomach, after eating 4-5 slices of pizza, wherein you dont feel like moving from your place, that is definitely unique.
I say, What is the use of this life If you have not tasted the many delicacies it has to offer? Including junk food.

Till next time

Sarath

DAY 3 - SERINDIPIDITY

Saw a movie yesterday by the name "SERINDIPIDITY". It was one of the best romantic movies I have seen. Yes, it was a little mushy and all, but it had that feel good factor which makes you wish if u could have such a love story.
The other factor I found interesting about the movie was the title itself "SERINDIPIDITY". I searched through the internet and came up with this definition.

"Serendipity is the effect by which one accidentally discovers something fortunate, especially while looking for something else entirely."

Many of us who are firm believers in hard work and determination would say that there are no accidents and luck. One can decide everything beforehand.
As for me though I believe that one can achieve anything with one's hard work, but some times fate does play an important role in our life.
How can one describe the accidental discovery of Penicillin by Louis pasteur?
The use of Viagra was also a kind of serindipidity. Initially it was used for study in hypertension.

In our personal life also, there would be many instances when we accidentally discovered a long lost photograph or souveinor when we were actually searching for something else, and the joy and celebration after that.

Arent many of us waiting for that happy coincidence to occur when one would find one's soulmate or true love?
Anyhow I recommend everyone to watch that movie atleast once, even if u r not into romantic movies. It is good to be romantic sometimes. You cant be practical and serious everytime.

For news from my side, My walking has improved quite a lot. Am able to walk for a long time and long distances. Am waiting for the time when I can run freely too.

Till Next Time

Sarath

DAY 2

"I have had enough. No more of wasting time watching movies. No more of taking things likely. I will study at least 5 hours a day. I will pre-read for every lecture."
These are the thoughts going through my mind right now. As if I have found a sudden inspiration. Dont know for how long this feeling will stay, but plan to utilise the drive derived from this feeling as long as possible for studying.

I came to know about a new thing about exams in a MBA college. Many of the exams are open-book but inspite of that you fail to score more than 60%. Am wondering how the teachers prepare the papers.
Gosh! If we had open-book exams in our engineering days, we could have saved the studying done in the last week or so before the exams.

Till next time

Sarath

P.S.: pls pray so that the feeling of studying at least stays with me for some days.

DIARY DAY-1

I mentioned a philosophy of Calvin & Hobbes in my earlier posts.

"If you really feel like doing anything, sit calmly for some time until that feeling vanishes."

Well I seem to be following that philosophy to the core nowadays. Life at a B-school is not at all similar to an engineering college. You got to pre-read for lectures. like I have a 4'o clock lecture now for which I have to pre-read, but I am still blogging away the time.
Sometimes i get the urge to study seeing others, but after sometime that feeling vanishes when i have downloaded a movie which I must watch!!!!

I hope this feeling of mine changes soon, coz the mid-terms are coming soon and I dont want to be overloaded.
Will soon come out with a blog on "A day at a B-school" for you non b-school guys.

Till Next time

Sarath

LEARNING TO WALK

I got my plaster removed just this sunday. Had been a very difficult three weeks for me. Walking around on one foot with crutches, sure takes a lot of energy out of you.
There are other disadvantages associated with it also -
=like depending on others for each and every other thing - basically i like to be as less dependent on others as possible.
=ur day to day chores become a hassle-imagine taking a bath with a plastic tied around your leg and taking care that no water spills on it.
=loss of mobility.

But there were many good things also
=got famous in my college because of the fracture.
=made many, friends who were really very helpful to me during the period.
=got excused from many things due to my fracture.

I began to appreciate how those physically challenged people would be feeling everyday and the amount of trouble they would have to go through everyday.

I took my first steps on Sunday after three weeks. Felt strange to walk with both feet on the ground. Still cannot walk too fast, as I have to avoid putting wait on the injured foot, but still things are a lot better now.

Hopping to be back to my normal self soon, as I dont want to miss any remaining part of my MBA college life.