Managed Anarchy

What do u do if u gets tons n tons of free time after graduating from IIMC?

Well, u either sit at home, lounge around and revel in your inner thoughts (like the majority of us) or do somethin more useful, which our dear friend Ramanan aka Krosstok has done...

He has created a comic strip on his experiences in IIMC and in general about the MBA tribe.

Check it out!

http://ma.blogdns.net/anarchy/

Vijay Lancy's Article in the Economic Times

Goodbye IIMC.... you made me what I am...

Well, its that time of my life again, when you move out of one stage and you move into another. For all practical purposes my life in IIMC and most probably as a student, it over. I remember the first time I walked into (drove into, rather) this campus. The absolute letdown of the Calcutta “city” was completely erased from my mind the moment I saw this awesome campus loom in front of my eyes.

The two years here have been eventful to say the least. Norris, my senior used to tell me that the campus grows on you. I couldn’t understand what he said and why he spent hours near the jetty. I came to IIMC to learn management; I guess I have learnt much more than that.

What all has IIMC taught me? Hmmm. Good question. It has definitely taught me to go “value adding” activities like bullshit a class of 250 students non stop for 40 mins (they call it case based discussions) or to chill out till the nth hour and sit and cram something hours (and sometimes even minutes) before the exam (sack & crack, the IIMC way !)

In the social life front (which forms a majority of my life here), I have learnt to live with people from different regions, countries and backgrounds. IIMC has taught me the advantage of team work – be in a tyre raid during the world war and u know what I am talking about. It has given me the strength to dream big and work hard to achieve it. Intaglio 2005-06 was our dream, and we made it into the most successful business school meet in India. Its also about unity. Coming from a background of students indulging in campus politics and looking for an excuse to get at each other, this institute surprised me on its capability to rally all its students together for a cause. Each and every student who has passed through the revered hallways of this institute loves and respects this place. There is no section based, region based or hostel based division and that makes it such a healthy environment for growth.

Most importantly, I think IIMC has taught me a new way of life. Its this unique mix wherein you are taught all about the cold, professional world of management on one side, and you learn to appreciate the beauty of nature and like to sit beside the lake and watch the sun set on the other side. Its about leading teams with purpose and working with deadly efficiency on one side and laying back and sleeping or just roaming around campus on the other.

All in all, I think IIMC has taught me to take the best of both worlds. It has empowered me with a strong heart and a confident spirit. It has given me friendships that I will treasure for the years to come. As I say goodbye to this great institute which has made me what I am.. all I can say is.. IIMC tujhe Salaam…

Hats off to an indomitable spirit!!!

This was a blog i had written in my blog a couple of weeks back.. thought it was more appropriate on the IIMC blog!

Malli Mastan Babu has done it again! He has started on his conquest of the seven highest peaks in the world by climbing Mt. Vinson in Antartica.

The News Article

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-1379989,curpg-1.cms

When I read this news, with the placement fever in the background I just realized how big a decision he had made in his life and how he had actually made “following a dream” into a reality.

What am I talking about?

Rewind 2 years, Mr. Malli was a student at IIM Calcutta. He had his graduation from IIT Kharagpur and in all probability would have been placed in a great firm with an amazing salary.

He had set up the adventure club in campus. While others would sit in their rooms or go out drinking during the evening, he used to swim in the lakes in campus. While others used to long to go back home and get cozy on ur fav couch, he longed to go to Himalayas. He used to arrange treks for other students and alumni.

In the month of Jan, 2004 Malli did the unthinkable for any IIM student, leave any IIM student; any student in this part of the world. He opted out of the placement process to start a career in mountaineering.

Ok… (takes deep breath)… I gotta repeat that. He decided not to sit for placements in IIM Calcutta because he wanted to climb mountains! The very thought of such a concept sends chills down my spine. I know how much career focused people here are. I know the peer pressure that gets into you once you get into an IIM. Such a decision from anyone would be insane to say the least!

But IIMC being what IIMC is.. approves and cultivates diversity. You think I’m crapping? Well the guy was awarded the “Dr. B.C. Roy award for best outstanding contribution to campus life” during the convocation. A large portion of his funds for traveling and climbing these mountains have been contributed by Alumni at IIMC. He has also started a professional adventure company for arranging treks for corporates. The Alumni have also helped him out a lot for this.

Malli is a cult figure in IIMC. He started the adventure club, which is one of the most active clubs in campus; but more importantly he rekindled a trend amongst the students to find their passion. I’ve met him in campus many times – he is just like one of us, mild mannered, fun loving IIMCian. However unlike many of us he had the clarity to know what he wanted in life and the guts to stick to that goal and follow it up.

Hats off to you Malli!!! Hope you conquer the next 6 peaks too… Keep the IIMC flag flying high!

You can visit Malli’s website here

Carpediem's happening....

Well, I dont know about last year but this year its rocking!! With the junta coming from Kolkata and other places, campus is looking quite lively. And why not? Junta being in an enthu mood and waiting for a cul fest with the time having arrived...

Yesterday we had the Professional Drams Play 'Kharashein' and to simply put it, it was awesome! The inaugural lamp was lighted by the Director of the play, Prof. Asim Pal (am not very sure of this) and our Cul Secy Konda. And true to the style of Konda, he said something on the mike, came and sat on his seat waiting for somebody to announce. A minute of silence and nothing happens. Then he realises that there is none and people are into splits! The director of the play comes next on the mike and seeing the mood informs the audience that the play might not be the right kind for now because its themed on the communal violence that ensued during partition. The play starts and what followed was an absolutely marvellous sensitive play.

Today we had the Dance Competition with Bhawanipur coming first followed by Xaviers, then Armageddon Rock Competition and the much awaited Fashion Show....Ah, what a day. Hope we had this kind of cultural mileu more often. I can see a lots of CAM on this from people here :)

getting senti

oh well.. nobody gets senti in public these days. well, since the elections and placements are now over, i'm hoping people have cooled down or sobered up. i had such a wholesome day today, that i thought i'd talk about what a great city this is, and i promise you that this is not a diary entry of sorts. i never believed in that anyway, but that's a whole other discussion. i submitted three assignments today. that's the boring part, and not many people enjoy talking about that kind of thing, but for me, it's like a little miracle. so i'll say it again just to remind myself ;) i submitted three assignments today. and then i also practised two songs with my great fellow musicians. you guys rock. i know i'm really hard on you all sometimes, but it's only because somewhere deep inside, i believe that the only way you're going to get someone to do something right, is to make them feel repeatedly uncomfortable about doing it wrong. oh well, we all make mistakes. i'm digressing. i also had a chance to watch a great band from Delhi called 'them clones' perform at someplace else. i had heard a lot about them, back in the days of undergrad culfests, where so many creative folk actually found time to do nothing and sing songs under trees. they happened to play two of my really-close-to-the-heart type songs. one was 'alive' by pearl jam and the other was 'pride(in the name of love)' by u2. something happened after that, and things got a little too chaotic. the songs were also slowly shifting frequencies down the spectrum, from the esoteric-political-angst-condensing-to-beauty type songs to the not-so-intense-rebellious-world-domination type songs. hmm, looks like i've found a little loophole in my argument. okay, the best part was the cab ride back to joka, home of the great big white birds on the trees (are they really a siberian migrant species, or was that just a rumour that turned into a very intelligent practical joke for the masses ?). songs on the radio after midnight are actually some of the best broadcasted material ever. i wonder why. so here i am in my room, using my brain all day, and trying to unwind on this keyboard and screen combination lock of communication. how wide is the world, and how many spiders actually live in the web? who cares. okay, i'm really drained out of sensible things to talk about. just chill

Nihil Ultra

Dear Abbey,

As you step into the world of work, you are bringing to it the freshness of ideas and the power to change things. And yet, there is the danger that all too soon you will forget why you came to a place like MIJ. No, you were not here to understand the Corporate Sector or the intricate theories of management. You came here to understand yourself and your strengths. To believe how easy it is for you to make a difference. That is the pirpose of higher education. To instil in you a belief that you can make the world a better place.
Whenever you feel unhappy about something around you, remember, you have the capability within to improve it. So whether you choose to change it or choose to walk away and just complain - you have made a choice. As a professional manager, you will have opportunities to make things happen. You have had the education that will tell you what to do and how to do it. But it is only your heart that will tell you why you ought to.
There are no limits to which we can grow as human beings. Every moning we get up and make a choice about how much we will do to make a difference. Every day we choose how much we will touch the loves of less fortunate. Too many people give up the opportunity because they do not believe they can change things. I do hope this education has given you the belief within.
Never underestimate your ability to make a difference.
Nihil Ultra - Nothing is Beyond

Truly,

Ed Hathaway

From the book: Mediocre But Arrogant
Courtesy: The Wolverine