post-interviews, pre-result feelings

Am filled with a mix of feelings right now - thoughts about leaving this place very soon, nightmares about my BTP and the course ADSP, anxiety about IIM results, memories of the time spent at Mumbai with my cousins, thoughts about people who are dear to me and a lots and lots of nostalgia.

Well, am done with my interviews. It feels like I just finished an important chapter of the book of my life.The last two months will be etched in my memory forever. Met some old people, some new people and learnt new lessons. Most important of all, gained some much needed confidence.

I wanted to make this post before the results come out because I do not want the results to affect my opinions in any way.

A novel experience indeed for me. For the first time in my life, I shamelessly boasted about myself. hell, I needed to sell myself. I hated that but I had to, I had to somehow portray that I was the best, I had to highlight my nondescript achievements and make them appear as if I had did something pathbreaking. I had to be extremely careful that the darker side of my personality didn't get exposed during that fateful one hour.

Back at college, we mostly move around in shabby clothes and dishevelled hair. But for the interviews, I tried my best to appear civilised and formal, clean and well ironed shirt and trouser plus a tie and shining shoes. Here among friends, we are instoppable at 'bakar' but when it comes to some sensible discussion, I talk only when I really feel like. But during the GDs, point or no point, I had to talk at regular intervals, I had to put up a smile but never really succeded in that. I had to convince the panelists that I am a group-worker and also have leadership skills!! During the interviews, I had to look at all the panelists, had to maintain a stupid smile on my face (again never really succeded), had to look into the eyes of the panelists and had to be "politically correct" while answering! I must admit that how to be politically correct was something I really learnt very well from this process.

I do not blame any of these things. Obvioulsy, we would be expected to dress properly for an interview as it reflects the sincerity on our part. We would be expected to talk a lot of sense because we are supposedly the future managers who would lead giant organisations and generate wealth! And when you are struggling to make a mark in the world, you can't rub the powers-that-be the wrong way. You have to be politically correct. But it just gave me an inkling of how life as a grown up would be. Once grown up, we would have to adjust our behaviour as per the expectations of the society and not as per our wishes. You either fail yourself but succeed in the eyes of the society or you please yourself but fail as per the yardstick of success followed by the society. I recently read somwhere - "The price you pay for conformity is that everyone except you yourself is happy with you."

Never in my life will I be nervous befor an interview. I still need to work upon the art of expressing myself well, because I really suck at that, but at least I have gained the confidence to get myself interviewed by big shots without being nervous. And I experienced first hand that confidence comes from preparation. I was well prepared except for some subjects and so never really felt afraid of interviews. It's really important to not to let insecurity creep in your life. With too much of insecurity around, life becomes tough and depressing thoughts come haunting every moment.

But I missed out on two very important experiences - being into a stress interview and being interviewed by a lady panelist. I wish at least one of my six interviews had provided me an opportunity to experience the above mentioned things. That would have made me even more confident and matured.

Results will now be out any time. I am enjoying the pre-result anxiety. Visiting PG every day to see if there is any update about the results. When I key in that TR number (btw, I will remember this number for the rest of my life) and the birthdate, what would the first word be - "Congratulations" or "Sorry"? Forget it! Whatever there was in my capacity, I have already done. Now all I can do is hope for the best and be prepared for the worst.

IIM or no IIM, I will remember fondly the past 8 months of my life because the destination is indeed important, but more important is the journey to the destination.

And the song by Aersomith that I am listening to right now is doing wonders to my spirit:
"Dream on, dream on, till your dreams come true!"

IIMI GD/PI experience

Last one of the season for me.

Here goes the description.

Date; 25th March
Venue: IICM, Vashi (UTI institute, 3rd floor)
Time: 2:00 PM
Panel: 1 (not sure)

Case study:

8 people in the group, one lady. I was the only fresher. Vinz also in the same panel. 5 minutes to read, 16 minutes to discuss, 5 minutes to write the summary. Summary to be written down on the back of the yellow form. The case was about a person who joined family business after studies and did pretty well there. Thereafter, he entered into the education field which was quite close to his heart. He set up schools and colleges. Then he plunged into politics, became an MLA and then an MP and was, in all probabilities, going to become a minister soon. The management of the schools and colleges was looked after by his family members. But a week before the celebration of the completion of a decade of his schools and colleges one of the schools of his is derecognised by CBSE and the colleges also face some case in teh court. To add to his woes, the HRD minister cancels his visit to his celebrations. So what should he do?

Utter crap case. Of the one page write up given, 3/4th page had some of the other information about the person in question. Only the last 1/4the section spoke about the problem and so the problem wasn't clear at all. And therefore, we had quite a lacklustre discussion.

PI:

They were calling people in random order. LUck wasn't with me this time. In 3 out of my previous 5 interviews, I was 2nd and in one I was 1st. But today I was 7th!! And with the panel spending 30 mins with each person, it was a long long wait for me!

P1: Bored interviewer
P2: cordial interviewer
Me: Yours truly

When I was called for the interview, I went to the door and knocked to appear civilised. But the room was designed such that the sounds from inside could not be heard outside. And so I could not hear when they asked me to come in. I knocked thrice, then made sure that I was knocking at the right door and finally barged in!

P1: So vivek, How are you?
Me: Fine sir.
P1: Long wait for you huh? Must be bored?
Me: Yes Sir. A long wait. But I was busy solving sudokus.
P2: So, you are very much interested in sudokus?
Me: No sir. But a good way to spend time.

Now, without any other formalities, P2 just jumped to acads.

P2: You have this course probability and statistics? Why this course in IT?
Me: Explained that mine is not IT but ICT where we have subjects from IT, CS and ECE. The course is relavant for CS and ECE fields.
P2: Ok. What is Baye' theorem? (Hands me a sheet of paper)
Me: Told.
P2: What would be P(B/A) if P(A/B) is given?
Me: Told
P2: Give an example of Baye's theorem.
Me: After thinking for a while, started telling about different coloured balls in a container and drawing balls without replacement.
P2: No. I don't want this bookish example.

Before I could think of another example, he asked the next question.

P2: Is Baye's theorem applicable to all kinds of events?
Me: Tried to say something about if there are B1, B2 ... Bn events and they should be independent.
P2: No. what should be the relation between A and B?
Me: Couldn't really understand the question. So clueless stares.
P2: Have you heard about mutually exclusive and independent events.
Me: yes. Explained.
P2: Given an example of independent events.
Me: Questions asked by this panel and those asked by the other panel are independent to each other.
P2: What happens when A and B are mutually exclusive?
From this question, he led me show that the theorem cannot be applied when A and B are mutually exclusive. I wasn't really convinced but let it pass by accepting whatever he said.
P2: Where can be Bayes' theorem be applied in electronics?
Me: Couldn't think of an example there.
P2: In communication?
Me: Talked about information theory. Told them about the probability of receiving a message x1, when the transmitted message was also x1 and when the transmitted message was other than x1.
P2: In what type of practical channels the prob. P(X1/X1) would be 1 and where would it be less than 1.
Me: In no practical chaneel it would be 1.
P2: So, in the decreasing order of prob. what would be the list of channels?
Me: Optical fibres, copper cables, wireless.
P2: Working principles of these channels.
Me: Told.
P2: Why more noise in wireless. Tell mathematically.
Me: Gave a physical explanation. Told them that didn't know the mathematics.
P2: How can the noise be compensated?
Me: Told about repeaters.
P2: Give a practical example.
Me: Told about optical amplifiers used in optical fibre channels at appropriate intervals


P2 now signals to P1 to take over. All this while P1 gave a terribly bored look. He seemed to be very tired and didn't show any interest in my answers. And when it was his turn to interview, he asked pure GK questions.

P1: Which states are ruled by BJP?
Me: Told.
P1: CMs of these states.
Me: Told and added that wasn't very sure.
P1: Which states ruled by Congress.
Me: Gave some names.
P1: Cm of karnataka.
Me: Don't remember the name but Dharamsingh was repalced by the son of Dev Gowda.
P1: CM of Kerala?
Me: Don't know.
P1: WHo rules in J&K?
Me: Congress with NCP.
P1: NCP??
Me: I am sorry. NCP is in Maharashtra. It is NC in J&K.
P1: In UP.
Me: Told
P1: Which of these governments is more development oriented?
Me: Told about Gujarat and Maharashtra.

All these while, I would look at P2 for assurance because I wasn't very sure of my answers and P2 was giving a nod whenever I gave a correct answer.

P1 signals to P2 that he is done.

P2: You have campus placement?
Me: Yes, in __________.
P2: It's a nice opportunity to get some good experience. Why not go for it?
Me: Told about willing to have a continuity in my academic career.
P2: Thank you vivek. Take a biscuit.
Me: Thank you.


THis was it. 20 minutes. Compared to others I had a pretty easy interview. One guy in the other panel was asked to explain every single thing written on a pencil (HB Bonded lead etc.) A lot of direct GK was being asked. DOn't know how does that serve any purpose.

Thus ended the season for me. Now begins the nail-biting wait for the results. Hope my first tryst with CAT becomes the last one too.

IIMB GD/PI experience

Here is my experience with IIMB.

Date: 22nd March
Time: 9:00 AM
Venue: Mumbai
Panel: 3 (Though there were only two panels on that day)

Case study:

Only 6 people in the group. 1 lady. anandv and awr also in the group. Vinz was with another panel. The room was very small and so I felt like really sitting in a group for some dinner table discussion. We were given the instructions: 10 mins to think, 15 mins to discuss, 15 mins to write the summary. Summary to be written in running English, with complete sentences, not in points.

Title of the case was "six of spade or pass" which made no sense to me. The case was about an oil company with a name IVL similar to ONGC videsh. The manager KK had a $3 bn bid proposal on his table for an oilfield in Ecuador. The manager was worried about a Chinese competitor CNOC because it had outbidded IVL in past several bids, of which two examples were given in the case. KK felt that CNOC was banking on a rise in oil prices in the future for its not-so-competitive bids to work out. But since last two years CNOC was heavily in the red. In the last bid which was for some $500 mn, CNOC had approached IVL for a JV. KK was now wondering whether CNOC would do the same this time too? Or would it bid separately. We had to discuss about his plan of action.

Because there were only 6 people, everyone had enough chance to speak. We had a good discussion, with some repetitions indeed. There was one person who did lot of one-to-one discussion. But all in all, very peaceful and civilised and almost all possible aspects of the case were brought up and discussed.

PI:

I was the first person to be interviewed.

Two panelists. They had introduced themselves before the GD began but I forgot their names.

P1, P2: interviewers
Me: yours truly

P1: So, you are studying.
Me: Yes sir. Final year engineering.
P2: briefly describe yourself
Me: Answered. Told them about my interest in reading.
P2: So what do you prefer to read?
Me: I prefer biographies/autobiographies.
P2: Which biograpies you have read?
Me: Told
P2: Any particuar book that inspired you?
Me: yes. Iococca's and gave my reasons for that.
P2: ANy Indian personality who has inspired you?
Me: Gandhiji. I was fascinted by his will power. That is something I would like to have in myself.
P2: So you aren't strong mentally?
Me: No sir. I am very strong. But the level of will power that Gandhiji exhbited was different altogether. I would like to achieve that level.

P1: what is this controversy about Google earth
Me: Told
P1: WHo would need sensitive informaion about our country?
Me: Terrorists blah blah.
P1: Why did then google develop such a thing?
Me: Students of geogrphy. teching in schools. Travellers blah blah. Every technology has good and bad uses...

P2 is back

P2: If you were the securiy advisor of India, how would you analyse the problem.
Me: A very brief answer.
P2: So simple?? Ok, what do you think should Google do?
Me: Should agree to India's request.
P2: But you being a techie must know that technology cannt be restricted. If not google, someone else would do that.
Me: Agreed Sir. But google has the technological and financial soundness and also has an immense reach in masses. So a software developed by google would be better and more accessible to people which would mean an easy option for unscrupulous people. n the other hand, if some secret agency tries to develop similar thing, it wouldn't be as good as google earth and would also not be available to so many people. So google should be more responsible.


P2 signals P1 to take over.

I had a project with Reliance Digital world in the area of GIS (Geographical Information System). I had mentioned it in the form in the part time training/work-ex section. It was a pretty interesting project and I was expecting that there would be some questions on it. And there were indeed. P2 and P1 asked me several questions about the project, softwares used, outcomes, utility etc. I am happy at least in some interview, this project came up for discussion.

P1: SO vivek, why MBA?
Me: Told.
P1: Why not M.tech?
Me: My reasons.
P1: 5 years down the line?
Me: Gyan

P2 also chips in.

P2: Why not your own company? It takes hardly any thing to start an IT company?
Me: Not prepared for this thing. Do not have sufficient knowledge.
P2: So you are risk averse?
Me: Nope. I take risks but only calculated risks. I feel starting a company at this stage would be a blind risk.
P2: But gujaratis have entrepreneurship in blood. Take Dhiruhai Ambani. Did he have any expereience when he started on his own? Why not you? (Me a gujju). Has the college education spoilt you? (laughs)
Me: Attempt to justify myself. said that I do a thing only after I feel that I am completely prepared for it.
P1: So, you think you are prepared for an MBA now.
Me: Yes sir. I am as good as any other candidate.


P2: vivek you told that you are from a very small town (in my introduction I said that). SO what is difference you felt in yourself now that you are living in a big city?
Me; competitiveness at the college. resources at my disposal etc. Told them that only after I was out of such a small place which did not even have a library that I discovered my love for reading and in the past 3 years ended up reading lots of books.
P2: How do you find time for reading so much books? Isn't your college schedule hectic?
Me: Told something about being a fast learner.
P2: Didn't write IIT?
Me: Did. couldn't clear mains.
P2: Why? Didn't go for coaching?
Me: brought in the small town thing once again. Lack of proper guidance. Gujarat board curriculum not comprehensive enough.
P2: How do you rate the students at your colllege?
P2: How do they admit students?
P2: QUestion about Placements and Reliance recruiting students.
P2: My placement
Answered all the above questions.

P1: When does your engineering end?
Me: Told
P1: Any chance this might be delayed?
Me: Nope. We are autonomous. Our own schedule.
P1: WHich university does award you degree?
Me: DA-IICT
P1: You haven't sent your marksheets along with the form.(were we supposed to?)Give them now.

give them.

P1: Any questions you would like to ask us?
Me: yes sir. I had one. Now after the GD, I have two.
P2; Go ahead.
Me; If you don't mind sir, what did the title of the GD mean?
P2: Laughs. You find that out. It's an assignment for you. When you come to Bangalore, tell us the answer.
I too laugh and then ask my second question to which P1 gives me a detailed answer. And then Thank you.

This was it. 25 minutes. Completely HR interview. Though I fumbled in that why MBA part, all other things were fine.

No acads. Are yaar, koi to acads puchh lo. I prefer that! At least, I can say don't know. In these HR interviews, there are no don't know questions!

Last one is Indore on 25th.

IIMC GD/PI experience

Had my GD/PI for IIMC at Mumbai on 13th. Before that I had my ATM on 12th. An easy paper - 1 hr. 33 questions. Most of the questions were very much doable. Don't know exactly how I performed because question paper was also taken back.

Now about the GD/PI.

venue: Mumbai
Date: 13th March
Time: 9:30 AM
Panel: 3

GD:

11 people in the group, 3 ladies. Before starting the GD, one of the panelists, who seemed to be very very kindhearted, told all of us in a very polite manner that they were there to find out not what we don't know but what we know. And so we should try to have a good discussion and give everyone a chance to speak. We would have enough time for that. These words had a good impact on the group and so in spite of a group of 11, we had an extremely civilised GD.

We were told that we would be given 5 mintues to think, 15 minutes to discuss and thereafter everyone would be randomly given a minute to speak. The topic for us was "Ethics are not absolute". From the very beginning, each member of the group was very considerate, always giving others a chance to speak. Everone had ample opportunities to speak. Everyone spoke at least 4-5 times. People were readily withdrawing to let others speak. We had a proper discussion. The points were not very strong, though. But all in all, such a civilised discussion should add to everyone's score.

Once we were done with the discussion, they first decided to not to have that 1 minute round as they too felt that everyone had had enough chances to speak. But then there were some group members who wanted to add to the discussion and so they gave everyone 1 more minute (sequentially).

One thing, we were not give any papers. We were asked to take out a sheet of paper. So if you are in Mumbai, take a paper with you.

Interview:

I was the second person to be interviewed.

Panel of 4 people, 2 alumni, 2 profs.
A1 - alumni, HR head of HUTCH
A2 - alumni, from HDFC
P1 - prof, very very cordial
P2 - Prof
Me - yours truly

P1: Ok Vivek, tell us something about yourself.
I started with the prepared answer. He interrupted me.
P1: All this we have read in the form. Tell us something more, something different.
Me: Told about my reading, writing interests, editorship at college and ended with telling that I was an ambidextrous person.
P1: See, you have told us much more interesting things than what is there in the form.
Me: grin
P1: YOu have any of your writings show us?
Me: No.
P1: So, what do you read?
Me: Biographies particularly. But read many more thing. ANything except Sci-fi.
P1: Read Gandhi's?
Me: yes.
P1: Nehru's? What all do you know about Nehru?
Me: No. Do not know much except for the usual stuff.
P1: So what all biographies have you read?
Me: Told
P1: Can you read/write Gujarati?
Me: yes sir. I am a Gujju.
P1: That's OK. But even some gujjus cannot read/write gujju.
Me: I can.
P1: Have you read any biography in Gujju.
Me: (Luckily I had one) Yes sir, the gujarati version of "Autobiography of a Yogi".
P1: Whose autobiography is that?
Me: Don't remember sir. Mebbe Swami Sahajanand, but not sure. (Knew this is incorrect)
P1: ANy fiction if Gujarati?
Me: No sir.
A1 chips in.
A1: So what makes you read these biographies.
Me: blah blah. While answering, mentioned Iococca's book. Told about he facing very adverse circumstances at a very later stage of his career and how he made a comeback.
A1: let us take Iococca's book. What was the adversity that he faced?
Me: Told
A1: You have read Gandhi. What do you find in him unique as a person and his persona in relation to Gujarat (don't know the question. Couldn't get it properly)
Me: Told about Gandhi's willpower. Avoided the Gujarat part.
A1: Do you think the non-violence was the right strategy?
Me: yes. Something about it garnering international support for the country.
A1: Why did it work against British?
Me: something about they not being able to use force as we weren't using it. They feared internationa retaliation.

Here A2 comes in.

A2: But there was jalianwala Bagh, just to remind you.
Me: yes sir. But then there were Indian groups who were using violent means. Not that our struggle was purely non-violent.

A1 is back.

A1: So you think non-violence is still applicable in today's world.
Me: Yes sir. Violence in today's world would ultimately lead to a nuclear war.

On hearing nuclear P1 is back with his disarming smile.

P1: So you think India did the right thing by voting against Iran?
Me: Told about no one trusting Iran's intentions.
P1: Security is a greater concern for Iran than India. Why have double standards there?
Me: India has a good track record. Whereas Iran has been a part of clandestine nuclear trade. Also India has the policy of no firt use. Iran cannot be trusted to have one. Iran may pass it on to other rogue regimes.
P1: So should US be a moral police of the world. Is it ethical, as you discussed in the GD?
Me: No. US was not right in invading Iraq.These should be done by a world body such as UN.

There were many more counter questions in this part. But thankfully it all ended on a convincing note.

Moreover, here after asking me a counter question where, perhaps, he found me to be nervous, he decided to ease me a bit and so started talking to me about the GD.

P1: You had this good point. Why didn't you put it forth very strongly?
Me: Told about not being very good at expressing myself orally.
P1: How much would you rate yourself on a scale of 10.
Me: 6/10 as I had good points but wasn't very glib.
P1: Who according to you were the best performers?
Me: Told about a guy and a lady who were stood out during the discussion. They didn't agree on one of them.
P1: How was the ATM yesterday?
Me: Told.
P1: Ok now back to the question I asked you earlier. And I won't remind you of the question.

Luckily I remembered where I left and so we were back to the nuclear part for some more time.

It was P1 again with a different line of questioning.
P1:You read any financial daily or magazine?
Me: yes. ET. No magazine.
P1: You follow any particular company or sector? Can we ask you questions of economy?
Me: No particular sector/company. But ask me abt economy.

They left it at that and didn't ask me anything.

P1: One of the main reasons for people coming to IIMs is the palcements. Here, this guy is the HR head of Hutch (A1) and he is from HDFC (A2). If they offer you a high paying job right now, would you still want to come to an IIM and waste one seat?
Me: Yes sir. Told about the diversity, competition, god-like faculty.

Hands me over to P2.

P2: What is this National cyber olympiad? ( I had a certificate)
Me: Told
P2: What is the difference between extranet and intranet?
Me: Told


A1 is back.

A1: You said you maintain a blog. What was the last thing you wrote?
Me: Told

P2: Ok, Vivek. YOu may leave.
Me: Thank you.

As I was leaving, P2 asked me if my college was a private college and what all calls did I have.

That was it. 25 minutes. No Acads. No maths. After 10 mins interviews for K and L, such a comprehensive interview made me quite happy. Enjoyed it thoroughly. The panel was very cordial. No grilling. Wanted to make me as comfortable as possible. Nice expereince after the ego-bruising L interview.

Next is B on 22nd.



Cheers,
Vivek

IIML GD/PI experience

Had my IIML interview at Mumbai.

Date : 6th March
venue: Dadar catering college
Time : 10:00 AM
Panel: 2

GD:

10 people in the group. 1 absent. Out of 9 present (no ladies), 5 (including me) were together at IIMA also. In addition, I knew two more and therefore 7 of us being already familiar with each other, the comfort level was very high.

Once inside the room, our forms were collected. They didn't collect the copies of our X, XII and engineering marksheets unlike other IIMs. We were told that once the topic is given, there would be 1 minute to think, 10 minutes to write the essay and then 10 minutes to discuss. The topic was "Income Tax is the most difficult thing to understand." Comparitively easier than What IIML has been giving at other places. The discussion was good. Started in a somewhat chaotic manner but thereafter it was more or less civilised. Good pints were discussed. On some instances, the group digressed but was quickly brought to the track by some or the other member. Overall, the group members were satisfied with their performance.

Interview:

I was the second person to be interviewed. The first person was in for 15 minutes. Didn't ask him about the kind of questions asked as I wanted to go in without any prejudices.

P1, P2: interviewers
Me: yours truly

P1: Vivek, how are you?
Me: Fine Sir. (Didn't ask back how was he. Was not sure whether it was the right thing to do. I was afraid it would look slightly informal if I asked back. Hope I did the right thing.)
P2: Tell us something about yourself.
While answering, I spoke about DA-IICT. He asked me to expand it. Dhirubhai Ambani in the name decided the course of half of my interview.
P2: Why did you not join any conventional course? (Mine is ICT - Information and communication technology. Ours is the only institute that awards this degree)
Me: Explained the course structure. Told them that I couldn't get through IIT and that of all other options available, it was the best one for me.
P1: So are you satisfied?
Me: Yes. sir. Pretty much.
P1: What are the job prospects?
Me: Told
P1: IT sectore has revolutionalised the manufacturing sector. How?
Me: Told about the softwares used to control the manufacturing process and the way they have dramatically changed the quality level.
P1: No. That is not IT. (Isn't it, people???)
Me: told about intelligent machines fitted with highly advanced processors. Basically not just mechanical machines.
P1: No. Not even that.
Decides to leave me here. P1 asks for my file.
P1: What else do you do?
Me: Sir, I read and write.
P1: What do you read?
Me: Various genres. Not science fiction though.
P1: Why not science fiction?
Me: Read Timeline by Crichton and Dune. Didn't interest me much. SO didn't read much sci-fi thereafter.
P1: Any famous sci-fi author you know of?
me: yes sir. Here I wanted to say Arthur C. clarke. But somehow wasn't able to recall the name. In stead, blurted out Jeffrey Archer (Arthur - Archer confused me).
P1: laughs.
Me: Correct myself. Say that he is not a sci-fi writer. But still cannot recollect that name Arthur C. Clarke (Why O why??)
Here P2 who was browsing through my files asked me if I had brought my CAT admit card. I replied in positive. He found it, brought it out and had a look at it (Thank God!!)
P1: Read Asimov. You will start enjoying sci-fi thereafter.
Me: OK sir.
P1: What other activities do you do?
Me: participation in college activities and all that stuff.
Some counter questions.

Now P2 comes into action. I wish he should not have.

P2: What is the leadership style of Dhirubhai Ambani?
Me: Some mumble-jumble about Dhirubhai's focus on wealth creation for shareholders and he being the pioneer of public equity culture in India.
P2: I am asking about the leadership style.
Me: Told them about three quotes attributed to reliance group and Mr. Ambani ; "Growth is life", "Meeting deadlines is not good enough. beating deadlines is what I want" and the third one about tapping young mind. Somehow elaborated them and said that Mr. Ambani wanted to beat the best. I know I wasn't glib at all here.
P2: It is said that Mr. Ambani indulged into a lot of what people call "Cutting the corners". What are your views?
Me: Something about his thinking that obeying license raj was legitimate but was adverse to his ambition of wealth creation for common people and welfare of nation and so he used his political influence but ultimately benefited the economy.
P2: Your views on the feud between Mukesh and Anil Ambani?
Me: Told hem about the highly ambitious nature of the two brothers led to the feud. But now it has been solved amicably?
P2: Do you think it has been really solved amicably?
Me: Considering the size of the group and the complexity of the holding structure some minor problems will keep on arising but the brothers understand that too much fighting would harm the image of the group and damage their prospects. So more or less amicable solution.
P2: Do you think they did the right thing?
Me: (was bored by now) some crap.
P2: If in future, you are asked to lead a business organisation, whom would you follow - Mr. Narayan Murthy or Mr. Dirubhai Ambani?
Me: Both created wealth. Both contributed to the economy. Only that Ambani wasn't as open (didn't want to use the word ethical) as Mr. Murthy. ( Didn't give any particular name here.)

P2 nudges P1.

P1: Ok. You may leave now.
Me: Thank you sirs.

This was it. Only 10 minutes. Come on! This is not fair. I was very much disappointed. No Acads. No current affairs. No budget. 10 minutes is nothing! I travel 10 hrs from Ahmedabad to Mumbai, take 20 mins to get ready in the best of my clothes, 10 minutes to commute to the venue of the interview and after all these, they send me out in 10 minutes!! Not fair at all! Actually P2 asked me questions at which I am not comfortable. I can't dish out gibberish easily. Where as all his questions were such that I had to speak crap in a bombastic language, unfortunately not my cup of tea. However, the panel was quite cordial. Never put any stress on me. There was a kindness in their voice, P2's particularly.

Next is C on 13th.

Mediocre?? Nah!!

There is this Brijwasi man, who serves us water on lunch and dinner table. Must be around 30. And he does such menial jobs for we 20 something chaps. I observe him daily. He appers to me one real good-at-heart guy. Why then he has to live such a life where respect and prestige are something that he will never be able to achieve at his workplace? Why is it that his children will never be able to mention their father's occupation with pride? Why is it that he will have to take orders from people much younger than him? Why is is that he will remain poor all his life unless some exceptional circumstances are created? ANd why is it that there is every possibility that his children will end up in circumstances similar to him because with his meagre salary, all they will receive is poor quality education? I wonder what would be his sense of self-esteem. He is what he is today because he was born in a poor family where emphasis was not laid on education.

I go to syndicate bank and see the atmosphere there. I shiver at the prospect of having to work in such a place. But there are people who have been working at that very place since years and will continue to work there for many more years to come. Are they doing it out of choice? No. They are doing it because they do not have an option. If they were capable enough, would not they ,in stead, be in the higher echelons of some hing profile bank?

I have a friend. A great human being. Good at heart, Helpful. Is never harsh with anyone. But alas, he is not academically very bright. Managed an average score in his XII standard. He is today in a B grade engineering college studying in a not-so-lucrative branch of engineering. His college does not have an impressive infrastructure to boast of. His knowledge of computers is limited. His fluency with English is not exactly praise worthy. His institute does not have good campus placements. His colleagues are not very bright and ambitious. In brief, he is receiving sub standard education wherein he is not being given enough opporunities for his development. When he enters the job market, he is surely going to have a tough time. Does this mean that my friend will be an addition to the tribe of mediocres?

Mediocre - this is a terrifying word. All the instances I mentioned above are evidences of mediocricity forced upon individuals due to circumstances. I fret at the thought of ending up as a mediocre -Just another one among thousands. Nothing unique about me. Nothing exceptional. Earning a 5 figue salary in an 8 to 5 job. Everyday doing the same work, No element of challenge. Work -> marriage -> kids -> education of kids -> marriage of kids -> Death. Leaving the world as inconspicuosly as I entered it. No difference made to any one's life. I become a past and then things go on as usual.

The reasons for medicricity could be many - lack of opportunities, adverse circumstances, personal follies or misfortune. But in many cases, people end up as mediocre out of choice, though one might not realize this. Every 20 something human being is ambitious. But once in to the big, bad world, one realizes that dreaming was the easiest part. Bringing the dreams to reality is one hell of a task. And soon, one starts compromising with oneself. In stead of doubling efforts, one starts trying to be contented with what one has. With the passage of time one is so much afraid of taking risks that in stead of progress, the entire focus is on maintaining the status-quo. Compromising with one's dreams is the sure shot way to mediocricity. That is why George Bernard Shaw said:"the reasonable man adapts himself to the world. The unreasonable man persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all the progress depends of the unreasonable man."

Ruthless ambition is not what I advocate. But there has to be a purpose in life beyond having a happy family and a stable income. I know that peace of mind is more important than material pleasures. The Brijwasi man might be the happiest person on earth. It is indeed possible to live a blissful life even in extreme penury. But only when you are looking at yourself in isolation. When there are lives associated with you, you have to be materialistic. What wrongs did that dreamy-eyed beautiful girl, who married you, commit that she, along with you and because of you, was relegated to a life of mediocricity? Why, because of you, should your child be denied the best education or the best of the opportunities for his development? And how about going beyond your family and looking at the society? Won't it be great if we could rise so much in our professional lives that we could contribute to the welfare of the lesser-privileged sections of the society?

One day, as I was talking to one of our faculty members about DA-IICT student community, he told me a very pointful statement: "250 is quite a large number. It is easy to get lost in such a large batch". very true. We have been witnesses to our smart friends getting lost in the competition. If 250 is large, what about the 1 billion population of India and the 6.something billion of this world? As of now, We are all a needle in a haystack, or perhaps an atom in this universe! Today we are a non-entity but that does not matter so much because a better part of our lives is yet to be lived. But when the final calling comes, let us not be an also-ran!

Margaret thatcher once said "A man riding a bus (to work) at age 26 may count himself a failure"? I roger that. I have 4 more years!!