Our House on the front page of "The Times of India"

Wow and Ha Ha

Imagine this - Fake threats of never taking your report ;)

Either I have become terribly naughty or terribly haughty..hehe

I love it when I am this way. Instead of being the 'oh-my-god, mistress in distress' I'm like pretty cool dude ;) I think I'm becoming my dad. LOL nothing affects him. you can scream and shout and tell him bla bla bla and he will give you his cheeky smile as though he's least bothered. Love you dad! :-)

I choose not be get screamed at.. one of the poor girls got so miserable that she was literally crying! I mean can you believe it? You could understand that if it was your National exam and you just flunked and have to repeat the whole year... yeah then, may be, you cry but for a term report??!! Imagine how insensitive 'the people' are? or how silly we are ;)

Ok too many winks..hehe.. but I'm just amused at this Munna bhai flop hogaya movie threats on 'I'm not accepting your report! and I'm not going to place you either!"

Today I had a good 'G.D.' with Mr.Akash whose 'thinking' is that in a G.D. be open to discuss anything including selling a 'girl'. BS (in his language) We objected.. all the good students and all who could defend their stand. I told him he was a fence sitter and forgot to add that then hey you have no ethics. If you can say things you don't mean to get a job, trust me, I would NEVER hire you. Who wants to work for a company who actually gives you such silly topics to 'Discuss' on. Don't they understand Indian Taxation System or how to improve the thirld world country's economy? Isn't topics like 'Should prostitution be made legal in India' outdated and pathetic? and to actually tell a bunch of MBA guys that they should go ahead and support the claim.

I asked him straight on his face 'Will you introduce your sister.."Meet my sister, she is a prostitute'? Would you? If you wouldn't do it for your own sister then why say that for other women. That is hypocricy.' Ok I didn't tell him about his hipocricy but just let him win by giving him a scarcastic cum amusing smile. Figure that! What kind of training is that.

Devendra told me, speak with facts, real world is bad, it's all about politics and dirty games and corruption that is so rampant in India. Hello->? Heard of Saudia Arabia? Heard of Indonesia? O.K. forget countries who are Islamic less I'm labelled as 'Oh she is a muslim so obviously she will just speak from that point of view'

You want your examples?

Take Mahatma Gandhi. One man. Freed the whole nation, and slavery is a more tough war to win than corruption and silly politicians.

So am I fuming up? Of course! I wouldn't accept the wrong just because the whole class or 'Mr. Akash' happens to think -"If you want a job, be diplomatic' and that is how I have got the above punkymood pic ->Two faced. Bahar se kuch aur, Undar se kuch aur ( Something on the outside, something else in the inside) In short -> word of the day -> HYPOCRISY

Thank God for me that I've so far never had to be one and have never been asked those silly questions. Why give the right to ask someone questions like that to you. No, I'm not being ohhh so sensitive, ouch! kinds. I mean the dignified 'Do I come across as such a person that you ask such degradable third grade foul queries?'

Once again... I smile :-) 'You either fume up or you laugh at things you can't do anything about' - you can't do anything about 'individuals' who think prostitution should be legalised or of those who are free to lie on their hearts to get a job! Chhh! Where did honesty go? Shopping?

so hey.. I'm smiling :-) I'm still young and I don't want ulcers so soon.... Ciao!

A bad week

Yesterday was a real bad bad bad day. Actually the whole week was real bad. Why?

1. I was down and out
2. I forgot all plans
3. I became paralyzed just before my taxation test
4. I missed a seminar and a class
5. I did not submit my report
6. I feel guilty and 'Oh common!' at the same time ;)

Well I won't worry coz this week I plan to get back in shape. I do feel sad at my poor performance in Tax and the report. Anyways, the report will take hardly an hour 'if' I sit and just do it zap zap zap.

So I am again off to replan my 'plan' and I will let you know how this week goes. :-)

My castle

This was a gift from Czech Republic. One of my colleague who did his internship in Czech Republic and got me lots of souvenirs. I took this photo because I love the snow fall pieces and you simply can't resist shaking it up every time you see it :-). That's why I keep it far away from my study table.

I tried to get the snap right in time when the snow falls.

It's beautiful, isn't it!

IIM Bangalore Library

:-) This is me with my books at the IIM Library. I will soon be posting pictures of the campus soon. While taking this snap, I learnt how to disable the flash light. Yes! :-) I learnt one thing..hehe


This shows the view outside from where I'm sitting. It's beautiful outside with all the lawns and greenery.

Prof. Narayan Swamy - Where knowledge speaks everything

Its not the flashy clothes that you wear

or the american accent that you put on

its not the color of your skin

or your fancy background

its not the paper called a degree

or the years of wasted experience

its not your shoes or your ties

or you so so expensive coats

its what you carry in your mind

and the ability to transfer it to young minds

that makes you the best professor in this world!

As Usual...

Last week I achieved a record of being on time for all my classes.

Today I went back to old routine. I was in time for my lesson but you know.. I hate saying that word 'late'. On the other hand I found myself having excellent concentration power. I feel that if I save my energy on not talking too much then I make it out with reading a lot and concentrating on my lessons

There isn't anything new. Lots of assignments and submissions and so working on them...

A good sunday

Today was a good sunday because I finished my Investment Analysis revision so far. I still have the last chapter on Capital Market theory to master but otherwise, Thank God, I managed to revise and understand all about dividends, returns, risk, variance, covariance and corelation and how this are used in the analysis of investments and portfolio management.

On friday morning I was really mad coz I told my driving instructor off when he spoke to me in his rude voice. I was sulky the whole morning... haha.. in the end I realised it was only my peace that I was disturbing so I let go.

Nisreen and I had gone for friday morning prayers and we had slept late also. This took a toil when I found myself sleeping in my investment analysis class. On the first row right under the nose of my professor! My friends were waking me up! During the break, I drowned myself in coffee and crackers so that I'd keep myself alert. I had lost the flow of the subject matter. One class of Prof. NarayanSwamy is like 10 chapters of the book. When we returned for the next session, he said 'Those who did not follow the first class, don't worry. Concentrate in this one and you can still catch the thread"

Yes.. He was talking to me :-) He is so understanding. In the first class itself he told us that at times we don't feel like sitting in class due to some reasons - personal or otherwise and we were free to walk out. He would not think badly of us or judge us on that single class behavior. How many professors can give that kind of a 'security' and if they do, how many truly believe. That's why all of us adore him. His weapon is the knowledge he carries with him and his ability to transfer it to us. Hats off to him!

Well today I sat and I went through my notes. My notebook is almost complete and it's not even a month of classes. At this rate I think I will need three notebooks, that would be my record ;) Trust me, Investment Analysis would have been the toughest subject to understand if we didn't have him. The way he explains it makes us feel that it's the easiest. All my friends agree that he is the best sir we have had.

Ok I will stop here.... In the next post, I will post his photographer and see him for yourself. Till then.. Happy sunday! :-)

Beware! I'm going to become a photographer..hehahaha

I have decided that I will actively start using my digital camera. It was a gift from my brother-in-law. I ordered the Olympus coz my cousin has one and when I visited the US, I thought it was cool. Sleek and slim compared to the Canon I had. It was bulky and I couldn’t place it in my handbag. I always had to carry it in the camera case and I got frustrated… so I got an Olympus. When I got it I didn’t like it for Canon gave me better pictures and the quality can’t be compared. I admit that at the moment I really don’t know how to use my camera apart from ‘click’..lol.. so hey don’t take it as a review until I really learn how to use it and check out the modes. Canon had modes for moving images and various others. Olympus Stylus 710 on the other hand is a simpler camera with few options. Of course you’ve got to sacrifice one thing for the other.

Hopefully now you will see some photos from my end as well :-)

Prof. B.K.Kumar - The teacher who got me to read newspapers! :-)

Today I did something crazy :-) While class was going on, I took a photograph of Prof.B.K.Kumar, My Strategic Marketing and International Business or Global Marketing professor. He was surprised to say the least..hehe and the class started laughing.

Actually I forgot to ask Prof. Kumar if I could take his snap before the class. I did inform him later that it was for my blog and he was happy.

I hope to take photographs of all my professors. Firstly, as a tribute to them and acknowledge them as the teachers who have inspired and taught me and secondly as fond memories.

How do I maximise the output

There are two good news today:

1. I got up at 4.00 am and studied Production Management

2. I was dot on time for my class

The end result:

I was too tired in the afternoon to study therefore I took a nap. I am fresh but I still feel guilty. No doubt the early morning studies can't be compared as that is my best 'Alert' time but hey I want to utilise the rest of my day as well.

I got 'Beyond Competition' by Xavier and Ramachander and I hope to finish it today. It's not a huge text. Prof. Sunil recommended it for our Power Strategies class. I also want to read 'Blue Ocean Strategy'

So far I have realised that strategy or otherwise. It's one thing to sit on the stand and bark orders at the players. Totally different thing to actually get down on the field and play.

Onc interesting fact I learnt in Production Management was 'Learning Curve' or Experience theory. The theory goes like this that as you repeat a task over and over again, you get better at it and take less time to do it. Conjured.

Though there are very few areas where you can apply this: cooking, cleaning, assembly and ok not few but many however, in this dynamic world the learning curve won't be so relevant coz you always have to keep learning new and new stuff and so everytime you're a novice and never an expert.

The fuse died on us today and we just got it repaired. The land lord is asking us for our details in case of 'complains'. Really, doesn't everyone know about 'E.Q'? Prof. NarayanSwamy was also exclaiming in our financial opportunites class that B-Schools don't teach 'E.Q'. I think it's a BIG MUST. I measure myself on a 7/10 for E.Q (Don't want to give high marks coz hey I'm human and I make mistakes as well) but my land lord has 2/10 E.Q. They are good people but they are one's you rather avoid than mingle. Talked to my brother-in-law and he asked me to get a disclaimer that they will not disclose it to anyone without our permission. Fine and agreed. I'll do it, but I don't like it.

At the moment I have to work out a 12 hour working schedule. Proper concentrated and fruitful working hours. Prof. Sona asked us how many hours we work and I'm currently on a 8-9 hr output and she's like 'That's all!! You guys are doing your MBA right?' Sarcasm taken. Today Tarique sir came and talked to us generally about the classes and how serious we have to become now that we have started our finance specialisation. I adore Prof. Tarique. He may be a professor but he still looks like a student. When he first came in class in the first trimester, I didn't even notice him. I thought he was a student. I think he is the best among our full time faculties and also Prof. Ratneshwar. I think he is a great communications prof. One day I will write a prose for all my professors who have taught me.

Right now... let me move on to 'Beyond Competition'. Ciao!

Return on investments- Seminar

On saturday we had a set of seminars on Return of Investment. We had a vice president, a CFO and a marketing strategist to talk to us. It was a good learning experience.

We had only one class on saturday on Power Strategies. We revised concepts of SWOT and The vision and mission of a company. The various kinds of strategies one can apply. I was so sleepy and I just couldn't concentrate. I guess I am not getting enough sleep or again my body has to adjust. In a way I am now missing being alone.

Today I took a break. Wrote a story or rather completed it. Tomorrow I will start up again. Temporary falls don't matter right?

I read 'The truth about Hilary'

I am happy to inform that today I made it to class only 3 mins late. I reached at 8.33 am for my 8.30 a.m class. Prof. Joy was already in class but the LCD was not set up and so I was in time for class though not timely. We had a good session on how to sustain a brand once we have launched it in the market. We went over the various ways we could do it with examples like Titan, Kingfisher Airlines (Everyone is getting tired of this example... the purchase of stake in Air Deccan airlines has been on everyone's tongue for now too long.. something new please!)

I was free from 10 to 1.30 pm and so I spent my time reading 'The truth about Hilary'. It was an interesting book as I had read a few parts of Hilary Clinton's biography. What is my review? Well read it skeptically. Both this one and her own biography. Both books seem to be made up to a great extent and honestly, no person in this world, especially one who wants public approval will write the truth about themselves and those who hate another to write the truth about the person. It makes interesting reading as to what kind of people the ex-USA president and family are; Terrible. Power, Power and Power is their whole life motto surmarised. (I suppose that's the story for any political family)

The afternoon classes were of MacroEconomics where I tried to concentrate by writing and here and there I picked up the concepts. Accounting Management was fun coz it was company accounts and I have already done it in 12th Std. My favorite subject Forex Management was back and I got to learn what happened after Triffin. We are currently in credit rating and the type of credit rating agencies. When I think of Prof. Narayan, I can't help but aspire to be like him. He teaches so well and he is so clear about what is what.

I have the DBMS assignment to submit tomorrow so my morning will be filled with studying. Oh Gosh, I hope the class goes well... Till tomorrow...

My sister got into PhD at the University of Texas, Dallas!!!

As you all can see, my sis made it to her life long dream of pursuing her PhD. She had applied for Masters I assume and then move on to PhD although she had already done her MCA from Bangalore University and has more than five years of work experience holding the post of a tech leader.. obviously any university would feel.. hey, you don't need to do Masters, You're fit for PhD!!! I was elated the whole day. Ben(Sis in gujrati) asked me for what was I so excited... Hello??? You got into PhD and I should NOT? be excited!!! I sure did a lot of boasting today.

Since school, I always envisioned myself to admonish my kids to study and be like their aunt, a PhD!..hehe.. well kids or no kids I'm glad MY dream of seeing my sis do her PhD has come true. Partly coz it makes me proud to have such a brainy sis and partly coz.. Dreams come true :-) I still can't get over the fact that I have a sister who will be a PhD! (Don't you dare even ask me if I want to be one... I will shoot you from wherever you are!!)

My parents are the most proud of all. Especially dad and I can't even begin to comprehend his happiness. For a couple who have lived for their children, there is no greater joy than to see your dreams come true, through them. Great going sis!!

As for the tiny me, insignificant master student, I attended my Project Management class which was rather uninteresting today and then a seminar on World Environmental Day that was held by our Insitute and we had a PhD Researcher talk about the biodiversity of India and how it is depleting. My favorite Prof. Kumar took up the reasons why we turn a blind eye to the global warming issue, whether as individuals, corporates or Government. It's actually sad. very sad.

Therefore my earnest request to one and all, please plant a tree wherever you can and as many as you can. We really need to save this earth for our children.

Listening to the lecture also made me think that the Day of Judgment must be very near. With temperatures so high and predictions of islands going underwater(though I don't truly believe it can happen.. really Sri Lanka disappearing??!!) I think the world is coming to an end pretty soon.

My Organizational Development seminar went fair. I did a fair work so can't expect exclusive or excellent. From the five teams though I felt that we were the only one's well prepared and well presented. Team 5 did an ok job and hey as I said mine too was just about ok... Hmmm (Not happy)

I then went to the University to get my sisters transcripts sealed and signed and boy am I out of shape. Catching the bus coz I hate the traffic (it took me 1 hour more but I could sit relaxed in the bus without always keeping my feet down from the bike) I hopped on a bus after a long time. Three years actually. I enjoy travelling by bus. It makes me feel humble and I feel I come from here... Middle Class... no matter how far I go and which vehicle I buy, I guess I will always feel at home in a bus.

Strange but true.

With this I sign out.... Good night. Sweet dreams! :-)

The mystery of 'Triffin'

I made napolean rice yesterday and it turned out o.k. I haven't done personal studies and I actually have a lot of reports to work on plus my term's papers. So far the good news is that I have been submitting all assignments on time and have attended all classes except for DBMS where I let go of one class. Partly coz it was the only class that day and partly coz I do not enjoy it. There was a case study done so I'll pick up. I have done DBMS and it took me 4 months to understand it. That was 5 years back. wow! 5 years. Feels just like yesterday. So well I am sure once I hit the book it will be O.K.

My OD Professor makes us work too much. I feel so coz OD as a subject is like reading a how to study book. It should take 1/100 of your time and not 90/100. I have a presentation tomorrow for which I will be reading almost five chapters and hey forget real life cases. I simply have no time to read about company histories to find which one did OD interventions. I understood the concept and yeah sure, it's good, but group dynamics are one you can't put a label on. Do this and this and this. Hello?!! Pure waste of time. Instead of that why don't you concentrate on skills. When you are good at your job, trust me, you don't need OD or OB or any other O's ( I read OD, OB as novels... I am more right brained afterall! :-)

I was again gonna be late by like 10 mins for my Distribution Management class and last week Prof. Tiwari had remarked "You are becoming late by the day!" I agree. If there is one thing I struggle with it's Time. It's not like I have never got it right. My funda of Just-in-Time has worked 9/10 come catching a train, getting to the airport and prayers. I am bad at class timing... out of 10 morning classes I attend, I am five mins late for 7 of them! shish. Bad Alefyah.

There is one place I have to work at. Let's say tomorrow we make a plan to really be in class by 8.25 am. wow cool! I would love that. haha... will let you know what happens ;)

Thankfully Prof.Tiwari didn't come for the class. I got to finish the Brand Management revised presentation, take the printout, submit it and teach Devendra the whole concept of BM. We have covered 5 clases including today's. Prof. Joy is really good and knowledgeable having working in the industry for so long. However, I find myself day dreaming in her class. My attention is not really 'Caught'. The solution: Write. Write every tiny thing she says to keep myself from day dreaming and concentrate on what is BM. I need to read tooooo which is why I am not grasping fast. and for that I'm MAD!

Services Marketing was ok. I think I have managed a 5/5. I haven't got the marks but Prof.Raj said he was really impressed by our essays and most of us have got 5/5. Pray I am one of them. I also got my live project assignment on analysising a company that is into services and personally visiting and doing a SWOT analysis. Hmmm, see when I said: "No matter how large the assignment- Finish it then and there within two days" else we will keep having lots of other projects.

My favorite of all classes is afterall Investment Management/Wealth Management and Forex Management coz they are being taught by so far one of the best professors I have encountered. Hey! Do you think I'd be able to teach like them? I don't know :-( I mean the presentation I do on the surface I can't expect that people listen to me but when you are real knowledeable and know your craft well and know exactly how to deliver it to different kinds of people. Wow... that's like the ultimate. Today in Forex Management we got to know about the international monetary system right from the bimetalic era to the Gold Stage to the Interwar period and finally dolarisation. When we reached 'Triffin Paradox' where Triffin, a professor at YALE university discovered that USA was simply printing money without any inherent value, they gave his discovery an acknowledgement..LOL... while in India, Triffin would most probably been killed with his whole family and renamed 'Dabbawala' haha - Hindi for Tiffin. When Prof. said I will end now and continue in the next class I cried out "No!!!" I mean hey! it's like that suspense story. So what happened after Triffin discovered that the IMF was simply printing dolars???!!!ohhhhh it's killing me and I want to find out! I know you guys will say just search in Google and check out but I want to hear it from my Prof coz I love his style of narrating even the most serious event.. He is totally cool!

Well here I am back at home working on my OD Process and cleaning up the house at the same time... I will definitely do some serious reading today. Till tomorrow... Take Care! :-)

Hectic Day

I had a hectic day. We had production management class and my prof is actually from Havard Business School! When I walked in class, I saw an aged professor and I simply adore the elderly. There is something endearing about them. I can't explain the feeling but I get very emotional. So well as you can picture I fell in love with the professor and he was like so nicely explaining about production management and all. He gave us our handouts and the whole course in a CD. I love such professors. It makes our work so easy and we have a framework as to what to follow.

We had Strategic Management next and Prof. Kumar asked us to write down the headlines of the last 7 days. I started elaborating and managed only 4 by the time he asked us to stop. I also noticed I still wasn't getting deep in. I still look at the news on the surface. Point to improve on.

As for Executive Communication, We had three management games and since we didn't win as a team it was not a good feeling. I realise I really don't like the feeling of defeat. I mean, victory has come easy to me all along and when you come across something you realise u really are not going to make it then gone... it's abhorable.

I cooked today and it was appreciated :-) Currently dead both by body and mind and therefore, I take leave... Good night, Sweet Dreams!

A school is made by its students...

The girls are here and they are fantastic!! :-) I am really enjoying myself after a long time. I thought having roommates was like soooo risky coz if you don't gel than you're gone. Its like living with hell. I know coz I have been through it. Well not hell but hey it was not too pleasant. My roommates are from VNIT Nagpur. That is the institute that comes after IITs. Is that cool or what. Talking to them has been so stimulating and I now truly understand how important it is to study in a place with your kind of people.. your level of intellect and where you don't have to explain someone how to open wikipedia!!!!! Trust me, It's been an eye opener.

I choose a MBA school based on the programme and faculty. Beep. STUDENTS are the most integral part. Good students-> Good School, Bad students-> Bad school. May be one of these days I will write a theory or paper on it. Somewhere within I feel a tinge of regret as to why I really didn't go for a 'School with better students' My school is great in terms of the programme and faculty and opportunities -10/10.. It's the great students that I miss.

Otherwise all is good and fine. I submitted 3 assignments on time. My boss called me and asked 'hey how you doing?' isn't that so nice! I should finish my reports and get down to Hosur, do my office work. I am off to IIM now till the next post... Ciao! :-)