College Gate – Initial Days

First day went to college. People in the classroom were staring at me. They all were there already from past 30 days for pre-MBA classes. Those classes were the bridge for the people who did not had mathematics or accountancy exposure. I was kind of fresher to that class. Given a chance they were ready to rag me. There was an activity in soft skill class, which needs to write one positive point about each other. One of the classmate’s wrote in front of my name as “he looks like my uncle with big mustache”. I felt like Main Hoon Na Sharukh in that section. Welcome to college.

I did not have friends. Couple of days just went to classroom to attend lecturing and returned. Wanted some information. So asked with college administration staff. He got irritated and said ‘go, ask your classmates'. But the kind of response I got from class, I was hesitant to ask anyone. Next day, during lunch hour been to hotel. It was a long lonely walk. There saw two students were taking lunch. I also took lunch and joined them on the same table. I spoke to one of the guy called Narendra Chopra. He was from Gangavati. We spoke for two-three minutes upon our background. The other guy who was present there was Shiladithya Lahiri – Born and brought up in Shilong. That was his tag line during classroom introductions. He seemed to be bit reserved, because I was a local guy and spoke in Kannada with his friend.

Few days passed, Arun Ukmal and Niranjan were in talking terms as we were sitting in same row. Needed to do project in Introduction to Management subject. Mrs. Soumya formed a group to do it. Fortunately or unfortunately, got two members in that group. One is Narendra Chopra and other is new kid on the board Sheela. She was also a new joiner along with me. This girl was not interested to do project along with me. In front of me only went and told Mrs. Soumya, could you please change my group? I was surprised and did not know what was wrong. But with the help of Narendra did complete the project. Project environment was new to us. We needed a reference project and we took that from Sheela. For that much she obliged because of Narendra’s interference. Days were becoming tougher and tougher. Going gets tough, tough gets going.

Mid semester exams were approaching. Test has been conducted in all subjects for internal marks. In one of the soft skill class, each one of us needed to pic the Visiting card and enact as if we were into that profession. I did get press reporter card. The short little girl sitting behind me got Airtel network engineer card. Her name was Neha. She has already made name in the class because of her courage and talkativeness. She poked me from behind asked ‘what does network engineer do’. I explained her that he is the one who actually responsible for networking between mobiles and few technical terms, which I was aware. She listened politely. Even I was not sure what exactly he does. Now a days, designations are very fancy. Even if he is checking vegetable in retail segment, they say Quality Manager. Neha’s chance came and she explained that as network engineer she does the sales of sim card. I definitely know that he does not do sales. I was confused. Why did she ask if she does not want to use it?

I am a sport enthusiastic person. I have lead the cricket team. Also played Badminton singles and Table Tennis singles. By the events thought, I should adopt the singles playing strategy for the college stay. No more team.

To be continued…!!!

College Gate

I have written many ‘Gyan’ articles. But let me try something real. So decided to write on most important years of my life between 2006-2008. During this I did my MBA and got into ThomsonReuters. I would be indebted to all my ICFAI mates including faculties for this article. What should I give the name for this write-up? This era is of monkey-Gate, slap-Gate, and porn-Gate. Tempted to cash in with Gates. I am a big fan of Indian movies. They are keeping film names on super hits songs. So thought let me try that gimmick too. Naming this as ‘College Gate’ as it belongs to one of the hit song from Kannada movie Paramatma. I don’t know how many pages I will be able to write on this. My mind is saying not possible to write in single page. Those two years has changed my life, thinking and gained lot professionally & personally. So felt to capture those good memories. Here we go…!!!.

I was working in small company. One fine day decided to take MBA full time course. Which university? It was a major decision to be taken. At that time, Bangalore and Vishveshvariah university entrance test was over. I could have gone in for management seat in those universities. Fortunately, decided to do MBA course from ICFAI National College at Malleshwaram Bangalore.

Got the application from college and applied. They called me for interview. Mr Govinda Sharma took the interview. He was a nice person. He asked about interest and hobbies. I did not know there exist difference between interest and hobbies at that time.

Suraj: Sports and reading. Listening music.

GS: What kind of reading?

Suraj: Fiction and non-fiction in Kannada and English.

GS: Which is your favorite book in Kannada?

Suraj: All novels based on Chitradurga Fort from Ta Ra Su.

GS: Which one you liked most?

Suraj: Durgasthamana. (Did not get the names it has been 2-3 years since I read those but in time remembered this one)

GS: What do you mean by Durgastamana?

Suraj(monoluge): oh no. Is this guy is not going to leave me.

Suraj: Astmana means setting down. Durga means fort. But story revolves around the rulers and their times. It is all about politics to gain power and how it ends in Chitradurga fort. GS was enjoying this conversation.

GS: Who is your favorite author in English?

Suraj: Among Indain Authors RK Narayan and Internationally Sidney Sheldon.

GS: Why do you like RK Narayan?

Suraj: Lots of philosophy is involved in his write up. Also, he portrays common mans feelings in genuine manner.

GS: Can you give me example?

Suraj: Sir, in one of the book, I think in ‘Sampath’, he talks about job satisfaction. Once Mr. Sampath wanted to go other side of the city. He chooses Tanga as his mode of transport.  He approaches one of the Tanga. Tonga guy ask for 8 anna’s. Sampath felt it was higher than normal fare. It is only 6 anna’s. He was in a hurry does not want to get into conversation and accepts to pay demanded amount. He sits in Tanga. After few meters, Tanga guy tells how the rates have gone up and feeding horse has become difficult. So could you please give me one more anna’s. Sampth got angry. He says I am paying you more than normal fare and still you want more. I will get down, stop the Tanga. Tanga guy replies do not get angry sir. I am doing my duty. Please do not ever accept the offer in first instance. Unless, I crib for more money, I won’t get the satisfaction of doing my task. This is how RK Narayan explains about job satisfaction. It is funny but at same time bit of reality too.

He did ask me about few of the current issues and we had a nice discussion. Finally the interview was over. They asked me to come and join from next day. They also told me that Pre-MBA classes are already going on. But I needed time for two more days to wind up my current job. But finally joined college.

To be Continued........!!!!!

Passion to Perform

I always do things with passion. Whether be it sports or some help to family & friends or do charity. I don’t know where do these thinking come for me, but always try to give my best. The way I brought up is more to do with this. My mother is majorly responsible for this. Also the books, which I read during my childhood days, have immense effect on my thinking.  I used to read Chandamama, Balamitra, and Amar Chitra Katha. Still I do read Balamitra and Chandamama. I enjoyed reading these books. The kind of moral depicted in stories are very good. But if I admit now, people might laugh at me. They even categorize me as poor country boy. Why this kolaveri di..??

I do anything given to me with right sense. Magnitude of the event does not matter to me. Ironing cloth is also fun activity. Cleaning bathrooms or washing cloth is done with same enthusiasm. Even my viewpoint is expressed with passion. But more often people use it as fun. This is where I get angry. The people cannot think or give other thoughts for my view they end up making fun of it. They keep rationality outside from there thinking. They just wanted to resist whatever I say. Making fun is okay, but you should not humiliate other person. But this is a lose-lose situation.

Honesty is just not the word in dictionary for me. I always practice it, even though I might be caught on wrong foot. But this gets me into trouble frequently. Specially, in corporate world, they do say ‘we need a honest guy’. But the moment you accept your mistake, they start thinking differently about you. In first job interview they ask why do you want this job? Honest answer is to earn my livelihood. They will throw you out saying you do not have goal in life. Unles your basic necessity is fulfilled, how can you think of bigger things. After some years of experience you try to change your job. They again will ask you ‘why do you want to change the job’. There is two things here one is extra money and other is you need to learn new things. If you give this answer they reject you saying you are money oriented. But if you stick to one company for many years, they ask you ‘why did you stay so many year in a single company’. If stay also problem or if don’t stay also problem. “Yarighelona nam problemmu’..!!

Passion and honesty initially put you into trouble. You always get humiliated with these two qualities. So is it better to leave these things? My answer would be definite NOPE. These are few of the best quality a man can have. Do not worry about what people say. If you passionate enough and heading in right direction with honesty just go ahead with it. It is like hurdle race. Hurdles might come in your way, but with passion and honesty you will definitely reach your destiny or greater things in life. It is the passion to perform what keeps Dravid or Tendulkar or Kumble playing for so many years.