College Gate – ICON

The second semester we had operation management. For that the faculty was Mr. Raghavan – Retd. Captain. The entire college used to fear for him. He is very disciplined and honest person. Because of this people used to fear for him. He taught us operation management in this semester. Students had respect for him, but they are not happy with disciplined way of teaching. Generally, lecture teaches their subject concentrating only on concept. But he is different. The film taglines “man with different dimension” aptly suits him. He not only taught the concept but also how to study. He taught us the art of learning. Neha, Naren, Bharati, Shiladitya Lahiiri, Arun, Niranjan, Sheela, and myself never used to bunk the classes.

He wanted the assignment and project to be submitted on time. He always respected the substance in work rather than quantity. Quality always mattered rather than quantity. I think even Toyoto, who brought quality revolution, might be failed to match him. Such was his standard. In between the concepts, he used philosophy also to educated students. But though he was a strong person has a very good heart. When there is free time he mingled with our team as one of the friend. His expectation from the above mentioned people are very high. He wanted us to do well. If we fail to explain, then he felt he did not taught us well. It was his failure rather than team. Such a wonderful faculty.

He used to take revision classes. Students never used to attend. But our team never missed it. He would question us and ask to find the answer in which page that concept is present. Never thought reading will be so easy. This method never stresses and keeps the hunger for reading. That is the mark of best Guru. Whenever, we took more time he used to cry “oh come on”. I used to do the same with team whenever went for breaks or outing.

Though, he was disciplined, used look for students problems. If someone not able to meet the deadline if they go and speak to him with proper reason, he would make exception. He always encouraged honesty. If you have problem, speak out, do not hide that in lie. Never comfort with lie rather hurt me with the truth. This was his attitude. Whenever his class was there we used rush for the classes to settle down before he enters class. Some of the classmates used ask ‘why do you fear for him?’  I could not explain them. Somehow I enjoyed his style.

Suraj: Ek satcha khiladi hi, satche khiladiko samj saktha hai.

Readers: That was too much Suraj. Don’t act over smart.

I was enjoying his classes and being with him. Once he gave the project and need to give presentation on it. The time slot has been allotted for each student. He used to allot time for lecturing and taking presentation. It was a Friday, that day he over ran his lecturing time and only 10 min left for class to finish. That day I needed to give presentation.

Mr. Raghavan: ‘I will take the presentation on Tuesday.

Suraj: we have 10 min left, let me give the presentation.

Mr.Raghavan: why do you want it today only?

Suraj:  Today is  my allotted time. Secondly, let me finish it, so that I can concentrate on other projects on weekend.

My thinking surprised him. He might have thought ‘where did this guy come from?’ There is a saying in Kannada “suryange torcha”. He allowed me to give the presentation. Did I fear for him? The moment kid finds his/her mother, it runs towards her. Is that the fear? Once we see our best friend we generally rush and hug him. Is that the fear?

Think over it. I will be back in sometime….(wink)

College Gate - Fun Time

Now, I have reached a point, on this article, where to take it from here. It is always easy to write on struggling days. Now I know, that is why these daily soap serials have only struggling people stories. How to take it further?

We were getting ready for summer internship program. The classes were going on for resume building and interview skills improvement.  During this time, Mr Yashoda Krishna told me “resume writing skills to be learnt by Sujatha Sathya”. This was the first time I heard that name. I was wondering who is she? Came to know that one of the soft skill faculty who is on maternity leave. She is going to be back soon. I was curious to meet her.

There has been cultural fest in the college. I was part of the organizing team. During this time I met Mrs Sujatha Sathya. As usual, typical of me, did not had much conversation with new people. Mr. Yashoda Krishna was passing some comment on institution. She objected saying at least in front of student do not speak like that. He said, “even if we do not, they know it”. We all went to see the Gurunanak Bhavan hall where the event to be organized. We decided to book that hall.

As a first year student we needed to give some cultural program. Few of my friends planned for Fashion show and some for dance. The committee wanted some skit to portray on college culture. I took the initiate to write the skit and enact. This surprised some of the faculties as I always came to them as studious student. Along with Arun, Bharathi, Niru, and Vasu decided to do it. Arun and Bharathi forced me to write few scenes to portray classroom. I was explaining them this is not the way to portray it. It should be enacted through our skills and dialogue. But they did not listen, the first two scenes were sad. Once I wrote only I know it wont click, because of my previous involvement in Mudra drama troop. Creator should be given full freedom. If not, the creativity will suffer and end result too.

The cultural program day has come. Our turn came and first two scenes were pathetic. Audience felt sorry for us.  But next scenes enacted by Vasu and Niru was good and audience had good time. Next Scene, I was in and able to capture attention from audience. The audiences were happy after the act. This cultural fest ended with big success.

Our senior batch had good cricket team. There has been a rivalry between autumn batch and regular batch. Regular batch team also had rivalry with JP Nagar Branch. Once they were practicing. I had free period, so accompanied them for practice. Girish was happy with my skill, but Sajith was against me. Practice was intended to play match against JP Nagar.  Some how Girish convinced team to take me in.

Match day came, Piyush – my classmate, was also in the team. He has taken sick leave to play match and I did not know this. I did not tell anything and just took leave. During attendance in class they called my name and I was absent. Match was on as our team scored well and given target to JP Nagar team. Our team was lacking the fourth bowler. First over was bowled by Pradeep. The other two bowlers were Girish and Sajith. They wanted to hide the fourth bowler by giving the second over. So they called me to bowl. The first ball I bowled was skidded and did not bounce. The opposition batsmen complained the umpires, as it was dead ball. I got angry. Next ball, I bowled bouncer to him. Batsmen got surprised. Next again bowled the zipper ball and got the wicket. Next over I bowled maiden over. Three overs I bowled and spoiled the JP Nagar Team party. Our team was very happy because last match they have lost and they were desperate for the win. I have filled the fourth bowler slot for team.

Next day came to college. Mrs Jayashree – Faculty, asked where were you yesterday. I explained her that been to play cricket match. She was also my mentor. Each student has been allocated with one of the faculty as mentor. Class also explained her I bowled well and that caused the team victory. She was happy and asked who else were there. I said Piyush. He was in a fix. He refused by saying I was sick and was not there. My honesty has given trouble to someone else too. She told ‘it is okay once in a while you should enjoy’. I was fortunate to have her as my mentor. Always be honest - this will gratify some and astonish the rest.

Though I am not naturally honest, I am so sometimes by chance…William Shakespeare

College Gate - Turning Point

There was a soft skill internal assessment for mid term exams to give internal marks. One of the core subject lecturer and one soft skill lecturer was part of the panel of this viva. The same quantitative lecture was in the panel. Soft skill lecture did ask me the questions. He asked me who is your inspiration. I said my mother. He asked me to describe her with five adjectives. I did give all the five. Also asked some hypothetical question. I have done fairly well. I have done my schooling in Kannada medium. But high school did it in English medium, but it was in rural Bangalore district town called Magadi. The exposure to English language was limited. But I worked for medical transcription, which really helped me to pick my English. But in spite of me doing well in viva they both gave me 5.5/10. I was surprised because people who did not speak proper English sentence while answering question in classroom did get minimum around 8. The marks were allocated on communication skills and English grammar. I have fulfilled both but still got less marks.

The mid term exam went on well. Probably, first time in my life felt so happy after giving exam. I was really in kind of depression mode after these internal assessments. Because, the exam paper had concept oriented multiple-choice questions. I was always under some traditional approach lecturers. They need pages of writing to give marks rather than concept. Also my explanations were usually bit different from traditional thoughts. So this has made me score less marks because of traditional judgments. Here this will be corrected through computers as these are OMR sheets and the only human involvement is feeding the right code, which is minimal. After first paper, my confidence and mood has lifted and did well in mid-term exam. I was waiting for result.

The post mid-term classes started. The sector analysis was back but with surprisingly announced to give presentation. The team was not ready. The team was like out of currency ATM machine. They were yet to fill it up with knowledge post mid-term exams. Team was in panic and asked me to do the entire presentation on aviation industry so that they can escape from the embracement. Without any second thought I agreed to do it. Some craziness drove me to accept it. I was in the firing line now. We were waiting for our team presentation chance. Principal Suryanarayan, IIM graduate, was also present. Our turn came. I did give good presentation. Never saw the slides to explain, which other team presenters did. Also handled question and answer session well.  I always do things with passion and not just because I have to do it. This always helps you understand thing better and remains for long. It was time for feedback. Ms. Jyothi Narayan, soft skill faculty, did scold our team, as there was no teamwork, since I was sole presenter. But she did praise on my confidence and approach for the presentation. She was the one who really gave me confidence even during classes.

Mid-term result came and I have scored relatively well and did not know the impact. Grading is done on cumulative basis (CGPA) once the final term exam is over. This established me in the class as a studious person. In a way I was happy with this tag. But it made me bit relieved and lacked intensity for few days.

One day, I was absent for the class since been out of station. Marketing lecturer Mr.Giri has announced that next day he will take up case study and asked to come prepared. Next day in class, he asked ‘is class ready for the case study?’ But none of them responded positively. He was disappointed. He turned to me and asked ‘even you are not ready with the case study?” I said ‘yesterday, I was absent’. I was taken aback by the word “even you are not”. It is a small thing, but this motivated me to the core. I have set some standard in class even for lectures. This question was turning point for my MBA study. So decided always to meet the dead lines and target for assignments. You need to gather confidence with these small-small things. We always try to draw inspiration from outside. Yes, of course, that is also one way. But never forget you can draw it from yourself too.