IT sector- A 'Chakravyooh' from which there is no escape???

Long time I wanted to get started and thanks to an IT company, where Iam doing my summer Internship, I am home earlier than expected which enabled me write this.

Placements!!!

This is the one and only word that has been heard and talked about ever since I joined my MBA. I joined NMIMS from an IT job with the thought that I would never return to IT again. After all, there was no challenge in it (:P) and being a free thinker and extrovert that I am, this mechanical job wouldn't suit me ( :-D ). So, I decided to move on and take up an MBA and unleash my creativity.A sales/Marketing profile was what I was on the lookout for and FMCG became my dream sector.

Aaaah..So, Let me take you through my Summer Placements experience.For a batch of 300, we are too big to get placed in areas of our own preference.I know quite a few guys doing their CFA level 2 but selling LMN and Frooty.So, the most awaited '0'th day began with 15-20 companies on campus and we the unfortuate IT guys, still waiting in the Hall for our CV's to get shortlisted.After waiting for 4 long hours, I got shortlisted for Dabur, a very reputed FMCG brand.Having been a part of GD's for so many times, I was at ease and tried to calm down the so called 'Freshers'.The process began and what I saw was raw,aggressive and mindless 'freshers' surpassing us in the GD with their 'I don't care attitude' while we, the 'work-ex waalas' who tried to at smart with the "I agree", "I have a different point of view", "Let him speak" were completely outwitted and left wanting a place to hide.This same scenario continued for next 5-6 days and around 50% of the batch were placed. Dabur was followed by RB, Perfetti , Saint Gob,Essr, Mahndra,Brittnia and that's when I decided that "No" industry or sector is "Bad" as such (Sour Grapes??? ) and all had it's own merits.I decided to apply for a software company who were looking for analysts in retail merchandising and the rest is history. (In the interview, Software became my passion, Coding was my hobby , Bill gates became my Model and I wanted to be a Business Analyst in the long term ).

So all said and done, now looking back I feel software is after all not such a bad job.Who would like to sell LMN,Colgate or Dettol in this scorching summer and do consumer survey across Mumbai. :-) So as someone once said, All that happens may be for good... :)

Experince it to feel and understand it!!!!!!!!on SIVAJI-The boss

This blog is on what i felt,what i went through when i saw the much awaited movie of the year SIVAJI on the very first day!!

After long 2 years...the wait was finally over and sivaji,the super star movie released this friday....And as with all tamilians, i was also eagerly waiting to see "thalaivar" blasting the screen.Even a week before its release...the bookings were open and all tickets were sold out till july 10th..This friday i came to know that it has released in our area(a remote one) too and my dream(never thought of making it) of seeing a rajni movie on the first day in chennai started blossoming.I left early from the office and somehow managed to get tickets for the first show.Very soon the familiar music with letters S-U-P-E-R- S-T-A-R RAJNI came to screen as in every film of his and the movie began with a bang.The fans(rather worshippers) were on a high and flowers and crackers filled the theatre.The scene when the super star was shown for the first time on the scene was a treat to watch.Though i never considered rajni as a big actor..the celebrations and passion of these ppl invoked a steroid kinda reaction in me too..ANNAA..THALAIVAA..DAIVAME....these calls filled the hall.....

From then on the experience was even better than that of having a chilled beer on a hot and dry day....Every time this man(RAJNI) would arrive on the screne....there were shouts and dances and not to mention the BGM ehich was really excellent...all people started tapping their foot to those music and even i did(remembering my coll days when i never used to miss a chance to do a dappankuttu kinda dance).The first half was very much entertaining with comedy from vivek and their combo(rajni+vivek) has been worked out really well.The RAA-RAA rebirth of chandramuhi was the most hilarious part....The theatre was not A/C and had very few number of fans..but the situation inside was electrifying as i mentioned.The villain kept doing mishaps on a regular basis and heard some comments for him too(THALAIVAA..IVANUKKU NAANGA AAPPU VEKKARON...means..we fans will punish him,u don't worry).The interval came and no one seemed to go out as the songs were played in the hall..The party continued....
Soon.the mottai rajni came and thrashed all the villains and the good had won over the evil as for ever....Some people distributed pamphlets containing the lyrics of songs and pics of different get up's in which rajni appeared....Over all..i would rate the movie only average as i expected a shankar movie starring rajni rather than a Rajni movie being directed by shankar(which was wat came out as final verdict).But i frankly think every one should experience this kinda thing once in life.....This is chennai...The place where actors turn out gods...the place where fans build temples for their stars..the place where fans would thrash up the villain if the hero gets thrashed....Even i kept saying earlier that this is all nonsense and ridiculous...But its a spine chilling experience and you would definitely be proud once you are one among them.....Even i have become a thalaivar fan now coz of his huge fan following and style stuffs....Truly,He is neighbours envy and tamil nadu's own pride.....

Undeveloped.......Developing....Developed..........?????????

Thought to pin down some things that have been in my mind for long...
We are a developing country is what those economists and other finance guru's say...But I frankly think it is another name for undeveloped...either u could say a country is developed or it is undeveloped...But developing......are we sure when we are gonna reach the status of a developed? Are we sure we are on the right track to become developed? As long as we don't get the answer for all these....its undeveloped.

Heard that Kerala government has planned to launch Bullet trains to Chennai from Cochin .This can travel as fast as 200 miles/hour!! WOW....I can reach home in less than 3 hrs if it’s implemented. But the highlight here is they have charted and reached a conclusion on the budget to be allowed for this project. They haven’t even decided which route is should be or what technique is to be used. Only the budget has been prepared.Hmmm......they r all humans...who would not be dreaming to become a millionaire in an overnight? so it's all understandable........

While telling about this, Thought of mentioning a film i saw the other day-"Paruthiveeran"...It's an all in all village kinda movie telling a romantic story. The village they have portrayed is really pathetic with all those huts and "ghopdi" kinda things....I asked one of my Tamil friends if village like these existed even now. And he smiled broadly. He told though there are many such underdeveloped (or rather say "prehistoric")places even now...wonder how they are all living......Thanks to the filmmaker for making a different kinda movie altogether. Otherwise in movies now being released you could see only foreign countries and our stars dancing on the streets with all foreigners watching them like we would do when we see monkey at a zoo.

Remember seeing Swades now. It was an excellent movie and the cream according to me was the scene when shahrukh goes to a remote area to collect rentals for a land being used by a farmer. That scene would really melt the heart of any NRI. All NRI's must see that part. Then they would recognize that they are working for the richer countries even while our nation is like this.

Hoping this would catch the eye of someone with same feelings as me..........Nothing more to pin down...Have a nice day :) !!!!!!!!!!

My Uncle, Me & Da Vinci

Just a few words before sharing this experience of mine with..........
Da Vinci Code is a book I enjoyed thoroughly...Leave alone all those Rumours, it’s a great work of fiction and the suspense has been maintained very well.

It was as usually a sunny day around mid-march when I suddenly woke up from my nap in front of the book hearing some song from TV. Yes...you guessed it right. Me in front of books mean its study leave and am home. My uncle had given me strict time tables and routines to be followed during those days (which I never followed), He used to say that one should study at least 8 hrs/day. He wanted me to score distinction in every semester (which I never got).So, that day too after advising me a lot, he went to office and me and ma grandmother were home.

(Readers please note that my parents are at Mumbai and I stay with my uncle and grandmother in Cochin)

I just checked what the time was. It was 10 minutes past 2 and grandma was watching her favorite Tamil serial. It was a HARTHAL (a kind of BANDH) at Kerala that day (it’s like any other day 4 us-comes once in every week!!).So Bus and other transport vehicles were not allowed to run till 6 PM in the eve. I just checked which text book was in front of me. It was ECT (Electric Circuit Theory) full of findings by Norton’s, Ohm’s and all other stuffffffie's. Life seemed horrible for me. These semester exams come twice every year and to get a pass mark in all these subjects (Totally I wrote around 59 in 4 yrs : P) was really tough for an average student like me.

It was just then that I saw grandma walking towards her bed room. It’s time for her usual nap@noon.I just was wondering when the phone bell rang.
It was Varun, One of My best friends at college time.

Varun:"Dei, What are you doing??"

Me:” As usual, wondering when I would pass all these subjects and become an engineer."

Varun: "Hmmm. I think leisure is an integral part in every one's life. What about a movie today evening?"

Me:” Nice idea da.But I don't think i will be able to come. Uncle may come home any time. If I come he will feel I am not at all giving any value to his words. So.......................................By the way, which movie are you planning to go??"

Varun:"DA VINCI CODE"

I was just silent for a minute when I heard this. I remembered seeing an ad of the movie in the newspaper the last week. Now the battle began. As for everyone, one part of my mind was saying to sit and study while the other one was saying to go for the movie. I have often wondered why I am unable to listen to the better part, but that time too it was the other part (the bad one) which won the battle and I decided that iam gonna go for the movie at any cost.

The incidents that follow have even made me feel I am a great manager. Because lots and lots of planning was done by me and a master plan was developed. It was like this-I would tell my uncle in case I see him that I am going back to hostel (After all the exams are just 3 days away. anyway I have to go back, so the earlier the better :)).After that I would go with varun to the theater, watch the movie and take the bus at 9 PM and reach my hostel. So all would be well, I will see the movie, uncle would not feel bad and I can also go back to my hostel.HA HA HAAA......I laughed in my mind...how well I have planned. False-proof it is and no 1 will ever come to know about anything.

Now I quickly went to my room and started packing up my books and dress. This was a very interesting task for me because you come to know at that time, what all books are there with you. I felt that Time moved very slowly compared to the other days. It was just 3 PM then. I went back for a small nap again (not to bet...but in front of my ECT book).It was like DUNLOP for me (AARAAM KEE NEEND APNAAYIYE)...It was around 4 when I again woke up hearing grandma murmuring something. She moved towards the kitchen and asked me the usual question "What do you want? Tea or Coffee??”And I said the same answer which I always said:” Anything which u feels easy to make”. I kept looking into the clock wondering who made an hour to be consisting of 60 minutes.30 would have been better, I thought.

It was around 4.45 when I heard footsteps outside and door bell ringing.
"Must be the servant. Go open the door"-Grandma yelled from kitchen. She was preparing some snacks for me with tea.

I was eagerly waiting for something like this from her so that I can get away from the book with very very big things and circuits. I jumped out from my place and opened the door to see none other than my UNCLE.

"So, how’s your studies going?" he asked.

"It’s. It’s fine mama”. I somehow managed.

"Did you study for 8 hours till now??"It was the next question.

"No. But I think I must have reached 6.Just 2 more naa.i will manage.” I said.

"Who??You??6 hrs??Don’t tell me. I am seeing not seeing you for the first time”. He told this and went to his room and I followed him like an obedient boy.

"By the way mama. I wanted to tell you that I am going back to my hostel today. Some of my friends are there who have better 'knowledge’ in these subjects. So they will teach me.” I somehow managed.

Uncle: "today? But today is a Harthal.No bus today. How can you go??"

Me: "That will run from 6 mama. Just 1 more hour to go. I can reach my hostel by 8, have food and start studying."

Uncle (after a deep thought):"Hmm...Okay. But I wonder if you are going to study or enjoy with friends."

Me:” What mama U won’t believe me ever? Let me pack my things."

I told this and ran back to my room to just ensure all was well. It was 5 and varun would see me at the theatre at 6 as per our plans. I had a bath and got ready and sat for tea at dining room when my uncle too came there

"Your excitement and eagerness this extent tells me there is something fishy. You are going to your Hostel only, I hope."

"Mamaaa...."I just stopped there and somehow finished with the tea and snacks.

"Okay then.mama, grandma...iam leaving. I will call once I reach there.Bye."I ran to the lift after telling this. My brain was full of confusions if a show of the movie would be there or not, If show is there will we get tickets or not and all that stuff. I walked till Maharaja's ground where varun was eagerly waiting for me. He told me that traffic is smooth now since it’s about to reach the time limit of HARTHAL.We quickly rode to SRIDHAR where the movie was being played. The queue was not that big and at last, smiles blossomed in our face when we got the two balcony tickets. I had been waiting to see this movie for long now and it was as a dream comes true.

We browsed through all the rows and found a quite comfortable place in the middle where there were not much people sitting and where we could get a view of the movie as well as the girls who are gonna come for the movie. I thought why ideas like these didn't come to my mind earlier.mm..Everything has its own time, I said in my mind.

Lights went off and trailer of upcoming movies were shown and it was all set for the hunt of "HOLY GRAIL" when i saw someone walking towards our side of seats in the theater. It was familiar yellow t-shirt with black stripes. It came closer and the lights came on for a second just at the right time for us to see each other-It was my UNCLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!It was like a nightmare come true for me. I didn't know what to do. Whether to seem as if i didn't see him…….. Or to get out of the theater………… or to tell him to sit near me……….. Or to be guilty. But he seemed cool. He came and sat near me and said:"Hm...So this is your hostel, eh? Nice place." I was dumbstruck and didn't utter a word.Varun just stared and smiled at him. I was about to tell him something when he said "The movie has started."

I had hoped the movie to be thoroughly entertaining and it turned just the opposite couldn’t' even give my attention to a single scene. Time passed by...Now time started moving even slower than it was. I just can't imagine how i sat there for those 2 hrs there with my uncle sitting right beside me.

Finally, Finally. It all got over I got out as soon as possible ans saw varun laughing heavily with his mouth closed.Idiot.It was him and his plans. I started blaming me for listening to him. Now I wanted to somehow justify my uncle for my deeds and started running towards him. I saw him at the parking area trying to pull the scooter out.

Me:” Mama....I...I thought I will go for a movie and then catch a bus. They told the bus at 6:15 is not running and the next bus is only at 8:30.so I thought blah blah blah............."

Uncle:"See Ashwin.stop acting like MR. Bean. Even I have gone through your age and I know up to what all extent you ppl can go. Stop making wrong excuses and reasons and be straight forward. It’s the best policy in life. I hope you understood me."

"Ufff......Sorry mama. Please don't tell to my parents.” I told and ran towards varun who was waiting for me outside and while I was running I heard a feeble voice from the back. It was my uncle....

"Hey Ashwin....Are you sure you are gonna catch the bus? Or is it for the second show at 9??"

This was one of the most embarrassing situations I got into in my life. And LAGE RAHO MUNNABHAI which released later that year taught me that honesty is definitely the best policy or else you may land up in trouble. But I don’t think I have changed a little.
________________________________________________________________________

Still..........Even now I haven't learnt to be straight forward. More of those stuff later. Bye for now!!!!!!!!

My experiment with lies!!!

To tell about me, I am a lazy fellow hailing from Cochin with many dreams but not with a mind to work for it hard :)

I would have been around 12 or 13 years old when I failed for the first time in a class test conducted at school. The subject was mathematics. As most of the people say "Earth revolves and rotates because of mathematics. Without mathematics, this world is a big zero".....Even I had grown up hearing all those and naturally, mathematics had become something as huge and unstoppable as Tsunami for me. My father is a government employee and he could not afford to make me "pass" my paying money. And to add to that my father used to give me some extra tuitions’ at home in math like those added toppings in a pizza and this failure was something that I wanted the least.

Like most of the kids in that age group, even I was afraid that i would be punished and didn't inform my parents about it. I was happy for the next few days until one day my class teacher announced "Students who have failed for the math test should bring their parents next Monday want to talk to them personally". Now....something begins to flow from my feet to my head through spine. This was the first time I had hidden something from my parents. Not because they will beat me up but I had this guilty feeling that I hadn't prepared well, as my father told me to do.

The D-Day arrived. I began to wonder how I am going to tell this to them. I waited for some time thinking how I am going to present it before them and somehow made up some excuses and things I am gonna tell them. I went to drawing room where dad was very busy reading newspaper. As and when I reached there,
He asked "Ashwin, shall we go for a movie today? It has been long time since we saw a movie. What do you think? Or. Do you have anything to study today"....

I was all at ice now. I didn't expect him to ask such a thing at a time when I wanted him to be little serious. I told "Well....I want to tell you something."

"What’s that??" He was very calm and quiet when he asked that.

"My class teacher has asked some of the students to bring their parents today. She wants to tell something and she asked me to bring you." I somehow managed.

"Is it something serious??O.k I will be there by e.o.d"

I reached school and the whole day I was wondering how I will face him and what I would tell him when he knows the truth. My class teacher told that she would give personal attention to each of the parents. I didn't even listen to the sessions that day and I didn't even go out and play during the P.T period which was very rare in those school days.

Finally my dad came at around 4.00 PM and my class teacher along with maths tutor had a long session with him and I was made to stand outside all those time. I waited outside praying and wondering how I am going to face my teachers and parents. Half an hour passed by and he came out. I was about to open my mouth when he told me "Let us get back home soon”. I knew i am gonna be fired left and right and I felt very guilty for this deed of mine.

We reached home and he didn't open his mouth at all. I sat at a chair drinking tea waiting for the time. My mother was making some snacks and brother jus got back from his special classes for Xth.Then my dad called me inside and I went in slowly with tears about to come out.

"Son....I am your father and you can tell anything and everything to me. Why do you lie unnecessarily to me? This is not what I expect from you...Failures happen in every one's life. This is not how you manage it. You should study well next time and make me proud in front of your teachers. I have not told this to your mom. I don't want to make issue of this. Please see in the future that you don't lie to me. It makes me very sad. More than what I was when i heard about your result. Now ...go and have some food".

Tears rolled out from my eyes now. I had never thought hoe he would have felt when I lied. Rather, I was thinking about how to manage the issue when he would blame me for not studying. I stood there speechless for some time and started walking back slowly when he called me....

"Hey son...get ready soon. The show starts right at 6 PM...And we don't want to miss the tickets. Isn’t it?"......

See you soon with more fun....

!!!!!!!!!!!!!My Experiment with Lies!!!!!!!!!!!!