beau_abhi
11-02-2004, 02:11 PM
MBA @ IIT MADRAS - A DAY IN THE LIFE
My day begins leisurely at 7:00AM. To give it an auspicious start, I make it a point to gaze down at the lawns, to sight a couple of magnificent spotted deers, or that Black Buck Stag looking up at me, with all it's glory. Realizing the aura of the backdrop, I'm already smiling my way down to the mess for my two-minute breakfast. Now when I say MBA, the stereotypical "corporate guy in tie" should flash past your mind. But we are here to do things the IIT way. I simple grab one of the umpteen IIT t-shirts, which informally has become our "dress-code", and rush down a flight of stairs, when past images of that wretched monkey amidst my books flashes past, and I rush back to double-check if my windows are bolted. Then a brisk cycle ride for 10 minutes, and I land onto the halowed turf - my classroom. Now, the most momentous of occasions have been spent in this room, right from birthday parties at midnight, to movie shows, dance blasts, and more.
But rosy thoughts can find some other time; now I have to settle down before 7:59AM for the lecture. A brief bout over setting the A/C temperature, and we are all set to go, in the mood to start learning FROM TODAY. I can sense disaster, even as the professor enters with the "Surprise Quiz" papers! I look around to find a couple of girls beaming at the rest of us in sarcasm. They know how to flaunt with relative grading and gain their edge. I console myself saying only "N-1" quizzes are considered, so I'll catch up from the next one. The hour goes by, and pondering over my sheer inability to foresee even the most obvious "surprize quiz", I miss the next prof's question targeted at me. Fully aware [from previous experience] that opening my mouth to blurt out a collection of loosely connected terms would send my CLASS PARTICIPATION points towards the negative, I manage to keep my thoughts down to a mumble. I have memorized this quote, "If I can't say it, then I won't say it"! But these events that require my immediate attention are laid to rest for the time being, as I am drowned in the depths of descriptive explanations, during the course of the lecture.
It's just one theory discussed, but doubts, counter-arguments, outright rejections and then justifications see through the entire hour. The class does not proceed further unless the point is conveyed. Jokes apart, this is one of the most intriguing aspects of the IIT system; what's even more amazing is the fact that the profs are so much part of the class- we might be fighting it out in class now, but we'll catch up at dinner late night. The much needed lunch break arrives at 12:00PM, when a multitude of updations on myriads of events are delivered by the several "Committee Heads". Now, I'm already thinking of the Inter-IIT cricket selection, and looking to find a time-slot for my Gym Session... Oh wait, sometime I have to plunge into the swimming pool too! When? Patience, it will be done someday... Thus dreaming, am left with 30 minutes for lunch. Now, food is something I love here, from paneer butter masala to chicken chettinad, my expectations are met. Typically, the class goes on till 4:30PM, by then I've had enough of studies. Now, for some cricket practice, it's 6:00PM, and am raring to go all out at the pool, when I'm dragged into this meeting for organizing some event close at hand. But then, the meeting includes "quite a few junta", and I don't want to miss out on the fun.
It's 7PM now, and some switch went off inside me, and I'm in the mood to study. Half an hour into it, and it's time for Dinner again. Now, I'm really concerned about putting in a concerted effort to study with all seriousness! So I find my saviour, willing enough to shed some "gyan"on the subject, and I'm listening intently for one full hour. The clock strikes 9PM, when my case study group is scheduled to meet. So rush back to the class, praising relative grading and peer evaluation all the way. An hour passes, and I can't resist the temptation of a quick LAN combat of QUAKE. 11'O clock already, and Oops, I haven't read the newspaper for the day. I know how VITAL it is to be updated everyday, so I crunch on it till 11:45. What about the magazines? Don't they give a broader perspective? So be it, I go on with them till 12:30AM. Man, I'm hungry now. And 10 others too! Off we go to Dhaaba Express for some good old North Indian Delicacies and some Punjabi Lassi. Okay, mid-night dinner is over, so next on is an Iced-Tea at Nescafe. It's 1:30AM now, Oh what a lovely day already, it's a whole new day, so morning chores begin right away. And washing clothes, ironing, cleaning the room, cleanliness check??? Mom, I miss you! Suddenly, I vow to live like a manager from tomorrow, so shave, bathe, and get ready to crash! But why do I get this eerie feeling that no one else is about to sleep now? One peep into the next room, and I come to grip reality, one presentation pending tomorrow. Never mind, the day is still young, and so I work at a frenetic pace to finish off my duty, and without thinking for another second, hit the bed at 3:00AM!
I would say the day went well, though I could have done more. There are a few things I've always wanted to do, but never found the time to do. Given another chance at the same day, I might have gone to play the Inter-Hostel Match under flood lights, done some serious reading in the library, chatted on messenger, watched a movie at the "Open Air Theatre", gone for the birthday party.... As they say, there's a lot you can do. But there's always another day, another way to do the right things! All I hope is that I get to do the things right!!!
My day begins leisurely at 7:00AM. To give it an auspicious start, I make it a point to gaze down at the lawns, to sight a couple of magnificent spotted deers, or that Black Buck Stag looking up at me, with all it's glory. Realizing the aura of the backdrop, I'm already smiling my way down to the mess for my two-minute breakfast. Now when I say MBA, the stereotypical "corporate guy in tie" should flash past your mind. But we are here to do things the IIT way. I simple grab one of the umpteen IIT t-shirts, which informally has become our "dress-code", and rush down a flight of stairs, when past images of that wretched monkey amidst my books flashes past, and I rush back to double-check if my windows are bolted. Then a brisk cycle ride for 10 minutes, and I land onto the halowed turf - my classroom. Now, the most momentous of occasions have been spent in this room, right from birthday parties at midnight, to movie shows, dance blasts, and more.
But rosy thoughts can find some other time; now I have to settle down before 7:59AM for the lecture. A brief bout over setting the A/C temperature, and we are all set to go, in the mood to start learning FROM TODAY. I can sense disaster, even as the professor enters with the "Surprise Quiz" papers! I look around to find a couple of girls beaming at the rest of us in sarcasm. They know how to flaunt with relative grading and gain their edge. I console myself saying only "N-1" quizzes are considered, so I'll catch up from the next one. The hour goes by, and pondering over my sheer inability to foresee even the most obvious "surprize quiz", I miss the next prof's question targeted at me. Fully aware [from previous experience] that opening my mouth to blurt out a collection of loosely connected terms would send my CLASS PARTICIPATION points towards the negative, I manage to keep my thoughts down to a mumble. I have memorized this quote, "If I can't say it, then I won't say it"! But these events that require my immediate attention are laid to rest for the time being, as I am drowned in the depths of descriptive explanations, during the course of the lecture.
It's just one theory discussed, but doubts, counter-arguments, outright rejections and then justifications see through the entire hour. The class does not proceed further unless the point is conveyed. Jokes apart, this is one of the most intriguing aspects of the IIT system; what's even more amazing is the fact that the profs are so much part of the class- we might be fighting it out in class now, but we'll catch up at dinner late night. The much needed lunch break arrives at 12:00PM, when a multitude of updations on myriads of events are delivered by the several "Committee Heads". Now, I'm already thinking of the Inter-IIT cricket selection, and looking to find a time-slot for my Gym Session... Oh wait, sometime I have to plunge into the swimming pool too! When? Patience, it will be done someday... Thus dreaming, am left with 30 minutes for lunch. Now, food is something I love here, from paneer butter masala to chicken chettinad, my expectations are met. Typically, the class goes on till 4:30PM, by then I've had enough of studies. Now, for some cricket practice, it's 6:00PM, and am raring to go all out at the pool, when I'm dragged into this meeting for organizing some event close at hand. But then, the meeting includes "quite a few junta", and I don't want to miss out on the fun.
It's 7PM now, and some switch went off inside me, and I'm in the mood to study. Half an hour into it, and it's time for Dinner again. Now, I'm really concerned about putting in a concerted effort to study with all seriousness! So I find my saviour, willing enough to shed some "gyan"on the subject, and I'm listening intently for one full hour. The clock strikes 9PM, when my case study group is scheduled to meet. So rush back to the class, praising relative grading and peer evaluation all the way. An hour passes, and I can't resist the temptation of a quick LAN combat of QUAKE. 11'O clock already, and Oops, I haven't read the newspaper for the day. I know how VITAL it is to be updated everyday, so I crunch on it till 11:45. What about the magazines? Don't they give a broader perspective? So be it, I go on with them till 12:30AM. Man, I'm hungry now. And 10 others too! Off we go to Dhaaba Express for some good old North Indian Delicacies and some Punjabi Lassi. Okay, mid-night dinner is over, so next on is an Iced-Tea at Nescafe. It's 1:30AM now, Oh what a lovely day already, it's a whole new day, so morning chores begin right away. And washing clothes, ironing, cleaning the room, cleanliness check??? Mom, I miss you! Suddenly, I vow to live like a manager from tomorrow, so shave, bathe, and get ready to crash! But why do I get this eerie feeling that no one else is about to sleep now? One peep into the next room, and I come to grip reality, one presentation pending tomorrow. Never mind, the day is still young, and so I work at a frenetic pace to finish off my duty, and without thinking for another second, hit the bed at 3:00AM!
I would say the day went well, though I could have done more. There are a few things I've always wanted to do, but never found the time to do. Given another chance at the same day, I might have gone to play the Inter-Hostel Match under flood lights, done some serious reading in the library, chatted on messenger, watched a movie at the "Open Air Theatre", gone for the birthday party.... As they say, there's a lot you can do. But there's always another day, another way to do the right things! All I hope is that I get to do the things right!!!