The 31st day of July in 2010

What after this jazzy seeming title?

While the events of the day predominate my thoughts, I am surprised, amazed and satiated with whatever has come out due to some of my efforts.

It all began some day in early June, when I casually talking to my colleague mentioned about holding a convocation ceremony for the graduating class of 2010 from IBS-Bangalore, my alma matter.

The prospect of working on an idea that might come good is so empowering that one never really realizes, how life is infused to it.

Same happened with me too, and with an online survey I set out to understand the views of my batchmates for the same. And with the response I got from my batchmates there was no stopping me.

What followed was a lot of calls, messages and emails, to the college authorities and the support I received from my alma matter, I must say was tremendous.

Cut back to the day, I got all ready with a much needed hair cut and went shopping for that dapper looking jet black suit. Got a nice deal for a change, and nothing on that day could go wrong.

To see 300 of my friends turn up for the day from many parts of India was most satisfying.

The feeling turned unreal when the degrees were given away and the clock already struck 10pm. It was all over.

A big thank you to everyone who supported the cause.

Cheers
Sanjaya KS

Published with Blogger-droid v1.4.9

Yes! We could

We the (operations vertical) started to think about Tarkash'08 when Obama's speech was making the rounds. At that time, I was wondering if we would do something at all for this years Tarkash.

This was the time when Yogi, my vertical head messaged me asking "Listen, do you want to do Tarkash"? 

I replied to him saying, "Yogi, I won't take initiative this time due to personal reasons". That was then, and now is today after a day when Tarkash is done, which we pulled off superbly.

At this juncture, I am grateful to Gopi and Yogi for the kind of direction and the sense of purpose they showed. It would have been difficult if not for you guys.

Now, let me come to the core team of 'The King's Gambit'.

• Nidhi - The lone representative of the female fraternity in our vertical. But rest assured, her way of working puts you totally at ease.
  
• Karan - Dude has a smart way of doing things and getting them done.
  
• Rakesh - Stalwart
  
• Brijesh - Mr. Dependable
  
• Narayan - Mr. Congeniality 
  
• Anil - Buddy, you have lots of potential.
  
• Anish - Silent Performer
  
• Rahul - Smart chap, has a nack of doing the right things at the right time. Good team player.
  
• Abhineet - Our IBS-B wright brother.
• Sanjay - Urs Truly

Finally, we did have special appearances from our very own Rasya, Pooja, Bharti etc. I guess the latter two are very quickly assuming Rasya's mantle of 'Grilling Queen'.

All said and done, here's three cheers from me to the team of 'The King's Gambit'

Chao!!!

Sanj

An Indian and proud to be one – 2

Unlike always I have decided not to speak about how it was, or how it felt.
This time I only want to share with you that it happened and was surreal experience.

The true reward for your work is when you hear that, “it was a job well done”.

JAI HIND

An Indian and proud to be one

Being part of the team organizing the whole event on the 15^th of August, 2008 I was wondering if I could contribute in any other way possible. Organizing and coordinating an event is quite big a task and makes you lose focus on smaller but significant things that one can be part of, and I realized that penning down one’s thoughts is just that.

Last night I was actually thinking about what to write and mindlessly browsing through the TV Channels, when suddenly I noticed the names A.R. Rahman and Mani Ratnam. Bombay, one of my favorite movies was playing on one of the channels. I think it’s the umpteenth time I’ve watched it, still the sensitivity of the movie in capturing the message of unity and patriotism is just flabbergasting. By the end of it I’d got the all important dose of ‘enthusiasm’ to pen this article down.

At this moment my mind is caught in a sea of pictures that I came across during the recent serial blasts in Bangalore and Ahmedabad. Such cowardly attempts of creating unrest, panic and taking lives of innocent people has been going on since an unbelievably long time, be it in Mumbai, Hyderabad or the recent attack on Jaipur. But we have always shown the resolve to stand up and start walking again.
The issue of terrorism is a one that is affecting the world at large, but if only the developed countries could take a stern stance against it instead of spending resources on energy and religion centered politics, world might just turn terrorism free.

At this juncture when India has seen 60 splendid autumns and is on the verge of breaking barriers into the league of economic superpowers, I would like to rake this thought in you of reaffirming our roots and build the resolve to lead India into intriguing new horizons.

Every Republic and Independence Day, I am sure that there is a moment in all of our lives when we might have felt that one single chord that I N D I A strikes within.

Do we lend it an ear, is the big question though?

It is often said that we don’t say the essential things that ought to be said. And one such emotion that we have taken for granted is the feeling of oneness, pride of being an Indian. The pride of the diversity in culture, geography, historical heritage, and the struggle we have been through to see this day of freedom. So this Independence Day allow me and repeat along when I say “PROUD TO BE AN INDIAN”.

This is exactly what we at IBS-Bangalore wish to vociferate in the PEACE MARCH on the 15^th of August, near Café Coffee Day, Jayanagar 4^th Block.

Come join us and help us with our unique initiative of spreading the right vibes of a rapidly developing INDIA.

JAI HIND

Class of 2010 Officially Inaugurated

I started writing this post way back in June, it is one of those posts which never took off and remained in the drafts folder.

Looks like everything gets the right time, and so does this almost at the end of Semester-1. Quite an irony I still have to mention now that class of '2010 has been inaugurated officially and shortly will roll onto part-2.


Well what's delayed this post for so long ??
Between June and August till date, there has been so many events at School, that's almost left me breathless like Manthan, Fresher's party, Colosseum and now the peace walk along with numerous tests, exams and presentations of course.

In all, it's been drilling 2 months and will only get better.... with Semester end Exams and Tarkash - Inter collegiate business fest on the menu.
Meanwhile, thought of making this post carry some of the memoirs of the journey which include our group dance performance :-)

Guess that's pretty much of it for the time being.... until then...

Keep Rocking....
Sanju

Life these days...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Flash Back: 24-05-2007

Mr. K: "Why change now if you are planning to do full time MBA. Quit from here and join the college when you have to."

Me: Yea true. But you know. It had got so monotonous. Wouldn't have changed ...... but.

That was my penultimate day in HP and I was speaking to my Practice head.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sometime in the June 2007, when the temperature only got hot and hotter in Delhi.

Me: Does the role Associate Consultant mandate me to do all this.
Mr. S: Yes, What do you think ??

Me: Well business analysis is something i like to do.
Mr. S: Sanjaya, do you have an MBA?

Me: I don't, but i intend to have one and also have started planning for it.
Mr. S: What happened, wrong mapping of skill sets or something like that?

Me: I don't know about that, but this is not something i like to do.
Mr. S: Sanjaya, don't worry I will send you to Bangalore. Don't think about it too much !

My discussion with my TM in Wipro.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
February 10th 2008, Hyderabad.

Interviewer 1 on seeing my profile: Now, you have almost 4 years of experience in IT and you are doing pretty well. Then why crossover now?
Me: Sir, doing an MBA after putting in some quality years at work has always been my goal.

Interviewer1: But you know, not everyone maybe paying you the amount you expect.
Me: Sir, its not only about money, its about the roles i would be playing post my MBA. Business Analysis and Research are the fields I would see myself growing in, and later find the entrepreneur streak in me. Hence MBA is the right impetus for me at this stage of my career.

Interveiwer1: :-)

Interviewer2: So what are your hobbies?
Me: Reading, travelling, playing etc.

Interviewer2: Which is your latest read?
Me: Fountainhead, now with Atlas Shrugged by Ayn rand.

Interviewer2: So you have a blog?
Me: Yes, I do.

Interviewer2: What is it called?
Me: metalbook.blogspot.com

Interviewer2: Why is it called so?
Me: During those days I used to workout often.

Interviewer2: :-)

Same day evening got to know that I was through to Icfai Business School, Bangalore.
Those were mixed emotions as i recall. Sorrow of not having made to Hyderabad and Joys to know about parents feeling it great that I would be based out of Bangalore.

On the hindsight, I am now too.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
March 17th 2008, Bangalore

This is to bring to your kind notice that I would like to tender resignation from my duties effective today. I intend to pursue my higher studies and hence wish to be relieved from my duties on April 18^th 2008 with this considered as my last working day in Wipro.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Enough Said, I am waiting for May 1st, when I will be a student all over again

Wish me luck, Sanju

Of Santa’s and Celebrations...

When working with a young team most of the times thoughts transpire into effervescent ideas. One such idea came from a couple of colleagues (Maha and Shreya) and we held ‘SECRET SANTA’ with a great success.

As the name itself suggests it’s quite a common game during Christmas. In corporate circles this is used as a wonderful way of team bonding and building as I found out myself when it all unfolded.

Ideas are like bubbles, when they materialize they become a sea of bubbles that enchant the horizon showing us the different hues of nature. And when they don’t they burst as if the bubble was so insignificant.

Our event also took shape within similar lines. It just needed a word with our team lead and project lead and the ball was set rolling.

Rules were simple:

• With 37 members present on the day we made out equal number of slips bearing everyone’s names.
• Each one had to be a Santa to the person s/he got in their slips.
• No one got their own names on the slip.
• The member receives his or her gift furtively from their Santa, hence the name Secret Santa.
• Making it inquisitive for the gift seekers to get their gifts was left to the discretion of the individual.

After casually planning out the details it was time for the MC in me to take over and do I enjoy it or what?

I had always heard that each day was different but the following day was totally a contrast to the one that had just passed. People were bubbling with energy to make their gift-seekers feel special by gifting them various kinds of Gifts asking them to perform weird, creative tasks.

The game was so well supported by everyone present, that an air of synergy was apparent. People varied between extremes from making a person drink raw egg to organizing a treasure hunt. Some even went ahead and showed their creative streak though it took some time and lots of efforts.

The event came to a nice finale with Anju and Shreya cutting the cake she received as her Christmas Gift. People who guessed their Secret Santa’s were promptly applauded and for those who couldn’t rattle their brains, listening to the MC speak was always an option.

Isn’t it a great feeling when you go out and make someone’s day that tad special...

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Life's Caricature !!!

Recently I was faced with a situation that many if you might have come across. Yea... the usual childhood crushes and romances... thing.

We have all had infatuations, crushes some which get turned into full blooded romances and some that don't. I passed this phase too, with my attempts largely falling under the later part.

I am a great believer that everything happens for a cause, was evident when i found the caricature artist convey this message to me with my caricature.

And the next day I hear one after the other, that all of them thus involved in my life, have got or are getting married. Thinking about it now, when i have remained away from the crush syndrome for a while now, I can only laugh heartily and wish them all the luck for their big step. As for me I think on.... "for sure this ain't happenin for me"!!!

~Sanju

"Grenoble to Bangalore - April 10, 2006"

What a day it was!!! A day that put me in the reckoning is what I can write in the hindsight. It does not happen every day that you wake up knowing what’s in store for you and still have a tinge of anxiety, excitement as you wait for it to happen.

It was on last Thursday that I had absolutely no mood to work nor could I gather enough concentration to finish off the work at hand. My situation was so comparable to the typical Bangalore weather that it suddenly rains when the mercury crosses a threshold temperature limit. So much work in the past month or so that my saturation levels had gotten down to its all time low.

My Thursday blues being answered suddenly, when I got a mail from Anne-Caroline, program manager from EMEA, mentioning about the present that she wished to ship to me celebrating the completion of the phase2 of Electronic communication infrastructure setup in SUM (eCISS). Was really grateful for her mail and I thanked her. Also we communicated on Friday as to how she would send it to me from Grenoble, France. Thanks to Soumya, who was fortunately traveling back to Bangalore from Grenoble after her month long onsite stint and readily agreed to bring along the parcel that Anne would give her.

Come weekend, forgot about this and played leather ball cricket after almost 5yrs. Good old memories of hitting helmets with red cherry coming back to me. Of course, altogether different question that I had become a Prasad now from a Srinath, bowling just line and length rather than make the batsmen smell cherry. Feel just great to play good old cricket again rather than just being glued to watching cricket on TV. A good long evening spent with old classmates with a bottle of port wine that I got from Goa on the same day made my saturday complete.

Sunday, yea you guessed it rite!!! My limbs had started creaking up and making noises as if every bone were to break with every step of mine, giving me the memories of those gym days. But pain is enjoyable and especially when it is out of sports after a long time. I hope it doesn’t remain for too long though.

Back to Monday, April the 10th. I eagerly wait for my mailbox to open up and I see nothing special again, but I remind myself of that special parcel from France. I speak to Soumya and fix up 5PM as the time that I would visit her in her office and would pick up the parcel.

Come 4.45 we finished celebrating Vaibhav’s birthday celebration and then I made my headway towards Al-Kareem, Sowmya’s office with Vinay, my partner in crime. Soumya came down from the stairs holding the parcel which looked pretty long.

Took it to my hand, thanked her and took her leave. Feels the world is such a small place, Grenoble and Bangalore. Rather I guess it’s the people in the world who make it small and livable.

Oops sorry, moving away from the topic.

My parcel, it’s a 1982 Chateau Pomone, one of the great French red wines. Almost 25 yrs old, quite an irony that the wine is elder than me. Vinay already making plans of when the bottle is to be opened. Anyways Vinay and his dumb plans… Never mind.

Here’s the masterpiece.The photo of the bottle , not the one with it's owner. Thanks Anne.

Rode back to office and showed it to my teammates with the note that thanked me for my contribution in the project. Hesitantly show it to my manager, who at first thought, that it was something that I was giving him.

Anyways, on seeing the note, he immediately took me to a conference room called his colleagues and highlighted my achievement. It feels just great to see your work being recognized and your colleagues applaud you for the same.

Phew!!! What a day! Friends, never avoid feeling blue, if you are. Never know luck might just be waiting to smile upon.