Where boys do cry…

It has been a raging debate over the years – to rag or not to rag.

 

The evil of ragging juniors is something that seems to have seeped deep into the Indian educational system. And with each passing year, the levels of sadism exhibited seem to grow worse and worse.

 

Apparently, engineering colleges and army colleges are the worst of the lot. (I say this, not based on my perceptions, but after speaking to numerous folks out there.)

I guess the biggest question is – what exactly constitutes ragging? Some of the ‘events’ that constitute ragging at some colleges are:

 

a) Asking people to parade around as ‘Supermen’ – with their innerwear worn over the outerwear.

b) Making people perform obscene dances or gestures.

c) Talk about the anatomies of classmates of the opposite gender.

d) Making people burn themselves with cigarette butts.

 

I’m yet to understand how one can be sadistic enough to cause physical pain and/or mental anguish to other people for no reason at all. No one acknowledges that ragging happens in some of the best places to study at in India, but we all know that it’s there. Despite Supreme Court orders decreeing the strictest of action against offenders, people are just too scared to come out and speak, for fear of social ostracism and ‘bad consequences’.

 

Unfortunately, they don’t even tell family or friends and sometimes, suffer in silence till there’s nothing that can be done.

 

A friend of mine who joined a reputed institute recently narrated some such experiences to me, and I recalled a documentary called ‘Where Boys Do Cry” made by a friend who happens to be an amateur movie maker. At an army institute, a friend of his had killed himself after suffering humiliation through dastardly acts of ragging. I had voiced over for some sections of the documentary, and I was appalled when I read the script.

 

 

The sad part is that many of us pretend to be ‘custodians of society’ and wouldn’t rag anyone, but we wouldn’t stop our classmates/batchmates from doing it either. But, turning your face away doesn’t stop such incidents. By cranking up the volume on your iPod, you can’t drown out the pleas for help around you.

 

Yes, there are forms of ‘harmless’ ragging or ‘just routine fun’ ragging. But, harmless for whom? Fun for whom?

 

I wonder who makes this distinction, and how…

Simmering Summer…

It’s been less than a week since I moved from the cool climes of Bangalore to hot, sweltering Jamshedpur. Yes, the weather is killing me. And I do miss the lilt in the Hindi accent of the people there, the numerous book shops, the awesome eateries, the brilliantly pleasant weather, and most of all – my erstwhile employers, Microsoft.

 

However, it has been an exciting time since I returned to campus. There’s a whole new crowd of new juniors, so we guys can enjoy being the ‘exalted’ seniors, who are fountainheads of knowledge. (hee hee)

 

Many facets on campus have undergone a facelift, and it’s nice to see freshly painted buildings, neatly trimmed lawns, better air-conditioning in classes, and lots of other changes (though the mess food is as bad as ever).

 

The best part is the junior ‘interaction’. There are 240 of them, and there’s just me with my limited processing power. How in the name of God shall I remember 240 names? And it can be doubly tough when almost all of the others know your name.

 

Anyhow, this term promises to be a mix of fun and learning, a mix of sweat and tears, and victories won and battles lost. (I’m just hoping that the wins exceed the losses.) Since we get to choose our own subjects this term, I’ve picked up some that I think I am interested in. They promise to be quite a mouthful.

 

In addition, the personal startup venture is still hanging fire, but hopefully, will take off by the end of the month. Once that happens, life should be suitably busier. Also, there are other responsibilities on campus that one needs to take care of, and they assure me of their time demands as well. :|

 

Overall, the summer seems to be a super-busy time but I am guessing that it will be satisfying and rewarding too.

 

Amen!

 

P.S. Sorry for the drabness of this post. And thanks for reading it. :)

XL Meri Jaan…

It’s been two months away from a place that was described by our dean as the ‘home away from home’. That time, I had inwardly smirked at the terminology used each time the phrase was (ab)used. But over the last couple of months, during my internship stint, I’ve realised how much more the place means to me.

 

Make no mistake, the last two months have been fabulous – in terms of experiences, learning, and fun! With a highly supportive boss, and a good, impactful project problem, it was great working at Microsoft. In fact, it will be with a lump in my throat that I will leave those gates inscribed by the name of the inaugurator – Mr. Bill Gates. But, I will take away with me some great memories, lots of learning – both personal and professional, and more zeal and energy than I came here with.

 

Tomorrow is the day, when ‘I’m leaving on a jet plane’ towards those beckoning doors – to the place that is now seriously a home away from home. Interacting with juniors, I can’t help but succumb to a wave of nostalgia and a strong sense of déjà vu, as I see people who like me a year ago, are full of questions, excitement, apprehension, nervousness and lots more.

 

It has been a year of battles won, and some battles lost. It has been a year with its ups and downs. As Mr. Dickens would say, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times… “.

 

Yes, I’ve learnt a lot, and unlearnt a lot more probably. I feel more confident about myself, more competent, and also proud of being an HR professional. I’ve learnt to deal with ambiguity and stress better, though I guess I still need to learn to prioritise things.

 

During my Microsoft days, I’ve learnt an important quality - resilience. Also, there’s a whole new sense of self-belief that I am basking in.

 

The last year has seen some new relationships develop, and regrettably, some old ones dissolve away. It has taught me to value people, and their contributions in one’s life. In that sense, I think it has also taught me to leave the past behind, and move on carrying some learning away from it.

 

Overall, the next one year promises to be crazy, hectic, fun, unpredictable, but yet promising. I look forward to it as the notes of the song that always sends chills down my spine ring in my ears.…

 

Socha tha MBA kar len, hum tum bhi thoda sa padh len, lo aa gaye hum XLR(I),

khwabon mein socha jo humne, aaye usse poora karne, lekin hui aankehn chaar,

karke humen bekaraar, meri jaan, meri jaan…..

Weekend woes

This is proving to be a rather tough weekend, even though it’s only begun. The next week will be my last at Microsoft, as an intern. On Friday, I shall be ‘leaving on a jet plane.’ Of course, I don’t know when I’ll be back again.

 

Due to some issues with the data that I was supposed to analyse, much of what I had done over the last few weeks has gone to waste, and I need to fix things and get them back on track in about 2 days. Like I told my guide – tough but not impossible. I will always value what she told me then, “Sumit, resilience is an important virtue, and I’m glad you have it.”

 

If I’d been in an army and she’d been my commander, I’d have marched into battle, and wiped out the entire opposition on my own, after those words. (Luckily for any potential opposition, she’s an HR person and not an army commander.)

 

Still, yesterday was a rather frustrating day. After all, there was mountains of rework to be done. Also, most of my XLer friends have finished with their internship stints and have gone back home. Even my new friends from IIM Indore left yesterday. So, the next week promises to be boring, at the very least. (I hope I’m proved wrong.)

 

However, I am hoping that the avalanche of work that threatens to hit me, at least keeps me busy. Moreover, there’s also work to be done on the new startup venture front. My team mates and I are pretty excited about the whole thing, and a lot of time has gone into planning and strategising. Now, we execute. :D

 

Hopefully, you’ll hear more about that in the near future.

 

This is the last weekend in Bangalore, and I realise that I have missed out on visiting awesome places like Alleppey, Mysore, Coorg, Coimbatore and lots of others. I wonder what ate my time away, without me even realising it. Anyway, not much can be done about it now.

 

The worst part of the weekend will be PACKING! Heck, if there’s one thing I hate more than packing, it has to be unpacking. I have no clue how I’m going to fit these piles of junk into my bags, and then con the airlines representatives into believing that the bags are well within the weight limit.

 

I think I have cribbed enough, but if need be, dear reader, you shall be taken on another trip into a dreary life. So, watch out!