India: a Sphinx

One India lives in the optimism of our hearts, the other India lives in the skepticism of our minds.

Bhargav Trivedi
10068, Sec-B
PGDM-I
ISB&M, Nande

What India Needs:

1. Accountability of Government
2. Proper Mindset of WE People
3. Responsible Youth
4. An end to moral policing
5. Overhauling of the educationg system
6. Responsible and Better Mass Media/Cinema/Journalism

Bhargav Trivedi
10068, Sec -B
PGDM-I
ISB&M, Nande

On India's B'day

From India's Shining slope, we've started trudging on our way to India's Declining.

Bhargav Trivedi
10068, Sec-B
PGDM-I
ISB&M, Nande

Go Go Goa

Due to swine flu proliferation, Government of Maharashtra announced to shut down Pune for a week. Specially educational institutes, colleges, schools, malls and multiplexes should remain close for a week inorder to prevent people to come in crowds and stop spreading of flu.
Government still is not capable to get a proper med (except of Tamiflu) to curb the flu. Now the good news is now and then, since last a few days, we being in isbm, were getting news that, this college got closed for a week and a half, that college shuts off for a week, etc etc. And we used to wonder, kya salla, apni college kab bandh hogi re !!! We continuously kept on asking the college authorities about the same, and we got the reply from President: If governement of Maharashtra officially announces shut down, than and only we'll be closing the college. Phew !!!
Se then, we started keeping tab on rediffmail and google (shaakal news, zeenews, TIO, et al) and continuously watching the latest upcoming news 'bout the Government announcement, whether they are officially announcing or not; the day was Saturday I guess.
Sunday passed, Monday broke. We came to the college, classes started. We had OB exam, which I guess everyone faired well. Then, MA exam (which fortunately got lapsed), then WACC presentation started. Myself being too curious about the holidays and roaming around India, always seats at the last rows keeping my lappie ON and keeping tab on news. Suddenly, on zeenews, something flashed. And there was it. Government officially announced Pune to close down for 10 days, inorder to stop further spread of proliferating swine flu. Hip Hip Hurrey.
I had three plans to follow. And, I had one plan to not to think of.
1. I had a plan to go to Assam with Sam.
2. I had a plan to go to Chennai, Madurai and Rameshwaram.
3. I had a plan to go to Goa.
1. I didn't wanted to think about going home, veraval, Gujarat.
Then OB class started. I had a Presentation on the topic, "Study of Personality at Work Place", and I had to give. We're 5 in that group...Arun, Ashutosh, Chetan, Dipika and Myself. Our's was good, according to Nutan Sir. He also said, finish your presentation fast so that I can leave you early. Hurrey.
By that time, i had started thinking about rough itinerary to go to chennai. Unfortunetly nothing turned up correctly. Sam said, it's not use going to Assam for this short notice. So Assam got dropped, Chennai got dropped...left with me was "Goa". Sam and Tarun were forcing me to enjoy Goa. It's jubilient, Sam said. "we'll be having soft music in our ears, chilled beer in our hands and eys popping out towards sea waves, what more Bhargav?", Sam blurted out. "It's my home, let's go there and enjoy, Tarun said. I was confused now. After a little thought and much of a time, I finally decided to bang Goa. We foursome, Myself, Sam, Gagan and Tarun all Sec-B mates, revved up to Goa crooning; on very next day in H.Nizzamuddin - Vasco train from Pune.
Go Go Goa. It's scintillating.
Drink...eat sea food...hookah...sun bathing...playing with the waves...tatoo on the neck...wandering...cool chicks...that's exquisite and ravishing Goa. And WE enjoyed it till the fullest. We'd all the extremes one can dream of. We went go Calenguet beach and had tatoos on our neck. I had a chinese sign symbolizing "DREAM", and Gagan carved an "OM", we did all this while gulping chilled Haywards. Then, we went to a near by beach hotel and had delicious and scrumptious meal I ever had; the great Sea Food. Our cuisine: shark gravy and prawn biryani, isn't it mouthwatering ? Yummieee...
Calenguet beach was captivating. We had a graceful and bewitching experience in Goa. We love you Goa. And there you go, everything was going fine untill, Home came calling, and I had to go to Gujarat. Everything vanished and booked ticked from Goa to Rajkot. My Goa sojourn ended with a lonely beach, were Tarun tooks us; that place is also known as "Ghanta Goa". ha ha h a
P.S.
Myself, on behalf of whole ISB&M family, heartily mourn
and pray for all those who died of swine flu. Our deep grieverances to their
families. May god bless their sould and they receive heavenly peace. Amen.
Bhargav Trivedi
PGDM -1, Sec-B
ISB&M, Nande.

Books we must read

Books - Author-Availibility
1.Third Wave by Alvin Toffler College Library
2. Imagining India by Nandan Nilekani
3. Future Shock by Alvin Toffler - College Library
4. It’s not about the bike by Lance Armstrong
5. The toyota way
6. Inside google
7. Rich Dad, Poor Dad by t.kiyosaki
8. Shantaram
9. 7 habbits of highly effective people by Stephen covey
10. 8th habbit by Stephen covey - College Library
11. The world is flat by Thomas friedman
12. The monk who sold his ferrari by Robin sharma
13.The alchemist by Paulo cohelo
14. The greatness guide by Robin sharma
15. Blue ocean strategy by w.chan kim and renne mauborgne - College Library
16. Stay hungry, stay foolish by Rashmi bansal
17. It happened in India by Kishor biyani
18. Freekonomics
19. 48 laws of power Robert greet and joost efflers
20. A thousand splendid suns by Khalen hosseini
21. The kite runner by Khaled hosseini
22. The white tiger Arvind adga
23. Brief history of time by Stefan hawkins
24. Chicken soup for the Indian soul by Raksha bharadia
25. The argumentative Indian Amartya sen

Condolences

Ankita Mangla, a girl who made us awaken by asking question to the corporates in our orientation programe, a girl who worked in the PAC for us, we will really miss her for ever and her beautiful smile.
 
Ashutosh Mayank
10067 PGDM -1
ISB&M, Nande

Heartily Condolence

I am writing this to extend my deepest symphaties to all the isbmites. I am so very sad hearing about Ankita Mangla, she was such a wonderful lady.

I will seriously miss Ankita Mangla, a nicest soul, a humble bee, always carrying a smile on her face always cheerful and having the tendency of making others happy. I will surely miss working with her, her generous nature and working style and remarkable sense of humour.

I remember, on 25th July - on the very next day of Forza, a lot many people went Pune for fun and frolic. Even Ankita was on-board with us all. Every one were so confused about where to go...and finally Ankita finalised about Mocha. It was her, who decided the venue to rest on. She was so excited to go there. She was enlightened about going to Mocha. She was so happy, clapping hands and vibrating cheeks and flashy temple.

We all travelled in that Forza bus, and landed at some place nowhere. From that place, we hired some autos and reached Mocha. After reaching there, I found, Ankita is not with us. Gosh. 

I thought, might be she didn't sat in an auto or may be she changed her mind at the last second. Ok, what ever. Then, at around mid-night, we met again. I asked her, hey where were you ? and She shouted at me...you, you bhargav...you left me. I decided the venue and wanted to go to the Mocha, you ruined my plan. And she was on and on. Never gave me any chance. What a cheerful moment. Today I remember that, and my heart becomes heavy and eyes fills up.

For me, it's a saddned moment of grief and mourning. You have become an immortal Ankita. You are in our thoughts.

Wishing you God's peace. 

Amen.

Bhargav Trivedi

10068 PGDM-1

ISB&M, Nande

The wait is Over !!!

Finally we paid the fine. My heart drenched in pain and my hand shaked when I handed over that 500 rupee note. The pain ran down my spine to my legs and earth went away. Every drop of tears screamed of agony and anguish. College Account office happily took away my money, as she was piling 500 rupee notes inside the drawer. 

All and all, I learned a lesson:

Never to repeat it again. Atleast not in ISB&M. It's a Sin, to bunk classes. And that too, a mass bunk. Be aware. 

Nisha Yadav

10087-PGDM-1

ISB&M, Nande

Life of a PACie !!!

LIFE - "what is that now?" I don't have one, anymore.

Late night work, with neck wrecked and spine crunched. Classes aren't there anymore, there're only corporates now. One eats, drinks, sleeps corporate life.

But none the less, the experience is fantastic. One gets a chance, should always give it a shot "for sure". That's it, I'll be back in days.



Raghav Saraogi
10091 PGDM-1
ISBM, Nande

Life of a CR !!!

Hey Sec-b folks, this is your CR, barking at you.

No food, no sleep, no masti, no fun. All for you. Juss getting screwed at next moment, sacrificing my life for you people. EVery now and then, some body calls me, asking me for the classes, for schedules, assignments, et al. Always need to hear scum words, when ever i need to announce extra classes or assignments. Always being called by Avneesh Sir for different announcments and for the compalaints of the classmates. that's all for now. Will surely come back, back with a bang.

I love you Sec-B.
But CR job, sucks !!


Harshit Goel
10077
PGDM-1
ISB&M, Nande

Back again....in a few minutes

ohh what i wrote...i wont be getting time 'coz i'm an ISBMite. Shit happens, you know. So I'd do it right here, right now. Life was never the same for me, as it is for me now. Gone are the days, when i used to fly high in the sky like a dove and used to wander in the night like a nightingale; used to enjoy in leisure time with my friends, chatting till wee hours; till the day of addressal arrived. The dawn broke and the sun rose in the resplendent valley of Nande, there was commotion in the Audi, my MBA life reved up. Saris, formals, hours of listening, hammering of lectures on absurd topics, i was like an alien on the planet.

Since the day I entered this college and then today, I'm like an island of prosperity admist an ocean of poverty, like a dove tied with the manacles of tyranny. I'm no more a free flying bird, that i used to be. My freedom is shackled, my thought process is subdued, and i feel like i'm surrounded between agony and lapses.

And I pray, there could be an angel with a magic wand and azure coloured halo rings, come down to the lush green valley of nande and free me, rescue me, escape me, take me away, far far far, far away to the orient.



Priya Anand
10088 - PGDM-1
ISB&M, Nande

Hi to all

Hello guys and girls, hi-5 to all isbmites.
I'll come back after a few days.




Priya Anand
10088 - PGDM-1
ISB&M, Nande

Surpirse with the Fine

Hello folks, this is Nisha Yadav on-board isbm blog for the very first time.

Section B (my class) is fined with Rs. 500 for not attending IT-foundation lecture. This is the first time, we people has been fined by the college. So we'al are in fix what to do? Some says yes, and some say no. Can you gimme a suggestion ? Half the day has been passed thinking about this shit. Let's see what happens in the evening. We're due 500 bucks by 1730 hrs, after that...god knows whether it will multiply the fine amount or we'd be "DEBARRED" (the favourite word of the administration of ISB&M) for the tri-semester.

Nisha Yadav
10087, PGDM-1
ISB&M, Nande

Juss wait and watch till in the evening !!!

Entrepreneurship Cell

We're starting a new Cell-cum-Network in our College.

CEN - Consultancy and Entrepreneurship Network


www.toot-box.blogspot.com



It's all bout Entrepreneurship.
It's all bout your passion.
It's all about your dream.

Think Big. Act Big.

Dream, Think, Convert.

My idea, since last three years and today at somewhere 11:45 pm, it got a sudden birth. With the help of Sumit and our faculty member Vikas Sir, we got a push. Let's move on.

Those who want to join can meet us (Bhargav, Sumit, Gagandeep) personnaly or can mail us at cen.isbm@gmail.com





Bhargav Trivedi
PGBM-1
ISB&M, Nande
My Blog

A face in a sea of faces v 1.3

Post 3

‘To get to the Promised Land you have to
negotiate your way through the wilderness.’

Very well said, don’t know by whom, but really fits in, in our lives. Isn’t it? Not always true, but it balances the life.

Without any glitch, I must say, we all operate in two contrasting modes – Open and Closed. The open mode is relaxed, receptive, exploratory, democratic and playful. The closed mode is tight, rigid, hierarchical and tunnel-visional.

What I was behaving at the time of GD/PI was Open Mode, and the way Panel members were suppose to behave/or say were behaving falls in Closed Mode.

Not that the closed mode cannot be helpful…if you’re leaping across a gorge, the moment of take off is a bad time for considering alternative strategies! When you charge the enemy’s machine – gun post, you don’t try to see the funny side of it. you do this in a closed mode. The moment the action is over, you may return to the open mode – to open your mind again to the feed back and see if further action is needed or not, to improve on what you’ve done.

Exactly the same thing happened during my PI.

To be continue...

My first visit

After admission, i paid a flying visit of our college campus. I took some snaps, so posting them over here. Hope you'll like them.






The room from where I took the below shown snap. btw, I've never seen such a class anywhere. What it is meant for ?




This is from inside the Top Floor room. I guess, if not wrong, than this room is situated at one and half floor.





One can see dried up Swimming Pool...and Audi.




And this is the intersection of Boys' and Girls' Block.




Mess. This picture is taken from Boys' and Girls' block intersection.




Nice scenic view of the Hostel Lawns.






View of Hostel Block from the sides of Audi.





I entered my name at the gate and trudged on towards the college. Our Alma Matter. Construction was going on, all over.




This is when I (Bhargav Trivedi) came from Mumbai and stepped out at Chevrolet Showroom, near the flyover and walked till this place. I even went inside for inquiring whether it's boys' or girls'. It was Girls. lol. Then i got a rickshaw onwards.

A face in a sea of faces ! v 1.2

Post 2:

There were four ISBMites, sitting at the registration desk. And there were almost more than twenty-five my-type-aspirants; gazing at me; some with worrying faces, somebody bit smiling, bit nail-biting. Some where gossiping and some where reading newspaper and a girl (Krithika Iyer, she didn’t got selected, sorry !!!) in the first row was reading a book. (I later came to know, it was “If God was a Banker”).

I approached the desk and bid ‘Good Morning’, they all returned the salutation with a warm smile on their sparkling clean saved faces. And I was glad I had my shaving done before reaching there, thank god. Before anyone could say anything to me, I started in a soft voice, “Right now, I don’t have the hard copy of the gd/pi call letter which you people sent to me, ‘coz, I had already left my station when I received it, and I haven’t received the e-mail from you side, so right now, as I don’t have the call letter as a proof of my being a candidate, and so now, I have to prove that I’m Bhargav Trivedi.” I said mechanically as a single syllable, showing my driving license.

“Okay.” The first person said, enjoying. “What is your ISBM registration number?”

“42986”, I said immediately. Then, he started checking my number in an excel print out sheet, and when he found out my number, he blurted, “Bhargav Trivedi, right?”

“Yes.”

“Can I see your license?”

“Yes, sure.”

He checked my card, little carefully and then even compared the face on it with mine. I hardly believe, face on my license card barely meets that of present mine. But after some seconds, he found satisfied. I got my license back and permission to meet next person on the desk. So I moved forward.

“Bhargav Trivedi, right?” Second on the desk asked.

“Yes sir.” I replied, politely.
“Okay, so you’ve done online registration.”
“Yes sir.”
“Can I see your mark sheets?”
“Yes.” I showed them.

He checked everything. Right from tenth standard till my eight mark sheets of engineering. I don’t know, whether he liked his job or he was compelled to check so many documents. He compared all the marks which I had jot down in the form with my original sheets. Then he passed my form to hi neighbour and I wrote my name on a sheet. I was 23rd to register. The fourth person asked me to take the sit and wait. I did so.

I lifted my bag and turned 180 degree, and looked at the foyer sitting arrangement. I decided to sit in the first row, albeit I belong to last bench only. That reminds me of my engineering days. I sat near that novel reading girl. She wore azure colour dress with white chunni and was just deep inside the book. Just to show the attitude I took a book from my bag and started reading-The White Tiger-watching whether she is watching or not. Poor guy.

More aspirants start coming in. On my right was that girl reading-if god was a banker-and on my left came a boy in denims and jersey, was filling the form. No shaving, no hair cut, no formals, juss too casual. But I like it, his carefree nature. After say, 20 minutes, one of the ISBMite addressed us all. He gave us some instruction(s) and then commended us to go upstairs for some slide show. He elegantly drove us all to a big room with U shaped table and a big white screen and an over head lcd projector. I took the central seat at the bottom of the U, so now I could see the screen straight and clear.

Now started all the worldly gossiping, all aspirants started whispering with their neighbours. Even I did. Then came, Prof. Pratap Gupta, Director, Finance & HR. He seemed to be candid and soft spoken guy. He came with six other prominent lecturers and professors of ISB&M – nande and viman nagar campuses. Firstly he introduced himself and the rest of the team, everybody as well, said about him/her self. There was one lady in that team. After this, Prof. Gupta again turned towards us and briefed about the college. And then, asked one of the volunteer to start the video. Without any glitch, straight-forwardly, he did it and lights were turned-off. And I took a quick glance over the room before concentrating over the screen, and I could see sparkles in everybody’s eyes’. Everybody had the aim, aim ‘bout getting into this new alma matter.

After completion of the video, Prof. Gupta said something ‘bout Prof. Robert J. Aumann - who is a Noble laureate for his Game Theory in the field of Physics – who came to the Pune Campus on 16th and 17th February 2009. Then started a power point presentation about college and teaching pedagogy. He gave a running commentary during the presentation. Then, last but not the least; he said few lines about the Big Daddy. I was wondering all through this, when he’s going for it, and voila he did in the end. He introduced Dr. Promod Kumar and then thanked us for listening all that so patient fully.

Again, volunteer commanded and treaded us downstairs. While coming out of the seminar room, all the team members were lined for bidding us congratulations. I liked it.

The scene in the foyer down stairs was different then. All the rumbled up chairs where lined up perfectly in through groups forming a big H. Two columns vertical and one horizontal row, and we were advised to seat according to our isbm id’s. There were 10 aspirants in each. Once we sat there, one volunteer came to our group and gave us an id card-cum-badge with simple group numbers. Mine was 7.

Those six members came downstairs and one by one shifted to three different rooms. I got the instinct which room I’m going to get allotted. Few moments passed and we were advised to move to a particular room for our GD. I had got the right premonition. We all traded into the room, thinking what the topic we have to face. Somebody took files, some didn’t. I had energy, geniality and a pen. We took the seats according to our allotted numbers and sat with proper posture and waited for our commanders to say something. I again took a round around, and I could clearly found change in the expressions on everybody’s faces. Contouring took a rudimentary change on their texture. And then, I turned towards the commanders, I mean our panel members with a little smile and curls on my face. Out of two, one of them (I don’t know the names right now, but will update shortly) opened his mouth. And shut it down. He turned his face on his left and said in low tone to the other member. Finally, the second one addressed yes. They said, GD time 15 minutes and then conclusion by any one member at the end of it, and before to that 3 minutes of preparation time. Meanwhile, one of the volunteer gave us a piece of paper for writing purpose.

Finally, they gave us our GD topic. It was, “What should we do to curb terrorism?” Believe me, it was all chaos, which should not be the case actually. But it was good.


I’m writing this on 17 June, and I’ve started my packing for Pune. And I’ve made many friends – Sumit, Vicky, Gagan, Hasmukh - whom, I’m going to meet on 25th. Yippee. I’m coming Pune, beware of me.


Sydney Sheldon in his novel, The sky is falling,

“The 13th commandment, ‘Thou shalt not abandon those who love you’ ”.




Bhargav Trivedi
PGBM (2009-11)
ISB&M, PUNE.

My Blog

A face in a sea of faces !

Post 1:


Hello folks,


It was,

22nd Feb, 2009

Place: SNDT Women’s University,

Juhu Tara Road, Santa Cruz,

Time: 7:58 A.M.


It was two minutes to eight, and can you believe it, I made it to SNDT University, Juhu Tara Road, Mumbai. Alas! I had my GD/PI there. Albeit, I had had a quick round on the previous day (i.e. on 21st) to SNDT Women’s University, just to have a look at the location, how to reach there, and all that.


Wow, on time, a rarity in my life style, you see!


I woke up as early as five in the morning. I took bath, dressed up in decent formals and wore my all-time-great sports shoes. I just hate formals in my feet. I took my power bag and run-off to the station. It was 06:10 A.M. In Mumbai, I was staying with my langotia yaar, in Borivalli (E). On the previous day, I checked the train I had to board, which platform, then which number (Best Bus number 231 from Santacruz Station to SNDT) bus I had to take to reach the gd/pi location. I was just curious.


Juss near the Ashok Van flyover in Borivalli (E) or say southern tip of Dahisar, I took an auto, on meter of course. Now there was a problem; a big one. I was unshaved. I didn’t had a razor with me, nothing at all. Now I can’t even dare to think of some barber shop to be open at such morning hours, but at least a medical shop, so that I can buy a use & throw razor. That razor, I will use it in the wash room of the venue, where I’m going for the gd/pi; I thought so. So optimistic I was, you see. Pathetic, actually.


Mélange of apprehensiveness’ and timidity was my condition, as auto-wala was driving so sluggishly. And I was, with danger-in-my-eye-condition, looking on both the road sides desperately to find any damn shop open. But, no success, I was almost gone. I was dead. Found many dairy vendors doing there regular work at that hour, were of no use to me. Auto taking turns after turns reaching the final road towards the borivalli station, I stand no chance then. And, Voila!!! There was a medical store open.


“Stop, Stop, Stop!!!”, I barked to the auto wala.


“What happened?”, he replied.


“Nothing, wait. I need to buy some medicines. It’s urgent.”, I lied. I don’t why, but I did.


I bought a use and throw red coloured razor (which I still have) worth fifteen bucks and hoped on auto again. Reaching borivalli station was a mess. Buying a ticket in such rush is a cumbersome job. Such a big line, but then, bought a newspaper and was reading it while standing in that fucking queue. Got it worth seven bucks for Juhu and then went over-through foot over bridge to platform number 3. I juss reached there, and a sub-urban train came, I hopped in.


May be, it was first class, I didn’t noticed earlier, and so I got a place to sit. No worry on my face, no expression, totally involved in reading that shit newspaper. It was the only soothing I had at the time. May be, I was juss relaxing my self. Never knew when the destination station came, I stepped out and then started walking out of the Sanatacruz station.


Suddenly, I saw a kiosk open. A barber shop. I stopped, instantaneously.


I thought, I’ve a razor, I can do the shaving in the wash room.


But, what if, the wash room does not have a mirror? Gosh.


So, without any second thought I took right turn and ventured into, fervidly. He was a mallu. A South Indian. A Big Pakkau yaar. Panchat hi kar raha tha, and took almost 20 minutes for shaving. Ass hole.


It was 07:30 by then. I was clean shaven and walking towards the bus-station, outside the sub-urban station to catch bus-231. I had seen the station the previous day, so started walking in the right direction. Standing at the bus-stop, was like standing at the pit-stop. Bus never came, and it was thundering me from inside. I took an auto and asked for SNDT. He took me there till the gate. On meter, showed 15 bucks, I gave him. He returned a rupee coin. So kind of him. And I entered the University gate. I started walking to the main block of Janki Devi Bajaj Institute of Management Studies. I traded the path with and personified ease. When I took the final turn, I saw three ISB&Mites in blazers.


I thought, standing outside, why? Must be, koi aaya nahi hoga. I must be the first one.


Crossing them, I thought to bid Good Morning, but I didn’t. I entered the foyer. Gosh. There were so many sitting on well place chairs, all silent. Almost all turned their faces to notice me. And I could see, I was just a face in a sea of faces. If I have to get into ISB&M, I’ve to beat them all.


And I approached the registration desk with brisk steps and light smile on my face. I had conviction in my walk.


Right now, I’m hearing Dream On, by Aerosmith.


Dream on, dream on, dream on,

Dream until your dream come true.



Bhargav Trivedi

PGPBM (2009-11)

ISB&M, Pune


My Blog