M4

The farce called the 'Case Method' Now, this may attract the ire of all who swear by it and many more who find it enlightening or even amusing, but here is what I feel, and not without reason: The ‘Case Method’ of instruction followed in most institutes of national and international importance and repute is starkly incomplete and in its current form- a FARCE! Firstly, problems in real life- the kind we face every day at work and in life- don’t come in neat little packages, like cases do. Anyone who has attempted solving cases would agree that we are oft encouraged to work with only the information contained within the case, sometimes even castigated for not toeing the line. And most cases give more than sufficient information (which is useless most of the time) and even go as far as listing out the issues that need be thought about. This, I found, is not the case in the work I’d done- very few knew what the problem was, most of the time and nobody ever had the complete...

I know I’m not the best person to be writing this, but it is time someone did it. So, here it is- Some advice to the first timers: 1. Feel things, don’t think much This would help improve intuition, which is certainly a very important asset and also avoid overly complicating things. 2. When in doubt, Ask Never guess. Guesstimates are best left to consulting case competitions. Even if you are required to make assumptions, make sure you get the approval of your boss (or someone who can cover for you) 3. Make friends Another asset, the importance of which cannot be emphasised enough. You never know who would come to your rescue when you need most. 4. Never let your guard down Just because they are friendly and welcoming doesn’t mean they are not evaluating you. They have eyes and ears on you, at all times (particularly in social occasions) 5. Be humble The way you treat people below you tells a lot about you than you can ever think about. Call it ‘Humility’, ...

T hey are leaving. And I doubt if I would see them ever again. Strange is this knot in the heart and the gut. And despite the intensity of feelings and thoughts that would rage inside me, I was hopelessly tongue-tied when in their company. Hell, I couldn't even muster enough courage to say anything beyond a feeble ‘Hi’.  To think that just a year ago, I was unaware of their existence-any of them- happily lost in the quandary of life, like a kid playing in a sandbox. Yet, here I am, writing this piece while I should be sitting by them, pouring my heart out. There are a million things I so want to tell them. Right Now. I even tried going to them. But then I couldn't go even within a few yards of them. I do know that this is my last chance- what I don’t say now will stay buried inside me forever. Perhaps, life had handed me lemons quite a few times before, and the sour taste of those lemonades still lingers inside me. Perhaps, I’m just not brave enough- a coward. Perhaps… Des...

A few years ago, I made public a question that has been tormenting me ever since I was able to think : "What's 'new' in a 'new year' ? And understandably, I received you-must-be-crazy-or-dumb-looks in no less numbers  Every year, when people across the world celebrate new year- most cultures more than once a calender year- I tried to fathom why people behave so stupidly this time of the year (Trust me, I'd seen people do some really weird things that they would not usually do). Well, for one, it is just another damn day and we all have to go to school/college/work again. For another, the year actually changes a quarter to three quarters of a day later (#leapYearAdjustment). For yet another, we all have to go through the tedious process of getting new calendars, diaries, planners, greeting cards, subscriptions et al. (Yes, I'm lazy!) They say, "Hope keeps a man alive" and so I convinced myself that it must be hope that people see...

People often find me quiet, alone and aloof at first. Although they find me amenable, as they get familiar to me, they venture to ask why I am the way I am. I have always answered saying I like being that way; But almost always I knew this was not totally true.  I stay aloof and alone because I don't have to pretend when I'm alone. No facades, no fake smiles and no feigning interest. But realization dawned lately that disconnection is just avoidance of the problem and not a solution, thanks partly due to the circumstances and partly due to the choice of profession. So now, the face became the veneer to my mind. The refuge of this mask gave me the boldness to do what I would not do otherwise; and trust me, most of that was not good. More, the mask gave the courage to experiment, to learn and experience things, to scramble priorities and just go with the gut. I now work, play,  enjoy, detest, party, slog, appreciate, ignore, adore, abhor, love and hate with t...

Here is a link to a friend's blog: http://supercalifragilisticexpialidociouz.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-k-files-facts-about-b-school.html Heck, why bother writing the K-files all over again when he put them together so very well... However, here are 11 pictures, which make it equivalent to 11,000 words.

I can't really say that I haven't had wonderful teachers. If not for them, I would never have been whatever I am. But here is the best of them all... Prof A. F. Mathew, the sociology professor. One lecture of his and you can never forget him for the rest of your life. We go to his lectures with mind as tranquil as a placid lake. And we come out an hour later in a raging storm of thoughts. He tears down all your prejudices, one at a time. One month of learning from him and the change I feel is palpable. His views in his own words:  http://chroniclesofdementia.blogspot.in/ If there is one thing that I loved consistently over the past month at IIMK, it is Prof. Mathew's lectures. I am beginning to love myself for choosing Kozhikode...