...I still still have a dream!

Marketing Principles @ Home

2012-01-17T06:36:00.001-08:00

This post is going to throw a lot of insight into our households; the most neglected parts of all our marketers/sales guys who are outside in field or in offices making strategies to wow our consumers. We can rather learn a lot and apply most of consumer behavior/marketing principles at home only! This post is going to be a revelation of sorts..

Consumer is the King - Be it your wife or your kid; this is a golden principle for them. Thou shall not follow it shall run great risks. Be it a trip to market or watching a particular channel; your wife and kids are like 'the consumer' and shall be treated like kings and be followed all times for better household hours :)

Customer Service is the key to success and peace - For couple who have just turned parents; they will agree to this principle with respect to their new-borns! Your kid, if not given service at 24 by 7; it will give you nightmares even during the days. Whether having food in the wee hours of the night or trying every trick to entertain the chap is what tells all newly become parents - that Supreme Customer Service for their kids is a MUST.

Customer is always right! - I am sure, all married men shall agree that this principle is the golden principle of marriage. Wife is always right. Thou shall not follow it shall suffer!

More will follow soon...watch this space.

Jagjit Singh remembered...

2012-01-12T13:35:00.000-08:00

Apne aankhon ke samunder mein utar jaane de.
Tera mujrim hoon mujhe doob ke mer jaane de.

Few line from one of the ghazals of immortal Jagjit Singh; they now pose a new meaning!!

Missing jagjit at such odd hours. One more..

Gham ka khazana tera bhi hai mera bhi
Yeh afsaana tera bhi hai mera bhi

~nits

2012 - Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T06:35:00.000-08:00

On this day, every year; which is actually 1st day of the year; there seems to be unnecessary excitement around people. And thats it!

I have received at least 35-40 SMS today wishing me a happy new year. And to say the truth i havent read any of them. The calls have been replaced by sms; the get-togethers by Facebook pics..and so on.

It all feels so artificial these days! Though, i am not a 'real' well wisher as well. Have not wished a good year today to many myself..

Anyways...another year to move forward to.

And its 2012. I still remember; i think on the same blog i have once written about my pic on business today's cover in 2015 :) How childish i was...playing the flagbearer of marketing in my IIMI days.

But reality is far from functional fights...life is missing. But 'marketing' was life earlier...again how childish at 27 i was..indeed!

Anyways..for ppl who are reading this blog...I Wish you all the happiness, life, success and whatever you desire; out of this planet! Happy new year.

~nits

Work _____________Balance

2011-12-19T12:38:00.000-08:00

Stumbled on my own blog after so many years...saw some comments which readers have put in...some talking about dreams, some about IIMI, some about lost friends..

Feeling like writing something...but wheres the time?

Job, Work, Boss, Operations, Phone calls, mails....an MBA changes everything i think now.

Now my gmail/facebook don't get many senders/posters...asking me how am I, what i am upto..and so on. Truth is, even others are caught in this daily run - Getting work done, clearing mails, taking phone calls..

Now my phone rings all the time! And 99.5% all work! Between life - Official and Personal...personal has faded away!!

My family awaits a clean weekend (which has a Saturday...) but not happening. My kid has understood that i am a person who is available post 9 pm on weekdays and more than hourly affair on Sundays.That's exactly like a TV Soap!! Runs on Weekdays at prime time and bigger telecast on Weekend! As i am typing this; i am discovering the same...i have become a soap on an idiot box??

Whats more - There is a bigger idiot box (lid open box) on which i am typing right now and that has become a place i am always available. So much for human touch in this universe.

And not to forget the small screen on my mobile...so it has become 'Smart' and have made fools of us. Its like a tracking device for Bosses to find out - What you are upto...Hmm that's why my company pays the bill!

So much for life, for creativity...?

And, now i feel paradoxical about the name with which this blog is named - 'Creativenits'.

Enough realization to close this post.

~ nits

Some Memories of the past...

2010-02-14T00:44:00.000-08:00

Some sad thoughts in my mind are on and yes they belong to Planet I. Some brilliant people we have worked with/learnt from at planet-I during 2006-08. Some of them were -

Nikhil Malhotra - Amazing Guy with all ideosyncracies inbuilt. a new perspective about things and an awesome actor. I remember, when we joined the Theatre Club at planet-I, this guy taught us how to create sound of rain in the common room. Just use finger tips of two hands and clap with them and you have rain gushing all over. And i sai...wow! We even did our first theatre mime act with him! We shared jokes & stuff during our crossover with this different senior at I & remember him even today!

Deepali Bhatia - One of the seniors with ample & diverese experience of journalism, She rocked the Utsaha! Stage we know. She was again an animated character & we saw lot of energy during Utsaha! And we remember her today as well.

Neha Singh - One of our Batchmates, she was the most effervessent girl in our batch & she can talk about anything and everything. We remember little acts of cute girl even today.

Nitesh Agarwal - This was one of the un-talking kind of guy i met and was two rooms past mine on my floor - the N Floor. And most of the times...he was very chill & sombre kinda guy. And we remember him as well.

Today the reality is that we can only remember these guys! They have shared some experience of life with us and then went away! May they come back & share the same energy/enthusiasm with a newer set of friends!

Planet-I or some ppl of planet-I still remember them!

-nits

Movie List - (Depression killers)

2009-02-07T11:24:00.000-08:00

Was recommending few movies to my friend..then i thought it would be cool to put the movies i like most in my life...especially movies which inspire you and create a burning desire to achieve your dreams/goals. (Though it is just a thought..some people believe in it..some dont)Anyways hers the list -

Extremely Powerful Movies

The Shawshank Redemption (Life turner for me!!)

The pursuit of Happyness

Cinderella Man

Schindler's List

Brave Heart

Gladiator

Patriot

Its a wonderful Life

Powerful ones..

Men of honour

The Insider

The last Samurai

Seabiscuit

The Fountainhead

Jerry Maguire

Hindi ones

Black

Mein Aazaad Hoon

Swades

Will add more...and also put in ur comments, movies which inspired you!

Marketing is missing..

2009-01-12T09:18:00.000-08:00

Dream lives on & still a dream!

Even after years of persistence to enter the world of ideas, business plans, marketing warfare...the marketing world remains elusive(lost). Why?

Blame the subprime crisis, it rocked US & EU, and had an indirect effect on the economies of the world including india. Indian financial sector has been marred in a way it will take 1-2 years at least to get back to normal. Stock Markets....you already know!!

However, people tend to say that consumer-driven sectors like retail & FMCG should be shielded from such meltdown. This isnt true. Retailers have been hit really hard this year 08-09. Consumer Spending declined given the fears of rising inflation, melting equity market & increasing interest rates! Also, the apparel exports declined like anything as lakhs of workers went without jobs and mills closed given the lost business demand from US & EU.

What else, 26/11 happened and drove away consumers from shopping malls, giving them a run for thier invested money (rentals, inventories, promotions...). Diwali season was a 'Diwala (bancruptcy) situation. SALE SALE SALE...everything was on sale...but what got sold were those banks in Us & EU...including the prestigious 'Lehman Brothers'!!

And now the latest from India itself...to add to all the worries...'Rajugate' - 'Satyam' got its balance sheets fudged & kept running in the inflated fashion for 7 years...The only problems i have with Mr Raju...is that why this time only - to clear the burden on your conscience! - To put us in burden....??? So, 53000 people might soon be in the run for a better job...er rather for a job! Raju will not be associated with 'Chacha' anymore!

Given these times...MTs are yet to get into some meaningful profiles - personally i have been through cost-cutting task forces, Rental negotiations, Warehouses, Logistics, Competition Scan, Product Cycle Project and blah blah blah....

Marketing is still elusive,....and the dream continues!! Long live Kotler!

~ Nits

Marketing world starts...!

2008-06-24T09:14:00.000-07:00

Started a new phase in my life...finally out of the software world...!

New job....with new status of married and employed!

The new phase starts in retail/marketing profile in a retail apparel manufacturer!

Can you imagine from software codes to apparrel (i m staggering to spell it only..:) )? However, i think this will be interesting. I have already spent past few days in visiting various malls (as i have been doing since my MBA started..) and my roommate is already cribbing about how i keep dragging him along.

Branded Apparel from some estimate i read last time is around 9000 crore market in india, and each brand is doing a miniscule amount of it given the spate of brands in the market. And given the population advantage, young poulation, increasing incomes...(u must have read it hundred times i guess..), this market is a big opportunity. And truely so, each brand is trying to put up some presence in malls, high streets, tier II, III cities..wherever they can find a manageable rental (thats kinda rare these days...).

However, as marketing bhakt, i always wondedred how cool is FMCG to start a marketing career..but i realize now that apparel market is very tough....given the no of brands ( i heard that it was 28000 on last count in India), and the kind of least u can do in product differentiation....ppl have already tried segmentation - pricewise, genderwise, occassionwise, designbased...agewise...whats left? The kind of retail formats thru which apparel is sold are again umpteen...LFR, MBO, EBO, SIS, MOMPOP, ....And promotions? - buy 2 get 6 free, flat 50 + 20 + 5 + 3.45 + 2.657 % less (what does that mean???), a gillete on 2 trousers, .....again u start doubting am i buying the right stuff...

SO, the big question i am asking these days is that what i will do as a marketing person in apparels?? Whats left?

Lets see....how things move!

Proxy!

2008-05-27T03:22:00.000-07:00

This post is a proxy!

The same proxy which respected participants used to practise in the pious corridorrs of an institute...

My life has changed with lots...

1. MBA Over! (Alas!)

2. Life Over....err bachelor life (u can understand...it sounds the same!)

3. New life calls...(joining in june)!

4. No Newsgroups to refresh :(

5. No more vella chai-friends to bakar with..

6. No indori poha :(

7. No MERCURI activities...

8. No Tension (???) - thats another problem

9 No workload :(

10 No late nite maggi-chai-omlette

....

...............

You can understand!

Bored!

~nits

PS - written in the spirit of blogging....however i am happily married :)

Learning from Class...

2008-02-17T09:16:00.000-08:00

Had just finished one course called Rural Marketing in Term 6 of MBA programme. The professor was a 66 year old veteran in rural marketing..Mr. Rajan. He tought a lot of new things and most importantly key insights about rural people, rural markets in India from his vast experience of 3 decades!

He concluded the course with few things on personal front, which i believe really do matter:
1. Success of a person is not measured by the money he earns or by the status...but whether he/she played all his/her roles perfectly be it son, parent, husband, brother, employee, etc
2. Dreams = life, else you are dead! Whats the point in living a life of compromise....dreams should lead your actions!
3. Nothing is impossible. Create a balance sheet of all your assets & liabilities (which you think) and revisit them periodically in life....see that most of the liabilities have been moved to assets side.
I guess real nice learnings from life. Thankyou Sir!

~nits

Vibrant Advertising on our Campus! - Marksman

2008-02-05T13:39:00.000-08:00

This post is for all Marksman fans!

Posted on my other blog - Who is Kotler?

~nits

Walk the talk...

2007-12-09T09:27:00.001-08:00

Nice message to start afresh and practice..the things you always talked..

Walk the talk

When hopes died...

2007-08-06T00:31:00.000-07:00

Why i am sad today? May be because I know. I know that one of my neighbour isn't in his room. And i know that he will never return! I also know that another friend of mine, who was "'the' effervescent soul" of our campus also will not be there with us, forever!

At times, knowledge is painful. I would rather not like to know few things, that they happened. I would rather stop the time and rewind it. Alas, science proves it wrong!

But science cannot understand, as to what is the difference between a person live and dead...apart from that one's heart isn't working anymore. That the cells, tissues, molecules...etc don't function anymore.

However we know. That the difference is immense. We know that a 'geminithegreat' will not be available on my gtalk. We know that the mornings at IIM-I will not wake two souls anymore. We know that two of the seats in some of the classrooms will be vacant. We know that an LAB class's performance will be a swan song...that a certain calm and shy chap will not be there on the N-floor..

How painful can knowledge be...

May the souls of Nitesh Agrawal and Neha Singh, PGP-II IIM Indore rest in peace. May god give immense power to their parents and relatives.

Click Here for the unlucky day at choral river.

~nits

Give your life....a meaning!

2007-06-04T23:27:00.001-07:00

The most important about a goal is....
Having One!

Some really awesome quotes with stimulating music
Click here!

I am sure it will rock you!

Planet I Rocks!!

2007-05-24T03:21:00.001-07:00

Beautiful Academic Bloc
Originally uploaded by ImInMate.

really...........come n feel....!

Meeting on Audi stairs

2007-05-24T03:19:00.001-07:00

Meeting on Audi stairs
Originally uploaded by ImInMate.

Feel your audience....

Sunset near Insti Entrance

2007-05-24T03:18:00.001-07:00

Sunset near Insti Entrance
Originally uploaded by mr_quipster.

More.....

Shining Bright!!!

2007-05-24T03:17:00.001-07:00

Shining Bright!!!
Originally uploaded by ImInMate.

The Hillock in the night!

a-different-view @ I

2007-05-24T03:12:00.001-07:00

a-different-view
Originally uploaded by D Raw El Payne.

IIM-I rocks!

courtesy - Jo!

MBA v/s Engineer

2007-05-23T02:16:00.000-07:00

Recently had a discussion with a friend on who is better an engineer or an MBA? And the jokes cracked were like:

1. An engineer & an MBA were camping; and spent night in a tent on a hill! Then in the night suddenly both woke up and then MBA being more creative person there(assumed by my engineer(only) friend) started saying see the beauty of stars and the moon....Engineer chipped in and said - ' Beauty lies in the finesse of the thief who has stolen our tent!'

2. For an unfixed huge tower, MBAs measure the height by putting all the staircases they had....while an engineer puts it down and measures the length; and all MBAs laugh saying we asked for height while he gave us Length!

Well the anecdotes/jokes quoted were funny, here is another take from Arbit Chaoudhary! ( I still wonder why Choudhary? is it a spoof on Arindam Chaoudhary (IIPM - the biggest B-school on the planet!!- yeah, they published it in this manner in newspapers!).

In case you have some good reasons on the differences, plz comment with your interesting ones.

~nits

Finding 'THE ONE' of your life!

2007-05-01T02:54:00.000-07:00

These days, i am being confronted by marriage questions from my family. I am trying to provide them an important reason - My MBA completion, but they consider it only a lame excuse :(

So i tried to find out as to what bloggers say about the question of marriage? Finding that elusive one which is 'The One'. Few years back i read, Richard Back's 'The One' one the same subject, and found it interesting. It talked about multiple time-space combinations competing against each other to execute your lives in different ways. But who is to decide, which one? That is, author says in the hands of the person - he/she has the right and power to choose his/her life whatever way he/she wants! But it requires will-power to actually choose that path. Got it? Huh!

So, what i found on blogs, is an interesting way of understanding 'Finding the One process'! Read on:
********************************
It might help if we understand which elements of marriage are common to many potential husbands, and which are unique to ”the one”.

First, marriage offers economies of scale in production, particularly production of children. Husband and wife can each specialise in different skills, according to their comparative advantage. I fail to see why you cannot realise these economies of scale with almost anyone. Second, there are economies of scale in consumption. One garden will do, so will one kitchen.

For more click here.

********************************

Its really scary & crappy process !!

~nits

Jagjit Singh Live in Concert - In Indore!

2007-02-10T12:25:00.000-08:00

Finally it happened!
I finally got the chance to listen Jagjit Singh - The indian King of Ghazals, live!

Missed it twice in my life by small whiskers once in indore (undergrad days) and once in BBSR(infy days), finally it happened in indore (post-grad days) :)

The unquestionable maestro of Ghazal gayaki, started the proceedings with Hoshwalon ko khabar kya...However, the sound system wasnt that good, being cursed by junta and Jagjit both many times. Finally in his own unimitable style, jagjit sahab dedicated one of his ghazals to the sound-engineer -

Tumne badle humse gin gin ke liye..
Humne kya chaha tha is din ke liye..

And public appreciated the sense of humour...and sound-engineer as well! The sound quality after became nice. Then, it started, he sang: Kagaz ki kasthi, Aahista aahista, tumko dekha to yeh khayal aaya, tera chehra kitna suhana, tere aane ki jab khabar mahke, kabhi yun bhi to ho...

The troupe also reached the climax with a jugalbandi between tabla and violin. Jaggi ended the proceedings with Hoton se chhoo lo tum...and a punjabi number.

And now i am back to jaggi after 4-5 months!

Also, belated birthday to the ghazal maestro, 8th Feb was his birthday!

~nits

2007 - Resolutions

2007-01-01T10:21:00.000-08:00

Whether it was projections/vision/targets/benchmarks/...
My mind has really been corrupted by the MBA virus!!

Well after few hours of word-crunching i realized, that new year always had RESOLUTIONS.

So, what this time, as always it never takes too much of a time to write them :)

1. I will read my newspaper everyday :)
2. I will go running down and up-hill everyday ;)
3. I will play TT everyday
4. I will try to learn a new good-thing this year - dont know yet what it will be...may be some musical instrument??
5. I will not waste time in pure timeless banters :)))

& last but not the least ' I will pre-read' ;()

Lets see how it turns out!

Good thing is that.......they came! THANKS!!

2006-12-02T20:25:00.000-08:00

Post Type - Personal

This is going to be a senti post :) Have recently visited Mashal, and there was this kid of 12-13 yrs singing ghazals of Ghulam Ali and Jagjit Singh. On a chilly night, with not much in my head going, the ghulam Ali's 'Hum ko kisi ke gham ne maara..' & 'Chupke chupke' highjacked vaccuum of my brain...

Flashback 8 yrs, 1998...i was a simple run-off-the-mill guy with nothing in my repertoire of hobbies/talents. And then it happened. I entered my graduation college of 'SGSITS, Indore'. And things never will be same again...

Ghazal listening happened. Actually, when you get into a state where you need to appreciate the beauty of life and god's creation, then you got to listen to ghazals and thier marvellously written lyrics...and the unique thing is you will find them relevent at different points in your life with different interpretations each time! Soon Jagjit Singh became my life line with ghazals like - 'Pyaar ka pehla khat', 'Jawaani ke heele haya ke bahane' and 'Apne haathon ki lakeeron mein basale mujhko' ruling the roost of my brain and heart...err not heart..it was already!

Repercussions till 2006 >> was called 'Jagjit singh in my infy days', etc.. THANKS!

Then what? Well got into singing....when your heart doesnt stop singing 'positive' songs and you think that these songs/ghazals have been written for me...then...its for sure...your system is 'virus infected'. Thats what happened with me...

Repercussions till 2006 >> now i am one of the so called singers here @ planet I...(though my first performance of 'Ab toh aadat si hai...was huge hit :) and generally seen singing 'national Anthems'). THANKS AGAIN!!

Ok thats fine, didnt get the connection yet....! OK, then this is something pathbreaking...got into poetry! Wrote nearly 100 short poems which circulated every morning to my friends and special ones @ infy. Some ppl liked them...some didnt...some liked only the poems :(

Repercussions till 2006 >> became popular with the 'poet' tag @ infy and people tend to send me thier responses of how thier day went after that poem...it was really good to make a difference to all of them in small manner. Also won one award on poetry.com..THANKS AGAIN nd AGAIN!!!

Convinced...no? Started sketching....and major activity was in my grad days..though sketched some really 'special' ones recently. THANKS again....!!!!

...
....
.....
and the list continues as to how my life changed! Well a nice quote comes to my mind to conclude this post -

'God send some ppl in your lives, to make you learn a few things; to bring the best out of you.....and when thats done....thier purpose is met and they go away!'

Good thing is that...........they came!

THANKS!
~nits
( in full sobriety)

Academic flexibility is one reason why the IIMs are awesome institutions...

2006-11-18T10:42:00.000-08:00

Came across an interview of Harsha Bhogle, an IIM-A alumnus. Here is a particular question i liked...

Which was your most memorable day or event at IIM A, when you were a student there?

One event is tough to pinpoint. In retrospect it would be the day I knew I had met the person I would spend the rest of my life with. The first term was devastating and the last day was a bit emotional. While I didn't yet realise how important
the two years were going to be, there was sadness at the fact that it was over and that is why I tend to go back as often as I can. There was one other event that was crucial for me and that is when the PGP chairman, now director, Prof Bakul Dholakia, allowed me to miss my second term exams to do my first test match as a television commentator. I did my papers after I came back and that kind of academic flexibility is one reason why the IIMs are awesome institutions.

read for full interview

IRIS 2006 - A glimpse

2006-11-13T12:08:00.000-08:00

It was indeed 'Larger than Life'.

Arbit Choudhury - World's First MBA comic-strip

2006-11-12T14:00:00.000-08:00

4Ps of MBA education - Ppts, Parties, Placements & Pay-packages. So true :)
credits - www.arbitmba.com

They came, They tested and We Conquered!!

2006-11-05T12:37:00.000-08:00

Hi All readers,

It has been real hectic time for PGP-1 folks at IIM Indore! It was the time when we wore suits throughout the days and the nights for 4 days...!! Yes, it was summer placements at IIM Indore.

And what a rocking time it was - with our unforgettable experiences as well as the history that has been created with sheer number of offers and the companies visiting!

95 companies showed intent, though 180 students got placed with the first 58!
Total 199 offers from 58 companies with 133 offers on the first day itself!!

Guess, Placement committee of IIM Indore does deserve a real standing ovation, which they did recieve from our batch.

So, was it really simple....no not at all...it was one of the biggest operational event in IIM-I stable....to be followed by another big one - IRIS(9Nov-12Nov). Whole PGP-2 real hard, we might be the running blood of placements week but they were the backbone making everything work 'just like that'!
A whole lot of thanks to them as well!

You might think that why this guy is writing stuff which resembles an oscar or filmfare speech...but no matter what it appears...these 'thanks' are just cant be forgetten! So, non-IIMI readers please bear with me.

So where did i got placed??
Well, to the relief of some people, it is matter of great pride for me to say that despite having an IT workex of 3.5 years(some of you, will understand why i am using the word pride :)), I am finally getting into core marketing internship at a company called 'Astro Malaysia'.

So, it might be a mumbai or delhi! I will inform you all...once i know..so that you can invite your marketing-mad friend at your homes :)

I have a lot to write about the tought times that one goes through when people get placed on day 0 when there are no shortlists for some on that day...people share gyan when on the next day they arent one who wear the suits...then there are the crazy times when you just give up in frustration and start playing cards or do whatever you can...so its a mixed bag of trials and tribulations as well as fun and glory...!!

but since the time doesnt permit....and the grades that i am getting here in my subjects..i will close this post here.

But wait is now coming to end - IRIS is around the corner of this week!
We will.....we will....rock you!
See you there!

~nits

Few lines on Diwali

2006-10-22T13:15:00.000-07:00

*********************************
Today will start with
a ray of light entering
your life in a different way!
Its the festival of light called
DIWALI that will bring with it some
365 goodies one for each day!

Each dream that you have woven
with so much detail and finesse
will come true this year day by day...
each obstacle that you encounter
will vanish from ur path of success
gradually, month by month, day by day!

Life will be prosperous, love will
be abound, Hope will make
your confidence increase day by day
prayers will be there, and friends
will be there to help you all the time
of your need..............day by day!

Wishing you all a very
Happy Deepawali with loads
of wishes for each day!

*************************
under copyright @ creativenits 2006

MAKTUB!

2006-10-16T17:21:00.000-07:00

Where is the party tonight?...forget it!!

2006-10-15T05:26:00.000-07:00

Thats the story these days at planet I. No time left for anything other than the numerous cases, ppts, assignments, reports and not to forget the 'proposals'. TIME has really become the highly demanded commodity at the planet. Then there is IRIS seeking our support, looking into our eyes and we.....just are surviving on hand-to-mouth situation.

The 'GLOBE' has really swept away all sections and subjects in this term, not to mention the omnipresent globbing on 'What a kickass i am and how i am just after 'god''.

Hope everything pays off in this term, else might think of the opportunity cost and opportunity lost in my prior world...yet again!

Shawshank-Speak - 'Hope is a good thing. And no good thing ever dies!'

Hope it wouldnt die!

~nits

IRIS fever arrives on the Hillock!!

2006-10-04T12:44:00.000-07:00

Last time, after making a bang in B-school circles; IRIS declared in arnie's style - " I'll be Back!"

Surely he is. The Hillock is now up and roaring with IRIS 2006 preperations.

As they say in marketing lingo, IRIS has captured major mindshare of all of us and the participants from leading B-schools in the country and abroad. The trend of registration counter for various events is northwards and it continues to climb!

To take a glimpse of all the action, get your hands dirty here - http://iimi-iris.com and its blog - http://iris-2006.blogspot.com

It indeed is........>Life!

16.66666667% MBA - Term 1 over!

2006-09-25T12:31:00.000-07:00

For all the readers who do check my blog, sorry for no updates!
For those who don't, thats fine...you are not reading it anyway!

I have few good and few bad news for all of you!!

The talk of the hilly-terrain, is that the Term-I is over for batch of 2008. The end terms were fast and furious...and the last friday's kept us guessing(what the hell....). Good news is that its all over. We all went to home with 16.666666666667% of our MBA and the seven days were scarce...thought that vacation is an economic good, as its scarce, and its wanted too!!

Well 7 days were spent idling, watching some K-serials, chit-chat with friends, family, well-wishers, guides (missing some?..no no...philosophers :), and offcourse orkutting. Watched 'Lage Raho Munnabhai' and found it really refreshing! A must watch. Well talking about bollywood...so much is happening...old movies with new actors...same dialogues..and music! What a brilliant idea to kill script writers, lyricists, music directors.....in one shot! But how strange.., a scene done guess 20 years ago with Big-B(DON) cannot be done today with KKk....Khan! Khan...yes from khan i remembered that the Amazing Aamir Khan's 'Rang De........' has been sent for Oscars from India! If it gets nominated..then it would be 2nd one for Aamir! Aamir is special for so many...

Watched some news channels and found Mika-Rakhi talking their future plans about another freaKISS performance and other one talking about Team India losing to Ausies coz DADA wasnt there....and yes LALOOji taught in IIM-A. Thats a cows-2-cowboy story. One shot, one railway and A came calling!!

Sorry for all the 'Globbing' i am doing here..actually its hangover from the end-terms! So, yes i was talking about yes...Orkutting! A new activity developed at orkut when my mom saw this beautiful invention from Google! She said why its not called a matrimonial site? She was amazed by the scrapbook, communities, friends funda..said it actually reflects the bent of mind...but a usual said, fathers name/profession is missing and pics should be mandatory (though she was disappointed with few committed statuses :))

So coming back to campus.....yes we all are back! And today we got new books and they weighed 17.5 Kgs!!

So the stage is set for another term! And this will be special...it has IRIS! Dont know about IRIS?? IT'S LARGER THAN LIFE....................visit www.iimi-iris.com at least once and you will understand, as it represents the 'pulsating, throttling,running blood' of IIM INDORE!!

That's it for now. But....its High Time to come Back....and shine! If Laloo can, why i can't!!

Branded for life??

2006-09-06T01:49:00.000-07:00

Some Intra-communication -

The message is clear now: Come out of shit yourself or be labled ' Mediocre for Life'!

Time for Renaissance!!

~nits (thinking Loud)

Self Made Man - Inspiration

2006-08-31T12:52:00.000-07:00

"The powerful image of the rugged “Self Made Man,” chiseling himself out of a solid block of rock captures the essence of the freedom philosophy – that left to his own devices, man will use his God-given talents to be creative, productive, and prosperous. Using free will, he will better his own situation and that of those around him, thereby influencing in a positive way his own destiny. "

This is one of the images that have impacted my life a lot and continue to do so.

~nits

credits - www.bobbiecarlylesculpture.com

Dream?

2006-08-24T08:12:00.000-07:00

“Dreams are illustrations... from the book your soul is writing about you.”

"Don't be pushed by your problems. Be led by your dreams.”

“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”

“Hold fast to your dreams, for without them life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly.”

“If you're still hanging onto a dead dream of yesterday, laying flowers on its grave by the hour, you cannot be planting the seeds for a new dream to grow today”

Something is better than nothing!!

~nits

Introspection = Confusion (phew)!

2006-08-23T14:59:00.000-07:00

These days i am suffering from a syndrome called lack of 'drive for anything'. Every now and then, time draws a blank against you and you sit dumbfounded :). No..no its not the more-often-than-not-suggested 'Love Syndrome' as per bollywood thinkers. Its something grave. After some serious research, and the battle between the many school of thoughts inside...it was found that it is futile to do further research..as the matter is simply an unending labyrinth. Excerpts from the research about the probable culprits -

1. A constant thread of 'Why I am here?' running against all the processes in your system!

2. Opportunity Cost of being here? Is this what all i dreamt of??

3. Is it about DREAM? Do you have one? Till this point it was about to do an MBA...from an IIM (thats what you were left with)..Ok. Now what??

4. 'Who am I?' - What is the ultimate role for which i have descended on this planet and whether i want to achieve anything?(As per the syllablus of one of the courses) If yes, then what?

5. No, its not about the job! Then what? Its becomes so simple if you tag something as the 'dream job' and here you go - you got the sole idea for being here at this hill station :). But why not job??

6. If not job...Then what? Are you here for 'enlightenment'?? huh.....dude then you are the ONE!!

Conclusion??? Dude, you need to define some constraints, decision variables, objective function...if you really wanna optimise for the reason of your existence here?? (dont sleep in class..i told you!)

Neverthless one conclusion i have is that...'Everytime i do introspection i come out confused(see below)!'

~nits

P.S. - The first picture of this post is just a 'hook' as told in class ;)

SWAC elections, Placement Committee & Me!

2006-08-08T07:00:00.000-07:00

These days there is a new frenzy @ planet I. Its not about World Cup, not bcoz of any term exams or quiz or assignments...then?? Its about SWAC Elections!

SWAC is the Student Welfare Activities Council @ IIM I. There are various committees in SWAC umbrella which delve in various functions/feilds. The most critical of these committees is 'Placement Committee' for the obvious reasons. So, what the title of this post has to do with me. Well i have nominated myself for the same committee.

Coming straight to the point!

What I bring to the table as a
Placement committee member –

1. Work experience of 43 months in Infosys

2. Exposure of international work culture of 15 months

3. 100% Commitment & Sincerity

No tall claims! You & I understand its serious business!

Make an informed opinion & then vote!

Addendum1 - Results have been declared and i made it to the selected 7. Hope, the best 4 of us get thru....for sake of our future!! Thanks for all the people who voted for me!!

Addendum2 - The best four have been chosen and i realized on the way that i am not supposed to be in them. Self-realisation on the way......! Good! Lots of food for thought!!

~nits

Mid terms Over!!

2006-08-05T07:15:00.000-07:00

Its party time again for the pgp-1 guys here at planet I bcoz the first mid-terms are over!! Have jotted down few thoughts on the proceedings of the 3 happening days -

Once upon a time, on a cosy little hill
when participants were doing bit of chill
there came the clouds of mid-term,
to add in their lives sorrows & bit of thrill!
first came JApaani, and it did create a kahani
good or bad, we dont know yet...no time to think;
then came phatta's revenge and we surrendered,
against the a,b,c,d and e(s) of the paper
in which i saw phatta's cruel BHINK*!
Finally PK tunn saved the day,
when in OB each one of us was in disarray;
Acctg made me believe something is bound to happen,
given my unbalanced performance in quiz,
but we all smiled, MAC guy never used any weapon!
With all joy & happiness, i printed my report,
on Master Terrorist Operation and submitted in time,
its bliss spilling all over..as mid-terms ended today,
i dont care...........even if this poem doesnt rhyme!

*read wink in the most sophisticated accent!

~nits

Maana Bikhra hoon mein....

2006-07-31T21:31:00.000-07:00

Current mood:

Maana bikhra hoon mein abhi
Mein nay khawab piroay thay
Teri saanson mein gum hoon abhi
Meri chaahat adhoori hai

Mushkilain jab bhi aa ja-ain gi
Dard hudd say guzar ja-ay ga
Koi ghum na phir ho ga mujhe
Gar khawabon mein tum aao gay

Ab tho aadat si hai mujh ko aisay jeenay mein
hey hey heyayayayay ooooo oooooo........

Duur jithna bhi tum mujh se Paas teray mein
Ab to aadat si hai mujh ko
aaaaa hoooooooo aaaaaaa
ho ho aaaaaaaaaaaa

~nits

IIM Indore + Blogs

2006-07-27T12:15:00.000-07:00

Fellow bloggers and comrades of the mid-night phenomenon!!

This is a call to all the IIM Indore folks who indulge in bloggeria; who sleep the day over to attend this pious night-ritual of hopping through the blogs spread all over the "matrix"; who believe in the open source modus operandi and hence share the instances/examples from their boring lives; and who feel proud to be a part of this new bloggosphere.

Its high time we got to unite against the evil forces of the bloggesphere; and put a strong foot forward as IIM-I Bloggers united. This is a call to both PGP-1 and PGP-2 @ IIM Indore.

Hence, please put your 'URLs with names & class of I' as a comment to this post. I will compile the list, so that there is a common reference on one page for all IIMI bloggers.

Cheers!
~nits

Somebody has to respond....!

2006-07-25T13:59:00.000-07:00

I have recently won second prize in Rural Marketing contest @ IIM-I...
and we did a rocking job.....! But i still am sad??? Why??

Somebody has to respond...!
Somebody has to at least re-route my life...!
Somebody just cannot snap ties just like that...!

Why did somebody...........??

Doing rewind of few things....few poems...which have
become the alcohol of life.....

Introspection

One day, I sat there analyzing hard
The things that happened And those that never;
And then came to the conclusion
“Never give up” motto doesn’t work here, ever.

Then I remembered events That never happened
Then the dialogues That never were spoken,
Nor heard and the Places we never went
And everything else that was never there but
Only Left some inerasable
Marks Deep inside.

Dream and follow them passionately,
I said always never knowing,
How enervating that following might be;
Stop, Stop said the leftovers of
My unproven and baseless faith in somebody,
Only to leave the idea for
A while and pursue it again
After a break.

So I kept following the everlasting
Un-ending search for a destination
Which was never there in my destiny.
And finally one day,
I fell down and all the things,
The dream and the unending journey
Came to a standstill, only the
Sound was left reverberating
In the surroundings:

I Give Up.
I Give Up.
I Give Up.

And I did give up.

~nits
P.S. - I know its bad....but thats what it is.......I am bad, I was bad...I will remain!!

LOVE???

2006-07-23T07:27:00.000-07:00

This is a nice piece being picked up from shveta's blog. Goes like this...

"LOVE"
If You Love Someone . . .
If you love some one because you think that he or she is really gorgeous ...
then it's not love..
it's - Infatuation . . .

If you love some one because you think that you shouldn't leave him because others think that you shouldn't ...
then it's not love..
it's - compromise . . .

If you love some one because you think that you cannot live with out his touch ....
then it's not love ..
it's - lust . . .

If you love some one because you have been kissed by him ...
then it's not love..
it's - inferiority complex . . .

If you love some one because you cannot leave him thinking that it would hurt his feelings ..
then it's not love ..
it's - charity . . .

If you love some one because you share every thing with him ...
then it's not love..
it's - friendship . . .

but if you feel the pain of the other person more than him even when he is stable and you cry for him ..
that's - LOVE . . .

if you get attracted to other people but stay with him without any regrets..
that's - LOVE . . .

If you let him go knowing that he has to go but he doesn't want to..
that's - LOVE . . .

**************
How much true?? You to decide..and if u wanna share some of the continuing thoughts, please leave them as comments on this post!

~nits

Woods are lovely.....

2006-07-18T14:23:00.000-07:00

I guess, this poem was written for the people in B schools...

Pending items @ 2:50 am -

ASPS Assignment (not even installed)
MTO report and Ppt
MM pre reading
MWC pre reading
.....
.........

needless to say, it does applies to us -

"Woods are lovely, dark, and deep;
but i have miles to go,
before i sleep"

~nits

Ab toh Aadat si hai...II

2006-07-18T10:58:00.000-07:00

Hey...i am a singer now :)

The talent night for PGP1 is over at IIMI...and our section C didnt even stand in comparison to the two others. The two sections displayed some really good team and individual performances. Section A rocked with 'Hooda' phenomenon and section B stinged with 'Johar' effect.

That doesnt mean that it was all blue for us. Here are some of the silver linings for C -

We started the Talent night.....and guess what..it was me starting with 'Aadat' song! No points for guessing as to how it went...we sailed thru mid song when the guitar went bonkers and then the synthesizer...though drummer saved some grace as I finished with drum beats. Good part was that, even then public shouted 'once more'.....what else you can ask for on first public appearance man!!

Then, followed the fashion show and the latino dance along with an english song..and thats it! Our skit got shot down because of censor board puritans..though what we found on stage being done by A and B; was simply superb display of morals and values :)

Then the show went till 2; thereafter which 'THE BLACK' party happened. Rocked the dance floor till 5:45...till which my neck was abusing me literally. The head banged the next day as well.......! That kinda sums up the 'Ab toh aadat si hai....phenomenon; though few people would understand that 'Ab toh aadat si hai mujhko aise jeene mein...' might remain with me for at least a while...a long while!

~nits

Ab toh aadat si hai....

2006-07-14T13:08:00.000-07:00

The song which is all over in my senses these days....partly out of an event imminent in future and partly out of an event in recent past! Goes like this..........

aaaa aaaa

na janay kab say
umeedain kuch baaki hain
mujhe phir bhi teri yaad
kyun aathi hai
na janay kab say

duur jithna bhi tum mujh se
paas teray mein
ab tho aadat si hai mujh ko aisay jeenay mein
zindagi say koi shikwa bhi nahin hai
ab tho zinda hoon mein iss neelay aasman mein

chahat aisi hai yeh teri
barr thi ja-ay
aahat aisi hai yeh teri
mujh ko satha-ay
yaadain gehri hain ithnee
dil doob ja-ay
aur aanjhon mein yeh ghum
num bun ja-ain

hey hey heyayayay ooooooo ooooo

ab tho aadat si hai mujh ko aisay jeenay mein

hey hey heyayayay oooooo oooooo
aaaaaaaa aaaaa oooooo ooo

sabhi raatein hain
sabhi baatein hain
bhula do unhay
mita do unhay

aaaa aaaa aaaa aaaaa ooooooooo

ab tho aadat si hai mujh ko

.........I will be singing on stage for the first time in my life! Though the voice will be from heart.....as usual.

Ciao till the appearance!

~Nits

I M @ IIM Indore

2006-07-08T14:33:00.000-07:00

Here comes the awaited post!

Yes, I am at Indian Institute of Management, Indore.

On a hilltop, near to the sky
I fell in love with IIM-I
Above the hustle bustle of indore
rocks my life daily, in want of more
structures stand as glittering, new and tall
assignments, cases, ppts - they will bring u all
maggi and chai @ 3 am in the very own mess
there go all the worries and signs of stress
I tell you, you will be on the highest high
when you rock day & night at IIM-I

You might have guessed by this time..that your very own poet is back in life!

11 days.......exactly 11 days is what i have spent on IIM I campus, and i guess i have experienced a lifetime! Thats the life at I. In these days, i have presented two presentations, two are already ready to be presented, have discussed 6 cases, submitted 5 asignments including a B-Plan and 2 quizzes. I am clocking 4 hrs of sleep consistently.......do i paint a 'Pressure cooker situation?? No, i dont intend to....here is more about life...

Had a rocking 'All in Red' Party which rocked till 5:30 am! Never thought that i will oneday be doing "Theatres" and thats exactly what i am doing now with infinite energy! Cricket, Soccer, Badminton, TT, Baskey...you name it and you will be playing it the next moment! So is the life at IIM Indore.............literally i have fallen in love with life...!!

~Nits

Jaggi back again in life........

2006-07-01T15:55:00.000-07:00

Yes I am in IIM Indore.....and yes it rocks! The dream has been achieved...I am in the revered B School family in the country.

The other dream shattered a day before i landed in indore....i never knew weekends can be so cruel...dont know why people are so confused that they even dont care about their own life! Though this poor guy was thinking that 'back to Indore' might be a special surprise for me...Alas I was wrong...again!

Khair I am back to my jagjit ghazals......jaggi you rock again in my life!!

Sab hawaaein le gaya, mere samunder ki koi;
Aur mujhko ek kashti baadbani de gaya!!

~Nits

The GREAT INDIAN TOUR contd

2006-06-19T11:52:00.000-07:00

So here ends my GREAT INDIAN TOUR before I start my lease of new life from next week in IIM Indore. And what a tour it was!!

It was a result of a resolve at client site in US where I hated my beeper support of 24 hrs, that I will chill myself completely in Indian waters before I try a dip at IIMs. And boy oh boy! I lived it throughout. From the rigorous hiking at Vaishno devi to tortuous and torquous (I mean it) biking (Pulsar-ising) at Mussorie, I lived in every moment. From the dangerous rides at Wonder La, Park in Bangalore to amusing chilling waters of Robber’s Cave at Dehradun, from the ever-welcomed ‘Lassi’ of Vrindavan to ‘Bhuttas’ at a height of 2000m at Mussorrie, I simply ROCKED!

Let me start with my auto-travelogue (J), with special thanks to the main characters of the tour apart from yours truly –

Tom, Sam, Gupta and Sapre – Bangalore
My parents – Mathura-Vrindavan-Mehendipur-Balaji-Kaila devi
My bro (Girraj) & Nitin - Delhi-Vaishno devi–Dehradun-Mussorie

The places –

Dehradun/Mussorie-

I never really thought that Dehradun can be such a nice place, it gives you right mix of everything – cool weather, calm surroundings of mountaineering terrain, hustle bustle of McDonalds and lots of good bunch of good looking junta ;)

Sahastra-dhara is a traditional spot to chill in waters but what took my qualms away was ‘Robber’s Cave’. It is a must see for adventure enthusiasts. Basically it is a narrow passage between two mountains with fresh water gushing in between from a fall. As you might have guessed already, its name comes from its notorious use by robbers.

City is small but dotted with institutions like FRI(Forest Research Institute), IMA, etc. Plus is a 30 Km drive to Mussorie, which rocks if you pulsate the terrain of heights and tortuous track if biked with right bikes J. The top is always busy on weekends as lots of honeymooners and people from Delhi throng the place. There is a good rope-way but wait time is a price to be paid. A fall called Kemptee Fall is also there, but nothing in comparison with Niagara of US/Canada J.

Vaishno Devi/Jammu

With a resolve in mind to seek the blessings of the great goddess of Mountains – Vaishno Devi, we started our hiking in the evening at 7:30 and reached the Bhawan at 1:30 am. Though the journey up the mountain was okay but the gross mismanagement at the top, took my breath away (U see I am getting into management na J). The number of devotees was I guess in lakhs and the number of lockers that the trust there provides is in hundreds that too I guess not more than 400 – absolutely free!! What catastrophe might ensue out of this is no secret. People who are lucky to get the locker, take it, get the darshan and never come back until they get a sound sleep! And the line for putting in the luggage remains increasing in the wait of people coming to retrieve their belongings! I was amazed to see such a big fallacy in their model, why not keep an hourly fee, so that traffic keeps moving? Result – We waited in the line throughout the night…..I remembered the days when I did my night-outs at infosys…@##%!^&*

Well we had the darshan next day in the morning and then after coming down, slept for 12 hours straight. Well, all is well if it ends well and that’s what happened. We left happily for Jammu, where did some city-viewing…though there were lots of police check-posts which I guess were signatures of the relationship we have with our neighbour. We then headed straight to Dehradun.

I guess this post can go on and on…..with Bangalore trip still to be portrayed in the right manner it deserves..so I guess wait till the next post! Its now time for some serious packing and preparations at home as I leave for Indore next week! Bye for now.

~ Nits

THE GREAT INDIAN TOUR

2006-06-11T13:22:00.000-07:00

I am on THE GREAT INDIAN TOUR these days.
Thought that life would be full time MASTI @ IIMI hence why not make most of the days left with me. Hence thought of giving a surprise to my classmates of GS in Bangalore.

The weekend rocked! We went to Shiv-samudram falls which is somewhat 120 kms from the IT City. Did some serious hiking till we hit the falls. After chilling in waters for some time, came back to have a blast next day in wonder la, amusement park Bangalore. And really I was amazed to see the management at the park..no titter-tatters…no hustle-bustle for tickets or entry…gud to see. Well here are some pics from the Blore trip….and there are lots of videos…for which I guess you need to come to me. Also been to a religious family visit to mathura, Vrindavan, Balaji...i guess to thank for the blessings.

Right now am on my trip to Vaishno Devi day after tomorrow…so till then wait n watch this blog!!

~ nits

M.P. and Indore - A foot forward

2006-05-29T13:13:00.000-07:00

I dont know why my life keeps coming back to INDORE...?
May be for good.

For starters, i did my graduation from Shri GS Institute of Technlogy and Science, Indore in Electronics & Telecom engg in 2002. And here i am again into Indian Institute of Management, Indore!

Well, will not beat around the bush, M.P. and especially Indore is catching up with the rest of the indian states now. Here is the story . Gud to know :)

~nits

Infosys - the grooming grounds!

2006-05-20T03:41:00.000-07:00

Today, when i am writing this post, i have already divorced a dream-fairy which picked up my imagination(along with my resume) and gave me a near-perfect world of dreams( that came along with the appointment letter!). It simply seems like a dream that is over after 3 years, 7 months and 13 days. It was like an arranged marriage(?)...it was turning sour after those many years :). The dowry was huge when i got married to this cute looking coding-job, as i was sent on a honeymoon to Bangalore Campus (Huge number of buildings, food courts,etc). The early days were great as i made new friends from different places and speaking different languages. I still remember the days, when i used to sing ghazals of jagjit singh in the bus and later they would label me as 'jagjit singh' (poor jaggi :(). But as in all arranged marriages...sweet days were soon over and i was sent to Bhubaneswar(city of temples)...probably as a penance for ruining jaggi's name!

Life started again with memories of big building of Bangalore...being replaced by ancient temples of 'Lingaraja' and 'Jagannath-puri'. But, i guess the place gave me perfect entry into my utopian world - where there was arts, poetry, opportunities for social contribution and visiting challenged-children(deaf & dumb, orphans) along with coding and testing in the black mainframe world. And i was more than happy to grow and learn from all such non-technical acts - be it 'The Orators Club', 'Akanksha - social forum' and 'Horizon - The literary newsletter'..and two years went away! Though i don't want to put down the nitty-gritties of pathetic appraisals, bandings, the following cribs, bad bosses...etc....i guess those are part and parcel of each and every job. I also interviewed M.D. PAi (CFO, Infosys), Basab Pradhan(then Marketing, sales head - Infosys) and the feelings were special each time....i mean when you are shaking hands and having tea with people which are the poster boys of business dailies and magazines...its really special. I guess, hanumanji(monkey god) had something else on his mind as i got the visa for a long visit to our client in USA.

Phew! That was my reaction when i boarded the first international flight of my life(no..its not that i have never been to any foreign country..have been to Nepal..would have been to Pakistan as well but probably they(Paki officials) detested(at that time) my date of birth...it falls on 15th August!). I was sitting in a plane with 80% junta being white...i remembered Charlie Chaplin movies where he used o land in difficult situations in foreign land...well landed safely to the 'Melting Pot of World'...and soon 'Starbucks', 'Dunkin-donnuts'..became usual part of life. Have been to various places which i only earlier saw on silver screen. The times were also a bit difficult here as being at client site can be anything between bad to worse...in initial days. 'Beeper Support' is something which i will never forget from this 1.25 years stint...throughout my life. I mean its really pathetic to be on call and work through nights and days....continuously. I still remember that beeper was the culprit behind my frenzied receding hairline(probably my wife-2-be will condone it..if from the IT world). But, i guess, i learnt a lot about work-place and specially in software...be it politics, client relationships, etc which i guess will come handy through-out my life.

As, i wrote earlier, because of some unavoidable circumstances and inner-calling, had to fight to come back to the motherland....Hey this post is turning into a travelogue...missing the point...time to get back on track. After coming back, i worked as a module leader and really enjoyed the work as its more towards people management, resources-management, etc which i really would say love to do. All in all, it wouldn't be excessive to say that Infosys has really helped me a lot in transforming me into a person who is more of a professional rather than a plain rustic from a small city. I still remember on the last day so many people replied to my adieu mail(don't know if it is just a custom to reply)...but it really gives a unique feeling to know how many people still remember you may be for different reasons...be it your poems, sketches, ghazals, writings...or may be plain mediocrity ;)

Here ends my arranged marriage with Infosys....i will miss you, my darling :)

~Nits

The Road Ahead!

2006-05-08T01:52:00.000-07:00

Life has been alive once again!
With news of getting the dream, people are pouring in congratulations. Even people who haven’t talked to me since my engineering have called. Some of much more qualified people than me have mentioned me as a role model, some of them have written things which you will always dream off in your sleeps! And last but not the least; my parents are now thankfully playing a different tune, than the wedding bells 

Thanks-you Almighty! As they say – ‘Tere ghar mein der hai per andher nahin hai’ (Its late in almighty’s listening of prayers not never).

Now, coming back to the reality grounds, India from the heavens of fantasyland; I was amazed/shocked/petrified to see the birthday database of the IIMI PGP 06-08 yahoo group. The feelings – just what a dianasaur feels when he gets into 2006 . Most of the people are from 1984/85 bracket….and me 1980  (looks like an old vintage car amidst Ferraris). Well, but I am not cribbing; its better than an IT work-force to be with 

Apart from that, I was amused to read through the yahoo chat of our group, as well as queries posted by some of my classmates-to-be. Though I believe they were genuine concerns, and I detest mentioning some of the weak ones here. But, being a lesser mortal, I just cant resist this one…which made its way to the ‘Hall of Fame’ – “Whether we get milk in the canteen or not?” I am sorry if somebody reading this post is cursing me, but I simply coudnt understand the criticality of it!

I conclude that it would really be great fun at Indore to be with ppl from disparate places with different academic bkgnds, different interests, different ages and of course different tastes – some preferring whiskey, some vodka and some pure milk 

On a more serious note - It would be my world with my dreamed characters in it! A school with good infrastructure, professors, and books, books which will be on Management, marketing, kotler, Porter, Watermann, Prahalad, Ghaoshal, Debono, i was just waiting for this day....when my utopian world will engage me out of chills and thrills of IT for at least some time. Discussions, case studies, presentations, strategies, quizzes, non-stop jargon, management funda!..........ahhhhh! I am coming IIM-I...i am loving it :)

Will keep writing regularly now!

Vindication at Last.........!

2006-04-23T23:01:00.000-07:00

I feel immensely excited and releived at the same time today. Finally i can boast of the I factors apart from Infosys. The news is that i have been selected in PGP 2 year course of Indian Institute of Management Indore (IIM-I) for session starting this June-end.

It took me 5 years to break this IIM jinx. I have appeared in CAT in 2001 for the first eligible time (though first attempt dates back to CAT 2000). It has been a long, determined, effortful battle with everything thrown in. And after each year, its time to sit back and think through the failures and start again for the next year.

And there were roadblocks too. In 2002, i was prepared enough to get some calls and scoring consistently in IMS-SIMCATS, but at the last moment, i was not able to appear in exam as Infosys transfered me to Bhubaneswar. Then came 2003, another year of unrewarded hardwork and this time twice hard as the CAT was redone after the leak in Feb,2004.

Then came 2004 again with different set of notes from a different coaching institute. Just when the CAT exam was 3 months away, again Infosys threw the spanner amidst my cooking of the dream. I was sent onsite for an year long assignment, and its not that i havent resented. But, this time even my family lost some faith in my ability and said that 'son, facts are not with you, you have tried CAT for 2 years and no result, hence it better to opt for a change and grab this opportunity'. Broken a bit by the harsh reality, i went overseas, but the dream was always there; ok not through CAT...may be GMAT.

The quest and the thirst was never quenched! And i dont know what drives me...even till today. Onsite assignment wasnt a nice deal as well considering my preperation for the dream. I had to go through rather tough time settling things with my manager as my dream wanted myself back in india along with not-so-good health of my dearest mother. Abused, tortured, but not knocked out...i managed to get the ticket back home in dec.Prepared for ISB's call, but knocked out....and the only glimmering hope that was left was IIMI or another year of to-be-found grit and determination.....but finally the 'Hanumanji(Monkey god) smiled'.

And finally i am here, writing this post after getting the mail that i have been selected for IIMI - PGP. So much for a dream??

The process has been so painful for me that even i changed my favourite quote to something like this -

'Dare to dream and follow them passionately and one day they will come true.....or you will go mad'

Finally vindicated, i am smiling today. Thanks to everybody who supported me on this journey - be it my ever-supporting friends like Sam and Tom, my parents - who finally did believe in my dream and supported me through and definitely GOD....which has remained within my soul to kindle the flame of dream time and again....whenever i was about to give in.

It really is 'The SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION' story for me. And as it said in the movie...'SALVATION LIES WITHIN'....

signing off...
~Nits

Looking for a change........

2006-04-22T00:05:00.000-07:00

So here I am back again at my forgotten blog again! May be it will be live again when I will start my next round of preparations for ISB. Well as of now, let me throw an update here about my snail-paced life.

News is that I have taken first step of change management and I have resigned from Infy. I will be joining another IT company in MAY. So finally a way out from BBSR. Apart from that, my track record on MBA quest has improved a bit. As after I got the call from NMIMS, mumbai and IMT Ghaziabad; I have managed call from ISB this time. So, overall being an optimist I would say the way to go is only up.

On the personal front, not much change but the inevitable is not so far. Parents have started working on my matrimonial chances; as I couldn’t manage one myself.
And since I will be near my hometown, hence the odds against my bachelorhood are really high. But lets see!

Doing a lot of orkutting and blogging these days. One of the newest blog I have come up with few more friends is – ‘MERE DO PAISE’ – http://www.meredopaise.blogspot.com/

That’s it for now. Lets see what life has to bring for me!!

~Nits

Mission Impossible - 3 (ISB)

2006-02-27T06:07:00.000-08:00

28 Febraury 2006
15 March 2004
09 December 2001

Once again he won over my dream!

I guess the only word starting with 'I' in my life is 'Infosys' which resembles a bit of a golden run. Be it 'IIT', 'IIM' or 'ISB' all sound synonymous to another I-lettered word called 'Impossible'.I am reall sorry for Mr. TOM CRUISE, that though you have been doing the movies under 'Mission Impossible'; but the brand fits to me more effectively. You have given MI, MI-2 and MI-3 is yet to come; but i have already done three super hits - 'MI-IIT', 'MI-IIM' and 'MI-ISB'.

Last but not the least, I am also an Indian - which is i guess my consolation award.
~Nitin

Fumbled............yet again!

2006-01-21T06:40:00.000-08:00

21 Jan 05. Taj Bengal. City of unfound Joy!!

Want an update? Here it is.

Your friend has failed yet again on his way towards the elusive MBA.

What happened?

Fumbled for words! Got numb in middle! what else...

Enough I would say. I should quit seeing this dream all-together.

Two dreams.....both elusive....wanna more??

chalo yaar, thanks for all the support that my friends gave me during this whole process.

Not at all waiting for results.

~Nits

YEsssssssssssssssssssss!!

2006-01-18T02:32:00.000-08:00

YEsssssssssssssssssssss!!

The interview call from my utopian world of ISB arrived in my mailbox last friday. Its on 21 Jan @ Taj Bangal, Calcutta, the city of joy.
May be this city is really getting into literal sense in my life……city of JOY!

Hoping to do good enough to get a ticket to Hyderabad.

Pray for me!!

Ufffffffffffff!!...submitted

2006-01-10T00:40:00.000-08:00

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmfffffffffffff!!

That was my response when I submitted my application for R2 of my dream, ISB. There were some last minute changes based on the feedback I got from Anita, Sameer and Atta-girl.

Thanks to all you folks that you went through my app at the last minute and suggested some crucial feedback.

Finally relieved after so much has been done for this dream. Literally fought with my manager to come back to India as there were no nights and hence free time. My dad supported me a lot while this application process and kept me in check as to whether I have got the recommendations, whether I have paid the fee, etc…This made my dream much more special.

Recently heard that my friend Mahesh has been wait-listed; and given the profile and total application package of his, I am now feeling that its gping to be a big battle if I get a call for interview…

Lets see how the story unfolds…and whether the existence of this blog is feasible or not!!

............still Alive!!

2005-10-10T00:29:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog,

Nice to see me back? Yes i am still alive...The work pressures havent yet decreased nor the spate of escalations and virulents from my managers!! Still living...

So coming back to update you after 4 months! Sorry for that. Now as far as the motive of this Blog is concerned,i am having cold feet and sore throat as to what to say now...

will try to sleep less and spend some time on this 'forsaken dream'.

~Nits

MBA, Lies and Essays!!

2005-06-18T21:31:00.000-07:00

This person comes back again to this Blog, to write another senti story! What i found recently is that writing essay for Bschool admissions is all about lying. No matter what you are and who you are, your essay should be something that gives a great impression that this person is born to get into this school!

I would not get into whether it is justified to do it or not. Who said that you cannot lie? What matters is that its the result that should matter. If you are succeeding, then no body cares you wrote the truth or not. And yes who told you that you should be a satyawadi harishchandra....

Its all about business and free markets and competition. Whatever sells is true! As simple as that. And who said that life is fair. One has to deal with it. If there are 100 copycats and one 'real' thing; if the real thing cannot sell it to the audience despite of being true!! Its your fault, you aren't a right person to get into this business!

The bottomline is - Whatever sells is 'real' and not the otherway round.

Neighbour's envy, Asia's pride

2005-06-08T20:13:00.000-07:00

They are trying really hard!!

What could be the hottest selling item in china these days? Electronic gizmos, handsets, video-games? Nope.

Its the english dictionary!! Thats real good competition between the two neighbours. Asia is in, world is out! Catch the full piece here

India rocks the world with Aloo Tikki Burger

2005-06-07T20:46:00.000-07:00

Nice news of a different kind making rounds in circles other than IT. I guess more of these will be arriving soon as ever-increasing indian middleclass becomes an awesome-eye-catching proposition for the MNCs of the world.

And yes do note the fact that by 2010, nearly 55% of indian populace will be in the earn-spend-and-make-merry age group of 25-35. Time now to convert the nickname of 'Land of snake-charmers' to the 'land of MNC-charmers'!!

Here is the news item of AAloo-tikki

The EXTRA mile

2005-05-30T13:25:00.000-07:00

It has been said and said again and again. But to no avail, this god damn person seems deaf. Man you have enough guidelines, strategies, tips, inspiration, statements of the people who have been there and done that. Enough of it. Enough of Gyan!!

Believe me or not, even i can be a counseller for an MBA preparation, be it GMAT or CAT. Kab tak radio sunte rahoge?? Walk the Path now, what are you waiting for? If it requires to be a personality for getting into ISB, then do it now. Be what you always wanted to be. Till what time will you compromise and keep giving non-sensical excuses for not realising your dreams?

What it takes to be a winner in life, the extra pound of guts to cross the thin line between a hard-working-participant and a winner. Its always have been that extra mile that you never trudged, it always been that extra hour that you missed to put at the last moment....why the question always comes for that extra? Lets finish it this time. Do whatever it takes to grab that extra to reach the destination...to achieve what you always wanted. Why YOU, who has to stand in the crowd and clap for the winners? Why you stand there perspiring thinking in awe, that what this guy or gal is having in him/her that you lack?

The bottomline is that you are the owner of your own dream! If you cant arrange enough resources to make it happen. Then be damned! Dont crib afterwards. Its you and only you who is responsible for this. If you dont have enough to show off in your essays, then find out what can be achieved in next 4 months, which can help you stand out of the crowd. If you cant manage that then get a score of 750+, so that people wouldnt ask much of our extra-s. Its up to you HOW YOU MAKE THAT HAPPEN!!

So now, forget about the damn job of coding you have been doing for last 3 yrs and will keep on doing if dont get it right this time. Get that EXTRA into your life. THAT EXTRA that will help you stand on the podium wearing that gold medal or that EXTRA that will help you discuss your success story rather than the midnight oil you burnt only to find that this way doesnt work...get that EXTRA which will help you throw that black hat into the sky when graduating out of the most hallowed B-school in India.

Dont be a commodity....be a brand. Find ways to create a brand of yours!! Its time now you become a person driven with a killer instinct OR forget it for this lifetime!!

written in full sobriety,
~Nits

Have it........Habits

2005-04-28T20:22:00.000-07:00

Feeling guilty these days!

The dream seems to be at the back burner these days. 'Busy at work' should not be the excuse!
Read a quote today -
"Motivation gets you started, Habit is the one that gets you going!"

I realised, how true this is with me. I tend to start things with great motivation. But after a solid start i cant build upon, unlike Mr Dravid! Have to do something about. The biggest challenge in life for me ha always been to convert those 30s into 100s! To pick up good things around you is OK, but to convert them into life-long habit is what differentiates the one who are in and one who arent!

...hmmm! Will surely do something about it soon. Wait for my next post..that too soon!

~Nits

GMAT Official Score knocked my door!

2005-04-02T20:45:00.000-08:00

So its official news that i have scored 680 on GMAT with 31 in verbal and 50 in Quants. Overall 90 percentile marks. Well thats all i knew already, but the one i didnt know was my AWA score.

I was thinking that i am a genuine writer, who is real good at least at writing. But the myth was shattered today as the AWA stands at 4.5/6 in front of me. I thought at least 5 should be there, but i guess writing limmericks and poems is no where associated with writing an analysis of an argument. I felt a word called Dejavu in my stomach!

The same kind of feeling happened to me when i was in first year of my graduation. There was a horrible subject called Engineering drawing(ED). Since i was good at sketching during my school days, i thought at least i need not worry about ED as my fingures are already at ease with curves and lines. But guess what there also i felt like a moron...........i passed on the border line ;)

Thats it! The score-card also said that my scores will be sent to -
ISB, Hyd
IIM-A
IIM-B
IIM-C
NUS, Singapore.

Well that last one is the least preffered. I really feel left out here in US and i just want to be in india as soon as possible! I am coming ISB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.....andi know it will be difficult!

~Nits

G-DAY is finally over!

2005-03-19T15:35:00.000-08:00

.........huffffffffffffffff...The GMAT is finally over! Though not in the desired fashion but its finally over. On the GDAY i started the day in an unusual saturday as i wished myself a very good morning! ( As generally satudays are good afternoons for me!!) Had a good breakfast and some worship, and yes got a call too from my office. But solved the matter soon and started from my home at correct time.

The roads here in US are simply kinda impeccable in contrast with the roads(?) in M.P. India. Even a driver like me can drive at 80 miles/hr :). Reached the test centre coolly and did all the formalities. Then i sat on the 4hr chair and i started confidently............

The first hour was fun as i wrote a real nice argument analysis followed by another good issue analysis. I think i would get real good score at AWA.
Then i took a break and boy the confidence was simply exuding from within! I started with quants and finished in comfortable zone, given the trend of consistent 50s i had been scoring in the mocks.
Then came the last round where i knew i am not a good player. Played cautiously but had to finish the section in hurry as i ran out of time. In order to evade the penalty skipped last two or three questions with pure guesses. And here came the end. I knew that the performance is not exceptional. But whether i have crossed the iSB average of 690 was the question i was asking.

And finally it popped up in front of me. It was 680 on the screen, missed the 690 mark by 10 pts. Maths; as consistent as ever....dot 50. But the verbal played the devil; scored 31 in verbal. So its over i told myself!

Came back home though after two arduous hours of confused driving as i was lost on my way back home. Boy i drove all over, left, right and center; but wasnt able to get it correct. Finally found the way home thanks to an old lady who helped me. Those two hours were more draining than the 4 hrs i spent at the testing centre!!
Well its time now to relax a little bit! read a bit, sing a bit and code some bytes!! Till then bye bye.

Who Am I?? - II

2005-03-13T00:22:00.000-08:00

.......A long pause. And then the outer facade broke loose and told the inner voice about all the vagaries of nature ( The software major and its Visa policies and the long maintainability of the systems it deployed at clients' sites....), and the societieal pressures to go to US!!. But the major reason still remained hidden in the graveard of my much-cherished dreams to....He tried his best to not to opened the pandora's box...but with whom he was juggling?? The inner voice, which knew about the deepest inners of my heart, soul and mind!

The question came as a bolt from the blue! "What about the much-torn-yet-not-extinct dream of yours?". And I played again the much old trick.....with a too naive face " Which one? I dont know what you are talking about?"

HAHAHAHA......a huge laughter broke the silence. "Good try! But i am too old for that....what about CAT and IIMS and an MBA??". Its difficult to stand such a too-dare-bare question. It creates the picture of a person who read The Alchemist but still couldnt follow his personal legend because......hid did a compromise with his dream! Compromise to go to US thanks to the fact diary he had...2 serious attempts at CAT with no outcome; filling up of the CAT form for last 5 years like a family tradition and yes parental pressure!

And the verdict was that i couldnt play a Howard Roark denying all those onsite offers......to appear in yet another CAT....But he wasnt the much revered character of Ayn Rand's Fountainhead........He was a mere mortal....Nitin!!

Enough scracthing of yesteryears' broken(s)!Lets move on.........!Will write a positive one on 19*th March i guess!

*Morpheous to Neo - There is a difference in knowing the path and .............walking the path!! 19th march is first-n-last shot at GMAT!! Hmmmmmmmmmm
~Nits

Who am I?

2005-02-06T22:59:00.000-08:00

I woke up hurriedly all soaked in pirspiration on a chilling snowy afternoon @ 12:45 PM today. I was breathing heavily and was kind of brain-washed after the kind of interrogation i have gone through.......where my now-founded-longly-missing soul asked myself the set of quintessential questions - Who Am I? Where am I? What am i Doing? And why?

So many questions!with only a 386 processor in my brain, i thought i am definitely getting an hemorrhage. But then sanity prevailed later when i decided to answer the nail-biting questions - one by one. I took a deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep breath(so deep!!) and thought of the first one!

Who am I?
There wasnt any sound! For the first time in life i thought if there could have been a sound amplifier inside...and suddenly i heard

......uooonkhkh...umphfff...hmmmm...
as if somebody was nearly choked to death. Then after few moments it said.

..its me...Nitin!

Who? then came the cross question - Which One?

the voice told
...the one who used to sketch portraits!read books! write poems! was mad about advertising!hated coding and loved writing long mails!!

then came the hitherto-forgotten smile...ok i see...so you are back! Good to hear you nits!!

Where am I? asked the still coughing soul all soaked in viscous-fluid(as in matrix neo was inside one)...and was really a hell-raiser!

In US of America! some seven oceans far away from the beloved land of hitherto sanke charmers~turned-into-IT programmers!

Whhhhh......what are you saying! I love my india...i love my friends there, near and dear ones, my food, my festivals, my faith.....what the hell i am doing here...??

*because of time constraints....this post will be continued soon.....!!
~Nits

GABBAR.......i have started!!

2005-01-16T23:49:00.000-08:00

This is going to be the first BLOG of creativenits.........!!Hmmm let me see from where i can start.START..i guess i read something about start somewhere...probably at somebody's blog.

Situation Tasks Actions Results Takeaways is what ppl in MBA lingo take it...u see how confusing do they make such small thing like start.

So to start with the SITUATION at hand. Its 2:11 AM, being swayed away from ppl's blogs; the leftovers of my smothered creativity told me, " What are you doing man? Living!! What r you up to? the same old mundane techie programs, that you run and monitor everyday as if oneday it will display a message " job ran successfully - you are relieved of this technical pain!" and you will be free?" You have to do something to get out of here, to reach your dreams!! Understand the situation nits....u arent looking creative anymore!

(S down, well done) Thinks...

Next is the TASK. Task at hand is to start a blog where i will keep venting off my feelings...about the bad snowfall..about the same f***ing mainframe screen...Also to keep a log of the (pro)gress\(con)gress that i did on my way out of this techie...no no lemme write in full 'Insanely indifferent, integeristic inferno of infotechism'job, to get into a Bschool back in swades( only ISB, be it!).....Thus this blog will create kinda pressure to achieve my dreams.

(T down, they are reading it for the first and last time..) Hmmm

ACTION. Well that means writing blog till u reach the R; result of my pledge against the deadlock of mainframes.....I can promise lots of action here..good thingie is that i have just watched SHOLAY...so the action has started..in veeruish tone 'Gabbar! Mein aa raha hoon....'

(A down but not under, but nobody is reading...leave the RT) zzzzzzzzz

RESULT - awaited...in march-06, i guess as far as ISB is concerned.
(R) ( "Not yet - says trinity in Matrix-1")

TAKEAWAYS - admission in ISB or another year of yaarana with those JCLs, Cobol Programs, Linkcards, controlcards, and their whole witchcraft!

'Faisla hai aapka; aakhir sar hai apka'

(T) (dont know what ppl will say after reading this! "God is watching you")

HUHHHHHHHH Done.
~Nits

loop-starts
for umpteenth times
*Please forgive me*
loop-ends