Entering IIM-K

Waiting I was.... Waiting for the train that was to take me to the place where I would spend the next two years (hopefully it wouldn't be more than that... Not because I don't like the place... I would love to spend my entire life here... But I would not want to be in the class of my juniors while my batchmates forge ahead) The train was late because there had been some problem on the Mulund station (The speakers were blaring that there had been some public unrest)

Anyhow, the train turned up finally... 1 hours and 10 minutes late... Which had passed quite nicely since one of my future batchmate's uncle had come over there to meet him and he was also stranded because the train was late... I was continuously reminded how important the IIM tag will be for me in the future (Well, it certainly is at present)... We had some nice chitchat with another family who was waiting for the train too... And the daughter asked me whether she should try for an IIT... Your opinions become so important when you are going into an IIM...

As the train came, I rushed forward to my bogie... More so because I had a lot of stuff with me... (7 bags I guess... I was going for 2 years after all)... And as I reached my seat, I found two of my batchmates, one of whom I had already met in an IIMK party (Yeah, the induction starts much before college :) ) Those poor fellas helped me organize my stuff, since there was no way all our luggage could have been accomodated in that small 3AC compartment.

The next 24 hours I will remember for my entire life... It was quite natural.. There were 13-14 of us (In fact, there were more than 20 but we could not find all of them) and the beautiful ride of Konkan railways... It is amazing... People say that many labourers died while that track was being prepared... I salute each one of them who worked in such hardships to create a thing of beauty...

What happened in the train is a part of internal gossip of IIMK, so I would move over to when we reached our destination-Kozhikode. Beware of Coolies on Kozhikode station.. They would not wait for you. They take it for granted that they have to take away the luggage and it is with your approval.. And you can't convince them otherwise...

Anyhow, we had a big group with lots of luggage.. So it was a daunting task.... However, the coolies managed to take the entire luggage to the bus somehow (The Bus?? Which bus?? Yeah, everything is planned here... The bus from Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode was waiting for us.. And along had come a senior to guide us regarding the process... Managers?? We have it in our blood) There was so much luggage that half the bus was filled with it...

The ride to IIMK was even more exhilarating (More so because of the driver-in fact, it is really difficult driving in Kozhikode: Not only the roads, but the drivers also are amazingly skillful… Read: In a negative sense) The city is a wonder though...

Entering IIMK: Our seniors had sent us a video about life@IIMK. So it is not that we had not seen the institute. However, as we entered the institute, all of us were struck by the beauty of the institute. I may not be a traveller, but I have been to many places... As well as many IIMs... There cannot be a more beautiful institute than this one. People say it's a resort, a hill station and what not. If I had already seen so many photos and videos and could not have imagined how beautiful the institute can be, then what would have been the condition of those who had not even seen the photos... They were simply awestruck... The place is heaven on earth. Maybe after entering the institute, I came to realize why Kerala is called GOD's own Kountry... And why the institute is called GOD's own Kampus... Ohh... The K-bug has bitten me ever since I entered the Kampus... ;0)

The process of getting to our rooms was so smooth that by the afternoon, we had already arranged everything and were exploring the institute.. Some of them went to play football down the hill... Some went to the MF (margin-free shop)... If you ask even a finance guy from K what MF is, the first thing that will come to his mind is the "Margin-Free" shop.. :)

The architecture of the college is simply amazing. The rooms are fantastic, especially the valley-view ones… And the camaraderie at the institute is legendary.

Now what happened on that first day? Of course, we made ourselves comfortable in our rooms.. We explored the campus… But most of all, everybody was trying to converse and get introduced to everybody… In fact, even now, I might not remember the names of the people, but I would certainly remember that this was the person who met me on the first day and we played table tennis…

The institute is so well connected that despite the heavy rains here, I haven't ever felt the need for an umbrella... All the pathways are covered... (Except probably the hostels which have been newly made and which will be incorporated in the structure soon... I live in one of them and still I haven't felt the need) The academic area at the top, the mess nearby, the NC (Night Canteen), our beloved C hostel (yeah... the girls one) and the cluster of boys hostel, the Harvard steps on the entrance of the academic area, the amphitheatre, the Auditorium, the lush green gardens (where we can't walk :( Maintaining the beauty of the institute)... The clouds that you see beneath you when you get up in the morning... The rains here produce a sensational sight... Even a normal person becomes a poet... And when you are used to writing poems, what else would you do?

THE FIRST RAIN

A gale of mist touches my skin,
Dancing with the clouds, my hair grows thin;
My spirit is dancing with those of Gods,
And flowers being poured by trunks carrying logs.

Like first love which eliminates all needs,
Like how a mother seeing her first-born feels,
Like that first kiss disseminating her fragrances,
Such a heady feeling, those lovely trances.

I am happy today; I feel blood in my veins.
Mother Nature sends omens through thunderous rains;
My soul seems connected with the Milky Way,
May these cosmic drops encompass me every day.


I hope this will not reach the ears of our professors... But this has been created in class... :)