Chennai Summer project

My summer project started off on April 4th. I reached Chennai, which happens to be one of the more liked cities by me on 3rd April. I came via Tirupathi and by the time I reached there it was 8:10pm. Unfortunately I had no telephone numbers of my cousins which I forgot at my dressing table back home. I got hold of my old list where my Aunt's number was there. I tried to contact her but in vain. The number was over 6 years old and had changed by now. I tried to contact home but my dad's gone out for a wedding, mom isn't aware. After some anxious moments I got the number, and landed at my cousins place at around 10pm in an auto who charged me 90/-. My cousins had too kids Tyeni (Akheel) and Mini ( ??). Cousin is working at port trust so he stayed in port trust quarters at place called Toll gate, which is the northen most part of Chennai and is the place where the Chennai corporation limit ends. For the first leg I've stayed in Chennai for 6 nights and 5 days. I happen to get my tickets for Hyd only 5 hrs before leaving that too WL tickets. I spend some 6 weeks in Hyderabad for my field work. Had a good experience here meeting and talking to different kinds of people. Had my first chance to dominate the recruiting agency/ person.
I started back for Chennai on 17th. This trip happened to be my maiden 2AC trip. Boring and dull life in AC boogies. I almost slept for major part of the journey as I was ill the earlier few days. Came back to Caucasians home at around 7:30am. They had some guests by then who were cleared by evening :-)) . Then the usual journey started, Tollgate-Tondiarpet-Royapeta-Old Washermanpet-Parrys-Highcourt-Central-Hindu-Peters-TLM-TVS-Teynampet(SIET)-Cenotaph Road. Everyday up and down the same route. The journey lasted for nearly 1 to 2hrs depending on availability of transport. Beyond our tollgate came Thiruvuyuthoor. I for the 1st time went to Spencers Plaza, spend some time venturing through those countless number of shops. I m almost confused at the magnamiy of the complex. I bought lots of DVDs this time round, unfortunately some aren't working.

On 28th , the day of journey and incident's the only day I was free from my project work I had my first Andhra meals, I completely filled my belly. Now on that day I actually understood what an Andhra meals was and what my liking was. Andhra meals - Rice, Lots of pickles, 2 or 3 fries of vegetables, tomato Dal in tamarind in ghee, Appalam and fried curd chilies.
What a south Indian meal was rice in lots of Sambhar and Rasam and Kavoulum (kuura in Telugu) in aplam and lemon pickle. We use lots of tamarind and dal unlike the south Indian meals which is dominated by sambhar rasam, which fortunately is used only as a side dish. 1st time in life I also hit the swimming pool. Visited the community pool by the side of Marina. That was one bit of experience to cherish. I never swam so I was always 90 degrees to the ground. Teyni taught me some steps to follow which made me a little comfortable for a while. Was there in the pool for 1/2 hr, and came out totally exhausted, my lungs were too tired and seemed to be under high pressure. When I wanted to walk my feet were too heavy to carry my body, strange feeling but a good one.
Then started off to home by Charminar express, my good old train traveled too fast unlike its reputation. Reached Sec'bad at around 8. I forgot my fav short on train and my belt at my cousins house. Overall a good expresses to cherish.

Finally Sri Vekatesharudoo darshana bhagyam

The wait is over, the call has come, time to seek blessings for future venturex and thanks givings for the past blessing and well being and luck he bestowed me with.
1st of April I finally started off from Hyderabad. Initially we planned to start off after my 1st year exams around 23rd from Hyd, we then even booked the tickets for the same dates too, but fate wouldn't allow, I had MIS case submission, which I inevitably delayed the process till the last hour. So the trip was delayed for a week. Finally I decided to take the trip on my way to Chennai for my summers. Aboard Venkatadri express I started off my journey at 8pm with my dearest friend to Tirupathi the pilgrimage town. It's been over two years that I last visited and over 4 years that I offered my hair at Tirupati. I reached there at around 8:45am had bath and started off our ascend by APSRTC bus. We had our darshanam slated for 11am.Due to regular delay we got a chance to visit the holy shrine only at around 2:30pm. We took our blessings and ventured out for some shopping for that day. Later in day I went to KalyanaKatta for tonsure. Here had my cool and refreshing bath which refreshed me off already deprived energy levels.

Above is the snap of tonsuring at one of the Kalyanakatta. Later that day retired a bit early as I was feeling too tired. The next day Sunday we started off on a two hour journey to one of the most famous Vinakaykudi temples in AP. The Lord Ganesh, or Varasiddhi Vinayaka as they call here is the deity of the temple at this place, Kanipakam.One peculiarity of the Vinayaka Idol is that it eternally grows in size. To testify the fact that the Lord is growing, the Silver "Kawacham" that was manufactured 50 years ago is now too small for the idol. The temple was built in around 1333 I guess by Chola dynasty. It was till a few years a small one. But over the years with growing importance of Tirupati this temple has been expanded and new complex has come about. This was the first time I was visiting the place, and I felt that it was almost as busy as the Tirumala Balaji temple but on a smaller note. Everytime I go visit such divine places I feel strengthen and spiritually risen and blessed. Hope and pray everyone's dreams and ambitions come true.

Hope next time around I go systematically for my trip. In sense 1st Varahaswamy darshanam, next tonsure, next pushkarini dip, next the darshanam. I really hope all this can be done. And I want to see little greenary on hills which has been missing in this particular trip

Bye Bye PGP - Convocation of Seniors

End of March 16th marked an end of end term written exams though we are still left to submit a case and a take home exam. March the 18th is one special day for our seniors they would be graduating and would be getting their certificates. A sad day coz many others like me would be loosing close friendships we build during this one year. Our seniors are very special in way we get to learn the first steps of being an MBA from their experiences not to mention the exam papers and cases they let us solve. I do remember the long talks we used to have till early mornings with few of them.
Anyways the convocation was held in the amphitheater on the campus lawns and was chaired by Mr.Muttiah (BCCI) while Mr.Kiran Karnik President Nasscomm was the chief guest. The convocation which happens to be the first in my life was one colorful ceremony where the faculty, the board, and the students were all robed and presented with their degrees in presence of their parents and well-wishers. The joy on the faces is quiet remarkable too
!!! Quiet a Kodak moment. I too managed to get some snaps when I sneaked back for a talk with Kiran Karnik. He was one person to meet. His 1/2 hr address at the podium was very interesting. The person is such a gentleman and very open person too. He spoke very freely with all of us when the ceremony concluded. This is snap I got with him.
This snap is of our faculty at the cermony


The ceremony had a gloomy patch too. Our PGP Chairman and Students Affairs chairperson are leaving the institute. The PGP Chairperson is held at very special place by the student community. Apart from this our PGP chairperson was yet to recupeprate from the demise of his mother who passed away few days back.

Wat am I doing ????

5 more days left for my year end at IIM K, 3 subjects are already through and 5 more left. Tomorrow is Enivronmental management. Gosh and today we had financial Mangement and HRM submission. I got a confession to make and also I am starting to wonder, where am I ultimately heading. Huge huge reasons, firstly I m free riding almost all of group projects why I don't know. Secondly I m totally low on motivation and energy and totally off- track.
Free riding in HRM,EM totally I didn't even know wat went on..MR is ok but major part I've free ridded that's very very bad considering the fact that I am gonna do my summer project based on MR. I am too tired these days don't know what happened to those enthu levels which I used to have, Today I was trying to enter my e-banking site and I wasn't able to do so..reason being that I forgot my login...Gosh I can't believe wats happening. Lack of focus nd ambition. What am I suffering from?? I need to be highly proactive and thrusting and highly initiative at my age and kind of profession I m going to get in. Cases these I am not reading lack of concentration if more pages are there to be read. I need some support from somewhere I need some direction, some path to walk, I need to be positive in life, grow and start aiming higher. Work hard achieve and not just be content with what I have.....
Cheer me up ....
I need every possible bit of motivation

Can't wait to go to Tirupati

It's been some 2 yrs that I have been to Tirumala Tirupati, Last time was I believe in July 2003. I always believed that I am indebted to the almighty for all I have received. I always got more than I can imagine, more than what a normal boy can get. I have had my share of good things and bad things in life and I believe that one has to pay for his deeds more in his present life than in his next birth. I far try to maintain displine in life, hope its balances everything. My ultimate goal might be to be a satisfied person who has no desires but only to serve people and give back to the community and mother earth. Nobel yes , how's it possible I don't know..but I'll try to one day ...
Back to Tirupati I first went to Tirumala ( Tirumala is the place where Lord Balaji's abbot is. Lord Balaji is manifestation Lord Vekateshwara or Lord Vishnu who is presumed to be the most powerful God of Kaliyug,(Kaliyuga prathyaksha daivam).Lord balaji is promised other devata's that this avathara is meant for people in kaliyuga ,as kaliyuga is said to be the time when human lives with too much of adharma and commit sins . HIS temple in tirumala is the Richest temple in the world .
http://www.tirumala.org
For first time i've set foot on the seven hills I was mesmerised but the sanctity of the place and divinity of nature. Me being a proper city goer never have ever seen such a beautiful place ever in my life, full of hills and valleys, greenary and water spots..Thats the closest to nature I thought I could ever get . Then in 2001 I had my 1st toncture to Lord Balaji, 2nd time went I hadn't had it.
My 2003 visit...
This is a snap from Aler which is the last stop before embarking the seven sacred hills..

This time in 2005 I am planning to have one, I am thankful to Almighty in my senses. I truly dedicate anything in me to him wholy, and sincerly hope I'll die by his name.
I truly want to be there again and again be at his service always ....

Flash Back - IIMK trip from Hyderabad

It is 1st of July 2004 where I set off my journey to IIM K . Earlier day i've had calls from Sandeep Reddy asking me to meet him, I wasn't that interested and had very little time to make it to him. The packing was greatly helped by uncle. I and my mom at that moment were having a fight so we were rarely talking to each other. On 1st the d-day my parents stayed back from there office which they usually never do. I dropped some stuff for Poornima at her class then had to take my bike to register and get it packed. Having completed the formalities I came back around 11:30 am by bus ( I m a miser ). The train was supposed to depart at 12:30 (7028 Sabari Express) and Shailendra Chak and Sandeep Reddy gave enough calls to confirm that I m on time, but pity tat I wasn't there at home to take calls. In some 10min I freshened up and again started packing some stuff and added one more petty luggage. Already I had a suitcase, 2 duffle bags, a large cover, a computer box. Mom spoke something while i was leaving in our car. Dad accompanied me along and at the station we waited eagerly for the train. As the train came came in Chak made it to station just 5 min before with his friend from IDRBT. Sandeep Reddy was accompanied by his father.

I train started nd we introduced ourselves then later had lunch. Chak surprisingly like the Pulihora(yellow tamarind rice) a lot, which I later realised from the fact that Chak had considerable Hyderbaddi influence in form of Four Soft , Oracle and GE. Chak and Sandeep Reddy became involved in close conversation right away and spend major part of journey time in conversation. I generally take time to get accustomed. We played cards for some 3 hours during the night. An elderly man at that time happened to scold us for keeping the switch on, Chak shouted back at him "SHOUT U R MOUTH"and he quietly went back to his snoring. I was quiet taken by this incident I cldn't do this to stranger and definitely not an old man.
Fine by next morning we were traveling in Tamil Nadu and we were wondering and visualising the coconut country by that time . Then came coimbatore and we entered Kerla in a while . The 1st glimpses of this was awesome.

Me Sandeep Reddy & Shailedra Chak

In Kerala it always drizzled and for the first few months I've seen so much of rainfall which I haven't seen in one single Decade in Hyderabad. Overall such a good and beautiful place to be in is Kerala. Being lover of hills and valleys, greenary and wilderness I fell in instant love with the place and the campus. My memories of visits to Vizag and Tirupati's Ghat roads and valleys and trees which made a dream for me deep within has finally been fulfilled. Dream to stay close to nature in a valley surrounded by trees, hills and water bodies. IIMK fortunately has all these things. Just great to be in this beautiful place.....

Swa-Gita & placements

Starting on 21st april 2005 kicked off amid all exitement. Big companies which i never dreamt of some two three ago sitting in my college in the outskirts of the city. I thought then our college was the best Gandipet at one side, Ocean park , TI at the other side. Now here in Kozhikode nothing is thought off and is beyond visual imagination.
Our campus is attop 2 cocunut farm cladded hills. First day I landed in Kozhikode I got a warm welcome from mother nature herself with cool shower. I was the 1st person on campus to drive/arrive at the campus on bike which I bought along, The drive to campus seemed to be never ending. Long drive along small and beautiful lanes engulfed by tress, houses , fields nd hills. Terrain is exquisitely chisiled to perfection. Moss on the boundary walls along the route appears soo near to nature nd beauty.
Then the surprise of all was wen the campus actully arrived its a 2 km drive uphill, The hill rather 2 hills is home to IIM k amid beautiful valley and cocunut plantations. The walkway to our alloted rooms were like a walkway in a good hotel, I got a valley facing view and perhaps the best balcony view in the entire campus. I get a feeling that I can bend over and touch the beautiful valley below. In other balconies there seems to have visual distance or farther from the valley.
IIM K never seizes to surprise me... today admist all the MDI Pagalguy controversy our process started on 21st and by end of today all are placed. What amazes me is that many many companies are still lined up and have no where to go. There are no enough people. Supply demand imbalances. Surprising enough systems companies are offerin far less compared to other companies like GMR, US s/w etc. All the better it's really motivating me to take on a stream which appears really hard for me though its a strm of my liking. So I might look forward to major in Finance without worrying about CGPA's and corresponding job offers / rejects. With nearly 90 in lateral bracket our future appears really bright. I'll try post some placement data immediately after official consent is given by the place commitee. Untill then keep blogging.........