Entelechy

On Sunday evening, May 9, we had the IIM-A freshers welcome treat. The venue was Windsor Hall-I at Hotel Viceroy, Hyderabad. Along with 14 freshers (facchas in IIMA lingo), 4-second year seniors (tucchas or 2's in IIMA lingo) and one passout (a 3, again in IIMA lingo), the party was attended by four super seniors, 3 of them from the 79 batch and one from the 74 batch. The treat was sponsored by the IIMA Alumni Association, Hyderabad chapter. We were surprised and happy that four super-seniors graced the occasion and we learned, in some time, that the super seniors happen to be the Chairman, Vice chairman and Secretary of the association (only Murli from the 79 batch is not holding an executive position; he casually remarked that he owns a recruiting firm and is always on the lookout for talent).

The evening, a pretty long one, started with a game where each of us had to introduce our self in 45 sec using a maximum of 4 sentences. Some interesting and innovative introductions came out. Like "...I am from Rayalseema and I know how to make hand bombs..." and "...I work for Microsoft, a very ethical company, and if you find a bug in Windows I can prove the problem is in the driver or in the hardware or in the environment...". Not everyone stuck to the 4 sentences limit, not everyone gave a really interesting introduction, but it was fun playing the game, and it became especially interesting when we learned that one of our seniors is DIG (He will surely have a chat with the bomb-making guy).

Then followed the drinks, hard drinks for the profligates, like me, and soft drinks for the pious ones. The drinks were on the house and as Gujarat is a dry state we were counseled to have as much as we can before we land at IIMA. Then seniors started discussing their experiences and how being from IIMA has helped them in their life; bantering each other all the time, while we enjoyed the filling starters. Sample this: - We asked the DIG about IIMA's contribution in his life. He said, "IIMA instills in you the analytical mindset which helps you in tackling difficult situations. You can easily think through and analyse all the ramifications and take an unemotional decision. You see in police you have to take care of journalists, the press, the politicians, your seniors, your juniors and other departments...". At this Sitaram gibed, "You forgot the people. Uh!"

Murli then asked the 2's to apprise us of what-not-to-do at IIMA. Most of them told us not to forget that we came there for learning and so not to get involved in the rat race; focus on trying to find out what we want to do with our life and try to accomplish our dream. Murli advised us not to forget that there is life beyond IIMA and so enjoy ourselves thoroughly. To put everything more succinctly one senior said: - "do not take studies lightly in the first year and do not take studies seriously in the second year."

The seniors exhorted us to take the OB subjects seriously as they will help us the most in our professional and personal life. To get a girlfriend in the first term itself because with all the competition going on it will be impossible to get one after that. Actually the seniors were divided on this issue, Murli supported the idea (it was his idea after all) and sitaram opposed it stating that if you have a partner from IIMA then you and your partner will always be bickering on whose career is more important. Also with all the academic rat-race going on why to participate in another rat-race with a very high cost structure and an abysmally low success rate.

After this we were cold-called (2's came up with the idea of giving us a first-hand experience of this phenomenon) and asked about our expectations from IIMA and any doubts we have. "How easy is it to get a Ahmedavadi girl?" one of the faccha asked. Murli dispelled all his doubts, "It's easy but then you have to marry her." This and some serious stuff went on for another half an hour.

Finally we had dinner at 11 o'clock. Food though plenty and varied was not all that good, or may be I expected too much from Viceroy, but we hardly had any time to take notice as we were engaged in a lively personal interaction with the seniors.

I came out at around 11:45 after a fun-filled and useful treat. Thanks to all the seniors for taking out time and helping the poor facchas.

I am very excited about being part of the IIMA community.



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