The Cornucopia...

Well, having been brought up in a state that is politically dominated by Communists, I have witnessed a way of life that seems to prefer equality over equity. Often, I feel confused.... IS it actually bad to desire for the cornucopia! Is it wrong to lust for more in life?
Theoritically, it is easy to say that every human individual is entitled to some bare minimum requirement for sustainenance ... food, shelter and clothing, the fundamental neccessities of life, but can it be actually acheived?
Interestingly, as per the Forbes 2008, Mumbai is the seventh largest city of world in terms of number of billionaires, and the same city boasts of one of the biggest slum in the world!
Whenever, I think of my long term goals and what is it that I desire to acheive in my life, I feel so strange... what should we desire for? There is this strange fear of being despised to say that "So, what? I am money minded and I want lots and lots of money! "
IT feels so strange to see our highly educated prime minister advising austerity to the corporates at CII meeting! Are we still illusioned by the socialist ideals that hinder development in the name of equality?

Power of Time...

Well, the roots of the topic link back to the good old childhood days.... when there was this innate desire to grow up and behave like elders..
When I was in Std. I , we were asked to write with pencils and only Std. IV onwards, could we have the privilege to pen something...! So, waited for that... कि मैं कब बडा होऊंगा....?
Then, when I moved to Std. VI, Social Sciences became - History and Geography.. Science became - Life Science and Physical Science.. and the excitement knew no bounds. (as if I will learn how to make an atom bomb!). Yeah I have grown up! Yahoooooooooooo..........!!!!!!!!
Some days later, got to learn,, that there is a lot more to learn..
Some years later... moved to Std. IX and the width of the books had multiplied... thought that "Eureka! Eureka! I have finally achieved it... I am a grown up..."
All the bubbles went bursting...
Fir, moved to Class XI,, now the number of books also multiplied... at least now,, I should... finally get to feel.. that.. I .. HAVE... GROWN... UP.. Lekin nahin,,, the fruit jumped to the next higher branch...
When, I joined engineering college,.. I thought... that I wouldn't need to feel low again.. about not being a grown up... at least I will learn how to repair TVs, computers, fans,,, like our engineers do.... But, all in vain,... Still felt like a child...
Got into the job... and had every good reason to think that I was grown up.. but again.. history and mystery repeated....

Now, the moral of the story:

The peaks and hurdles.. once conquered and crossed.. always look smaller when looked back at .. This is the power of time... It makes you mightier for the targets ahead...

Just believe in it... Life continues...

My Stints with CAT

Can't remember exactly, since when I nurture a yearning to pursue management!
My first sincere attempt in this direction was when I was in Third Year of my engineering studies, I wrote the First Free SimCAT conducted by IMS. Laga ki Sunday morning ka isse acchha kya utilisation hoga(Of course apart from sleeping!)
Aisi watt lagi ki kya bataoon!
Got the signal that lot of preparation is needed to make it to a good B-School. Asked Sapru(Siddhartha Sapru - a niece friend fondly called Bhalu ) to get me the cheap Xerox material from Chandni Chowk and it was really nice of him to agree.
And thus began my journey towards CAT. I used to take the material and study as per my convinience. It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience!
Then in March, 2005 just went to PT Education to take a Scholarship Test (just apne aap ko test karne ke liye,... ki 6 mahine mein kuch seekha hai ya ....)
Eventually, ended up joining PT Education with a topper's scholarship and headed on toawards 20 November, 2005 the D-Day.
Sach kahoon to usse pehle kabhi nahin socha tha ki CAT'05 results ke aage bhi duniya hogi, with the results of Mock Tests I was assured ki I will make it to a premier B-school. But, then "Expect the unexpected" as they say of CAT... and I fell for the trap of Pattern surprise and ended up with a deplorable 95.15%ile in CAT'05 with no calls. Finally, got a call from SP Jain Mumbai for Marketing.. tried for it but couldn't make it.
Hence, ab majboori hai .... job hi join karna padega...
CAT'2006 was not a very sincere attempt, but yes I had tried and had expectations out of it.
I remember what Vinay Sir told me over phone that evening before D-Day, "Dhruv, koi pre-determined notions pe mat jaana. Cut offs ki fikar kiye bina, paper ko uske merit par lena aur ..."
Bas ek yehi nahin kar paaya , and CAT'2006 remains a harsh memory.
Now, I knew ki aise toh nahin chalega! I had to take things seriously... I wanted to perform like Mehul Agarwal( a Commerce graduate from St. Xavier's College, Kolkata now at IIM, Calcutta and a PHODU of highest level.)
Toh, I started working part time as a trainer for Quants and DI for CL, Chennai.
A month later, got a call from TIME, Chennai for the same and then, I started teaching at both CL and TIME simultaneously. I did so for 7 months and how... Khali main hi jaanta hoon!...
I am sure this would be really rare for someone to be employed with an IT company(Accenture) and at the same time work for two coaching institutes.... Those dreary Sunday noons and 3 consecutive classes at TIME, Adyar....
But, there was a lot to learn. And I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it... To break ice with the students in class.. Some were elder to me and were not very comfortable with me being a faculty..
As, I was gearing up for the final round of my CAT'07 preps, got an offer from PwC, Kolkata to join them as a Consultant. Tried to negotiate my joining after CAT, but couldn't make it..
So, I just joined... Jo Hoga Dekha Jaayega! Aise bhi CAT is all about those 2 - 2.5 hrs...

Now, I am heading to 18 November, 2007 to write CAT for a third time .... Kabhi nahin socha tha... Kabhi nahin chaha tha... But, Life always reserves the best for you...
Will post my results as they come...
Tab tak ke liye........



Ek Zindagi hai...
Bas Ek Baar Jeeni Hai ....
To, ..........................................................
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JUST DO IT!