Godrej sponsored Mumbai trip

After juggling for two long months and mails going back and forth, we finally got the dates that suited our academic schedule as well as to the schedules of the top bosses of Godrej Sara Lee Ltd.

We (the nine of us) had won a competition organised by Godrej and the prize was a two days sponsored trip to Godrej campus in Mumbai, including the air fare.

We started early, on the morning of October 22, 2009. When we reached Mumbai airport, two air-conditioned-chauffeur-driven Innovas were already waiting for us. We got so excited when, for the first time, we saw someone holding our name plates outside the airport.

Day 1 was reserved for Mumbai sight seeing. We started with Bandra sealink (yeah.. that is one of the new attractions of Mumbai) and went on to Haji Ali and Mahalakshmi temple. We'd a lavish lunch at Relish near Nariman Point. As they say food tastes better, if it's free.

Later, we went to the usual places viz. Marine drive, Gateway of India, Taj hotel etc. They'd arranged for our accomodation at Godrej's guest house, but I preferred to stay at home.

Day 2 was reserved for meeting with the top bosses of GSLL:

• Mr. K.Somanathan - Executive Vice President (PSO)
• Mr. R.S. Gopalakrishnan - Associate Vice President (Manufacturing H&BC North East)
• Mr. Vinod Salve - Marketing Head
• Ms Pooja Sharma - HR Manager
• Dr. Sreedhar - R & D Head

They gave us a series of presentations giving us an overall idea about how things work in their respective departments.

At the end of the day, we met Mr. A. Mahendran (MD, GSLL). It was hardly a 10 minutes meeting, but the whole staff was on its toes for the said duration.

Later, we clicked few pictures in the Godrej campus and left.

It's not everyday that you get to meet people, at the top of corporate ladder, explaining the nitty-gritties of business. All in all it was a memorable and learning experience, besides, I got some new friends!

Please click here to see some more snaps.

Sanghamitra & HR Conclave

We'd two major events in our college in this week - Sanghmitra (3rd Sept) and HR Conclave (5th Sept).

The two events present the extreme flavours. On one hand is Sanghmitra, which is year's first cultural festival, filled with youthfulness and on the other hand is HR Conclave that brings together the corporate HR heads of top firms to speak on a theme.

I got a chance to do the compering in HR Conclave where I did a goof up. Instead of thanking a speaker for his speech and apologising for a technical glitch that occured, I said "Thank you Sir for the technical glitch". Needless to say the whole auditorium was in laughter.

Some snaps of the events.

Godrej competition

Won an air trip to Mumbai, two days stay and visit to Godrej campus in a competition organised by Godrej.

Certainly one of the high points of my stay at Great Lakes!

The Night Riders

6 guys riding on 3 bikes.. on some highways and Chennai's streets.. from 10 PM to 4 AM..covering a distance of around 200 kms..stopping at various places including the food court at Chennai Airport..

Click here for some snaps.

Ek ladki ka phone number..

Luckily, some of our exams on the weekend were postponed at the last moment and we got straight three days' off. I and my three friends packed our bags and headed for Mumbai.

We reached the Chennai airport on time and boarded the flight. We'd our seats in the last but two row. We put our luggage and settled in our seats. Some announcement was being made and one of my friends pointed at the announcer. I looked at her and said "Boy! She's got the looks."

Her name was Shirley. Unfortunately, she was catering to the front rows and came to our side of the plane very few times, but I made sure that whenever I needed anything I asked her only. By the time we reached Mumbai, I completely fell for her.

The plane landed at the Mumbai airport and people started to get down. Something was going in my mind. I was supposed to get down from the gate at the back, but she was standing near the front gate. I waited for sometime till the way to the front was clear. I was among the last few passengers to leave. The aisle was completely clear and I could see her standing at the end. I started walking towards the front door, but the path seemed never ending. I was completely blank about how to start the conversation. I reached near her and she was ready with an airhostess-smile.

Shirley: "Thank you, Sir"
Me: (Not sure from where this came) "Hey! Are you from Mumbai?"
Shirley: (She stepped up) "Yes"
Me: (Falling short of words) "Where in Mumbai?"
Shirley: "Bombay Central"
Me: It was nice meeting you!
Shirley: "Same here"
Me: (Sounding casual) "Can I have your phone number?"
Shirley: "Sorry Sir, we are not allowed to give our phone numbers."
Me: "Oh ok. Have a nice day! Bye"
Shirley: "Bye Sir"

I turned around and got down the stairs. I'd be lying if I say I wasn't disappointed. I know that it was not the perfect way to approach a girl, but it was my only chance.

PS: Later one of my friends found Shirley's profile on Orkut, so the hope continues.

Road Trip to Auroville

While most of the guys in the college were busy burning the midnight oil, preparing for the next day's end term exams, some of us were refueling our bikes for a road trip to Auraville.

Please click here for some snaps.

We left early in the morning at 5 and took the ECR(East Coast Road) highway that goes along the Bay of Bengal. It is around 90 kms drive with a scenic view and we reached our destination by 7.30 AM.

Auraville is a small town near Pondicherry and is meant to be a universal town. We went to the visitor's center, but couldn't get the entry passes for the Matrimandir, which is one of the major tourist attractions.

We'd an early breakfast there and left for our college by 9.30 AM as we too were supposed to write our exams the next day. We reached the college by noon, completely refreshed and rejuvenated.

Photoshoot

We'd a photoshoot in the college today. The pictures taken will be used in various brochures. Here are some shots taken by personal cameras.

HR Conclave Team

Amphitheatre in the background

My hostel room

Jam session

Had a jam session today in the boy's hostel from 2 AM to 4 AM. Most of the guys were completely drunk. Some snaps:

Photoshopped - I

Was trying my hand at Photoshop today. Here is my first work.

Basketball Court

Finally, the college's basketball court is ready for playing. Hope to spend some good time there!

PS: The length of the writeup reflects twitter effect.

Karma Yoga Project

We've started working on the Karma Yoga project. We need to work for three hours every week in a village. The initial few visits require us to survey a village and identify the problems to work upon. Needless to say, we are thoroughly enjoying the serene beauty and the laid-back village life. Some snaps:

End of first term

With a series of exams in the last few days, we've finished our first term. This week has been particularly hectic. We'd to work on one book review, one assignment, one presentation, and three end term exams. I've slept for hardly 10 hours in the last 72 hours.

Anyway, I'm 1/7th MBA now (assuming I get thru all the courses). Celebrations are already in the air. Everyone is planning for the coming long weekend. I'm planning to go to Mumbai, if things workout.

Officially blogger

We've a formal blogging committee that maintains the college blog. My SOP for the same, which was supposed to be as casual as possible, read something like:

The most obvious response would be something like:
“I want to be a part of the college blogging team so that I can be of help in creating a better brand image of the institute in the virtual world and taking it to newer heights.”

But, that didn’t impress me itself, leave alone the reader. Then, the usual thought of Googling for a SOP came to my mind, but that’s what we usually do for all the assignments. So, for a change, I thought to be original this time and started to think for something creative. Alas!

Now the problem with the creative portion of our brain is that the moment you are in need for some ideas it starts sending the signs of its non-existence (Can something really send signs of its non-existence could be a topic of empirical research though).

While engrossed in my thoughts, I looked at the word count and realised that I’ve already crossed the prescribed limit of 150 words. So, here I’m, in this hot and humid summer afternoon of Chennai, sweat flowing all thru my body, still waiting, for my creative juices to flow.

Till few months back, I used to visit this blog to know more about the college. It feels great to have my name as one of the bloggers on the same blog.

Please click here to visit my college's blog.

Life at Great Lakes - I

facing problem with uploading videos..looking for options..

My first speech in MBA

This was a part of Business Communication course where-in we'd to give a speech of two minutes on any topic. Since delivery was more important than the content, so I chose what I like most about Mumbai.


Hi Friends!

I am Shobhit and today I am going to talk about what is considered to be the life line of Mumbai – the local trains.

First, let me share with you some of the facts about Mumbai local trains. There are three different lines of local trains in Mumbai: the Western Line, the Central Line and the Harbour Line. Among these three lines, the Western line is considered to be the most important and most crowded one. It runs from Churchgate to Virar and covers some of the most famous stations of Mumbai such as Mumbai Central, Dadar, Bandra, Andheri, Borivali etc.

The local trains carry around 6.5 million commuters daily and run for almost 24 hours a day.

The local trains have a life of their own. The early morning trains are full of fishermen and newspaper hawkers. Between 6 to 10 in the morning, the trains are full of college and office goers. After that comes the turn of Dabbawallas. These Dabbawallas pick up lunch boxes from the homes of people and deliver the boxes in their offices at lunch time. As you all know, the functioning of Dabbawallas is a case study in itself.

In the evening traffic increases again, but in the reverse direction. I have read an interesting observation somewhere. It says that during peak hours, the density of people inside a local train is more than anywhere else in the world.

In the end, I’d like to say that if you get a chance to visit Mumbai, please take a ride in local trains and experience the fun.

Thanks. Have a nice day!


PS: The speech went well and people were interested in knowing more about Mumbai local trains, so the discussion about local trains was continued in the class.

Washroom humour!

Just after writing the Group Dynamics exam, I was talking with one of my friends in the washroom. As after every exam, we're totally frustrated.

Our Economics Prof, who is considered to be one of the most ferocious Profs, entered the washroom. I wished the Prof, but my friend, who was standing facing the other side, didn't see him.

My friend: "Saale ne bola tha movies se question aayenge..."
The Prof hearing this smiled and gave me that so-this-is-going-on look. I wanted to let my friend know about the Prof's presence.

Me: "Sir, the paper was very tough."
But, my friend didn't listen and continued.
Me: (trying harder)"Sir, the paper was really very tough."
But, of no use.

I started laughing by now, knowing we are screwed.
Prof: (Smiling and speaking in Hindi)"Tum log khud kuch padhte nahin ho aur phir exam ke baad faculty ko gaali dete ho."
My friend turned back and realised what'd just happened. The Prof still smiling went ahead. We were looking at each other, thinking what to do next.

My friend: "Sir, it was just frustration coming out and not our intentions." (waah! some damage control).
Immediately the Prof turned.

Prof: "Tum log mujhe to bahut gaaliyan dete hoge?"
I don't know what was going into my mind,but I replied within a split second.
Me: "Sir, abhi apka exam nahin hua hai."
I still can't believe I said that!

Within few hours everyone in the college knew about the incident. Later in the day, we'd a Eco lecture. We were really scared, but the Prof didn't point us for anything.

We hope he took it as just another incident. We are now waiting for our final grades to confirm that!

Main campus

A view of our college's main campus - consists of amphitheater surrounded by academic block. Click on the image to see the enlarged view.

really fast track..

I came out of the exam hall completely puzzled. I wasn't even sure whether I studied for the same subject over the weekend.

Such feelings may come, when the subject in question is Indian Philosophy and includes five books on:
- Upanishads
- Practical Vedanta
- Karma Yoga
- Bhagvad Gita
- Vivekananda Lectures

People took hundreds of years to compile and understand these scriptures and we covered them in 8 sessions only.. that's really fast track MBA!

Karma Yoga Project Inauguration

20th May 2009, Chennai: Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai inaugurated the Karma Yoga Project in collaboration with Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) Kalpakkam at the Great Lakes’ newly built campus. Dr. Saibaba, Director IGCAR formally inaugurated the Karma Yoga event. The other prominent dignitaries present for the event were Mr. Reddy, MD MARG Constructions, Prof. Xavier, PGPM Director and Prof. Venkat Krishnan, Head of Karma yoga committee at Great lakes.

As part of the project the institute is going to adopt 12 villages in the vicinity of Kalpakkam and students will work in groups for the development of these villages. The students will identify the key areas of improvement from among healthcare, education, sanitation etc and work on them for the next five months. The institute will facilitate students with all the necessities. IGCAR and Marg Constructions have also promised to support the students.


PS: Wrote this press brief as part of the application process to apply for college's Branding & PR committee. Though I couldn't make to the final list of the committee, but we'll start working soon on the Karma Yoga project.

My new abode

G2E (Ground floor, second block, Eth room) is my new address for an year.

Accomodation is on a single occupancy basis. The furniture range is from Godrej Interio.. I guess.. as Godrej is one of the promoters of the college.

Here are some pictures:

The first look: well lit n air-contioned..

Single bed, book-shelf, study table..

Outside view.. construction still going..

Cupboard, shoe-rack..

Warning: Room in pictures may appear more spacious than it is.