Born to XL

At the break of June Jamshedpur is a rather lousy place to be in. The sun beats down mercilessly on a rather listless and brown-baked Jharkhand town. Smiles dry up from all faces just like the wells and lakes all around. It was in the midst of such aridity that I, the emperor of frowns arrived in XLRI. And like a sheltered middle-East oasis it opened its gates to me with unassuming emotion. The desert of knit brows ended with the auto rickshaw driver who got me here. Inside, waiting to be discovered and then enjoyed was a treasure trove of smiles, greetings and introductions. In spite of the sweat and grime there still remains many a reason to warm up to others.

A week later, the usual monsoon date crossed with room to spare, and we are still sweating and looking skyward in hapless prayer. The delay in rains and the intolerable humidity seem to be the Devil’s only aides in preventing us from creating our own small heaven here.

The prep course has been a revelation. It has proved to be not just a whirlwind of finances, math, OB and many other whatnots. In its unrelenting package is included several sporting and cultural events, lectures on values and self analysis and of course good-humored inter-group competitiveness. A week back a bunch of truants assembled here unguarded and unprotected. Seven days hence we are still ‘home alone’. Though we miss our guardians-in-absentia, we haven’t quite brought the house down like Macaulay Culkin. To put it modestly, we are fitting in quite well and assuming a culture we have only heard or read about.

The lecture on ‘values’ was noteworthy. After all wasn’t ethics something Fr.Thana taught way back in high school? What does it have to do with the world of slit-throat greenback-hungry professionals for who there is no free lunch? However the very intent of apprising neophytes like us with ethics in the corporate field is noble. Unfortunately the means did not toe the high line set by the ends. The discussion drifted towards Indian philosophy, the atma, the Hindu way of life etc. Though the lecture was thoroughly informative and the deliverer full of knowledge, the session left most in the audience disillusioned and cynical rather than satisfied and illuminated. Probably emphasizing on a manager’s perspective would have been more fulfilling.

A week is down and several questions are doing the rounds on the JLT Lawns these days. How is ragging going to be? Will we sleep as little for the next 2 years? When will it rain? Don’t the cafeterias open beyond midnight? Are there books for everyone in the library? Did you understand all that was taught in ‘quant’ today? When do the IIMC Jokas arrive here?

The answers to these questions and the many others I haven’t mentioned are too cumbersome and subjective to opinion. These are the days to ignore questions, avoid introspection and live every zimzamming moment to the fullest. To every question posed annoyingly to you, answer with a “what shall be, shall be” and throw in a “carpe diem” for the questioner’s peace.