7 Pillars of Silence: A Potpourri of Memories #3

**An ode to my Alma mater, Amrita School of Business(ASB)...The time when every day was a celebration, our college days...Here is an attempt to revisit those fond memories...

7 Pillars of Silence

          Living up to how a 'cool' student should be, I also love to hate the library. The number of visits most of us have made to this sanctum sanctorum of silence will be countable.

The only time when the ‘Lib-mall’ gets some decent footfall is during exams. The 1ast minute/11^th hour doubt clearance sessions or worse if you forgot to take the text book for an open book exam J  is when we visit the library.

The first acquaintance with library was when a bunch of us were given a half an hour session on how to use EBSCO which made us take a walk down the  siesta-street.

Most of the time, we reach the paper stand outside the library, but then get too busy to get inside J . I must mention our librarian who has been very cooperative and helpful towards all of us.

If at all the 7 pillars were to start speaking one day, they will have a lot to tell about those among us who are ‘Just good friends’ and spend a whole lot of time in the Lib ;).

#For some reason, Mohan comes to my mind whenever I think of Library. It might be because of the fact that he is a man of few words albeit being a power house of knowledge. So is our Lib mall!

Continue reading at :

In the Nick of Time : http://praisesnbrickbats.blogspot.in/2012/04/in-nick-of-time.html 

           

                                                                                                                                              Arun Babu.

Four Seasons of ASB : A Potpourri of Memories #2

**An ode to my Alma mater, Amrita School of Business(ASB)...The time when every day was a celebration, our college days...Here is an attempt to revisit those fond memories...

Four Seasons of ASB

            The four classrooms (CRs) are akin to four seasons of ASB. Each has its own charm and character. CR1 & CR2 will always remain close to our hearts, they having given us the very first lectures in ASB. The orientation classes with Bala sir’s ET reading sessions feel like yesterday. The BC presentations, the group works, the quizzes, the first ever midsems – the CRs served as a Colosseum for all those.

One of my memories is that of being ousted from Bhavana mam’s classes – for both subjects in two different semesters – that is no mean achievement ;) .

            The under-the-desk smses, the ‘open book’ quizzes, the ‘calling in sick’ when you just cannot stay awake will always bring a smile to our faces.

            Then came second year when we all graduated over to the second floor –CR3 & CR 4. Nothing much changed except for the breathtaking view of the mountains. And the number of students came down as electives came in. CRs started to get less formal. And yes, how can we ever forget CR-5 when we all undergo a metamorphosis in to ‘serious students’, thanks to Achath sir.

           

          The microphones which occasionally became aakashvaanis through cross connection and the noisy fan in CR4 are unique to ASB. All the forums’, committees’ selections and meetings also took place in the CRs.

# Speaking of CR reminds me of Nirmal n Prashant. I don’t remember which presentations they were – half way through the ppt, Nirmal proclaimed ‘I am blacking out’ which had us in splits and Prashant came in a suit, yes a SUIT !! like Barney ;)

It also reminds me of Daada. I have heard of the phrase ‘bring the house down’. But bringing the fan down and still asking the professor to continue with the class, that only dada could do J.

Continue reading at :

7 pillars of silence : http://praisesnbrickbats.blogspot.in/2012/04/7-pillars-of-silence.html

                                                                                                                             Arun Babu.

ASB Memoir: A Potpourri of Memories #1

*An ode to my Alma mater, Amrita School of Business(ASB)...The time when every day was a celebration, our college days...Here is an attempt to revisit those fond memories...

Our Wisdom tree

       I still vividly remember my first day at ASB. What caught my eye was the Wisdom tree standing tall and mighty in the courtyard. It gives the much needed greenery inside ASB which the lawn fails to lend. Many a time, we all have taken pictures sitting on its ever extending roots. Be it the fresher’s day party or the various high tea parties J for Utsav, Pragati , Farewell and any  such get together, it all happened in the shades of the wisdom tree. It even lend its branches for Pragati promos too. 

          The fluttering leaves and the wavering branches were a solace amidst the marathon lectures. Whenever I come back to ASB, this wisdom tree will be the first thing my eyes will look for.

#We cannot imagine the wisdom tree as a sapling. So is it with our beloved Ashaan J. It seems both of them were born mature and that’s exactly why we all love them both dearly.

Continue reading @ 

4 Seasons of ASB : http://praisesnbrickbats.blogspot.in/2012/04/four-seasons-of-asb.html 

p.s. Inspired from the thread ‘47 things I will miss about ASB’ by Anita Kaveri.
Photo courtesy  : Kris Menon

                                                                                                        Arun Babu

The Four Letter Word!!! : Blog # 8

                  The Four Letter Word!!!                         

*An evening at Amrita School of Business, Coimbatore

I woke up for the evening tea. I am always cranky after a nap; add to that the ongoing ‘Midsem’ massacres.  Vivek and I headed to the pavement en route the UG hostels. I desperately need this peaceful time before heading to the college for next day’s paper prep. A seemingly innocuous guy approached us and asked where the UG hostel is. Being not out of the cranky mood, I kept staring at the Elephant Mountains, sipping tea. Vivek  showed him the way. He said that he is a 2008 batch alumnus. He went on to add that the campus has changed much and it is always great to come back to this place.

Then he asked what course we were in. Vivek very proudly proclaimed that we are MBA students. Never the one to lose a networking chance, he added that our average CTC is 5.5 Lakhs and that we had 90%+ placements last year. Then this person asked if Deepak sir and Kulkarni sir are there in ASB. We said yes. He said he also completed MBA this year. We with our “chip on the shoulder” attitude ;) , asked him which college. We were expecting a Venkateshwara or a San. But then he very humbly told “XLRI”!!! I turned around and Vivek said he will never forget the look on my face!.

I have never been humbled like this in my life. We were amazed at the humility of this person. His itinerary for the day included a walk around the campus and a short sprint in the pool. No doubt he ll be known by the four lettered XLRI tag from now on. But the humility that he carries is the gift of being an Amrita alumnus. Love it, Hate it, but this is a university with a difference.

                                                                                                                    Arun Babu

When the Second floor fell silent...: Blog # 7

When the Second  floor  fell silent...

*Adieu Second years...A blog bidding farewell to our seniors

“Woh pal haemin yaad aayenge...woh kal yaad aayenge...” Overhearing this in the train, on my way back home made me write this  ...or was it the boredom that set in when Vivek slipped in to his usual ‘power nap’....

Saying Good byes have never been fun, well there are exceptions though ...J..For us, we know we all will be back in the comfort of Ettimadai by the onset of monsoon...But it’s not the same with seniors...

It dawned on us when after visiting dg sir for summers, we looked across the second floor...and what we saw was closed classrooms and a deafening silence.

It was comforting to know you were there for us...even if for a trivial thing like getting a calculator or to get some gyaan on placements...

We could always ask what to do in a professor’s class or more importantly, what not to do ;)

Just to borrow a text book we misplaced at the eve of the exam, or about how to get things done for Utsav or Pragati, we knew where to turn.

Now that you are gone, surely it leaves a void...

As Murthy sir says, as you move on from a state of zero accountability to one that holds you accountable for every deed of yours, we wish the all the very best for you...

Dear Seniors, a few of you have left a mark in our minds and we missed out a few...But all you guys will always remain close to our hearts.

                                                                                                     Arun Babu