..S dot dot..: @ Bilekahalli

light essays at IIMB by Sri

Spartan Solid Architecture

Bangalore, Banerghatta Road, Bilekahalli (the village where IIM campus is located) beckoned. We had to register at the city office at St.Joseph’s college in Richmond road where IIM B held classes and ran out of while the campus came up. Joined the rat race along with another 100 odd in the batch. The campus was coming up and I think admission were limited by the numbers hostel can take. True to IIMs it had unique architecture using rough cut granite and concrete – an amazing work that looked different at different times in the day with play of light. The architecture had straight line all through with the exception of the water tank (yes the same one in 3 idiots). The age of colour photographs had started and Bangalore was ahead of other cities with this chain called fotoflash and this blog may look like a photo essay as there is plenty to chose from.

view from the tank then

the tank made famous by 3 idiots

I was among the last to arrive along with a bunch of others and had a unique privilege. IIM B or for that matter management in general did not attract much gender diversity yet. The result was A block reserved for women was not full and late arrivals like me got a room in this privileged block where I joined 8 odd men to be amongst the best dressed heading to the washroom everyday for a full year.

Back to college after work was a different experience altogether right from kicking oneself out of bed to, queues at the mess to sitting in a classroom. Fortunately there was enough company as IIM B took more people with work-ex than freshers. The first rude shock for one and all was FA by Prof Narayanaswamy. I had heard stories of what the Profs teaching accounting revel in at IIMC, XL etc from friends but facing it first hand with a surprise quiz where marks started subzero like minus 10 etc to 1 or 2 was a revealing experience. It cannot get worse can it. It can depending on who teaches what. Kotler, Potter, Kinnear & Taylor lined up to teach us marketing and strategy through our PeeGeePee coordinator Vijayasarathy and Bhaskaran (fondly called Bosky). Case studies, group work and the corner computer room consumed time seemingly as we tried to figure out the system and crack the code. The coolest I think was Organisational behavior with Walecha – everytime he had books to give for us to take, read, do some reading and open book exams. I think within a month most of us found the rhythm and managed our own space and time – both at classes and hostel. The mess was not great and during the day a lot happened at Aunty’s and the night was courtesy Night canteen with Saravanan. (who was also a security guard)

SACs Sri-Kam-Kili-Hawa and others

The trimester system ensured things ended before they started and if you lost something you had little time to catch up – but for most of us the main thing to catch up on was fun. Basket ball , volley ball had their gangs. Volleyball was more spontaneous being tucked in between blocks. Bell brandy was there just outside campus as mood elevator and trip to J4 (Jayanagar 4^th block) or Brigades was mandatory for some on weekend evenings as a way to catch up with civilization. The common room was just below my room and had a video player as well – which normally worked overtime late nights. But I think it was subject to most (ab)use with the release of Tezaab. For weeks ekdoteen fans will rewind and play it every evening and once it starts it didn’t stop. And then there was the neighbourhood shed, we called shack, where a movie could be seen and special alerts will be on the notice board for Chiranjeevi movies which were non-stop amusers.

bola panju me - holi

A few of us got carried away to take up turning around the mess and what a mess it was to manage Eric the captain and ensuring pilferage. Rags, I and few others were crazy enough to go up to yeshwantpur in the other side of the city to arrange groceries and there was no foul play. There was also SACs the handy store run by students which opened post dinner mainly and the fastest selling sku was the hard boiled candy @10paise. Then came the parties with literally buckets of fun as the cocktails were made in buckets of Khoday’s rum and Thumsup. Each block had a party and then there was a batch party- just need an excuse. And a band with Shireesh, Austin, Arjun, Bosky, Mani and few others giving Santana, knofler, ian Anderson, Glenn frey and many more a run for their money. The blocks were compact, open and were great for Govinda (dahi Handi) event hosted by A block girls and Holi. The first year sped away even though it was an extended year at campus for me as I with Rajil did summers with the erstwhile Grindlays bank at Bangalore.

B Block kili,me,sethu subba misra

Bright & beutiful Suku, Sri, Me

2^nd year was much more fun as it was more of electives, one could chose and set the pace. We could move to an all mends B block. The profs were easy on attendance so far as once could manage acads. It was also clear as to who can vie for the top and for the lot who did not, it was fun. There was some cosmic event probably that influenced a radical change in the way IIM B admitted the next batch. There were more freshers and a larger pop of girls. It made the campus busy and lively and literally bright colours, bandannas. belts and fashion wear hit the corridors prompting some of us to do a spoof.

Sri's room Kam, me, bola, kili, suku

my spartan room

Rooms were a personality statement. Sri had the most tastefully lit room. Kili made these wonderful lampshades from ice cream sticks which were both arty and amazing when lit. Occasional weekend trips happened to places around Bangalore from Banerghatta to Nandi hills and Hoganekkal. Few close knit groups formed in each block as it happens in hostels but the entire batch itself was only about a 100 odd and everyone knew each other across batches.

Placements started early. I think in December / Jan itself and if one got placed early, which most did, the rest of the time was only fun and the last trimester was wash out. Placement was hyped up, high tension atmosphere and it all mattered on how one felt that day in most cases. Placements sprung its surprises but overall was fun.

Placement Himanshu,me sampra,anuj,austin,jp

Sethu,me,bola.sri,suku,kili, saravanan
get set go to nagarhole

Post placement a bunch of 6 decided to embark on a bike trip to Mysore and Nagarhole that lasted just a few hours . Sethu and me had an accident courtesy an old man cycling off balance with a sac hit the bike handle making us hit a running bus we were overtaking all outside the Mandya police station. Sethu had head injury and had to be rushed. I and Sridhar (Bola) returned after reporting to the police. It was an eventful day as while returning we stopped for tea and monkeys ran away with Sridhar’s bike keys. Fortunately Sethu bounced back and we all were relieved. But I think his father had a tough time. His name is also Sundaresan and he had to face this case with the police where another Sundaresan (self) riding as a pillion had given a statement and they used it to charge Sethu with Rash & negligent driving!

me, sridhar, kili, sri -NOSTALGinc

suku kam kili bola sri in my room

With all this excitement over, it was farewell time and there was this idea to create memorabilia – I think by Sri. So Sridhar managed ops & finance, Sri the marketing and Kili & I design. The first and so-far the only entrepreneurial effort (non-profit) I got involved in ‘NOSTALGinc’ was formed. We made some farewell cards, stickers, T shirts, designed the yearbook etc. It was great fun and made the finish at IIMB very special.

ps: any interest in works of NOSTALGinc or pics here, do write to as.sundaresan@gmail.com