They Never Said That

3 years, 9 trimesters, 43 subjects and a Business Plan - Academically sums up our tenure in college. It was 3 years back that we took a decision to appear for a management entrance, to fight for a place in the undergraduate course of one of the most respected B-Schools of India. And we made it.

But today, when we are about to leave, looking back and reflecting upon the journey and experience of the 3 years in this building, there is much to ponder about as to whether we are leaving as 'relieved' people given that the tough times faced here are over, or as adults ready for the dirty world called - Corporate. My heart says the former, but my mind knows it is the latter.

One thing I am sure about is that each of us will leave with a question - "What did we learn here?" And my own answer to this will be - "Depends on what we were willing to." Many of us leave with a glamourous grade sheet stating posh CGPAs ready to go one step ahead for an MBA here or abroad, many of us with the prestige of securing the best of placements, many of us ready to take the throne of our family's establishment and many who made our own mark by starting up on our own, beginning a new era of independence in life.

Apart from that, there was much more. I stepped into the Institute, knowing I ain't here 'just for books and notes'. Perhaps that is the reason I took a keen interest in sitting through the orientation on Day 1 and getting information about the various cells. And that was the day I knew what is in store for me. So did most of us. And so the life of BBA in this B-School started. Many who had come from a Science/Arts background took time to settle into a commerce field. That taught change. And even after three years, the subject 'Accountancy' is synonymous to a horror show which no one wants to watch. This taught us to be patient and that nothing is achieved overnight. And soon, the efforts to join the cells of our interest and take charge in participation and organization of events started. And for those who managed to get through, this taught success. For those who didn't, it taught them about something called a second chance. 3 trimesters in a year, all beginning and getting over in a flash. 5 subjects and each with a project or an extra written test inclusive. This taught us working till late hours. Getting messages of last minute time table changes close to midnight. This taught us how to adjust in emergencies. Uploading of notes and finalizing of the syllabus days before the exams. This taught us how to do more in less time. Endless presentations and reports. This taught us how to stay up late for 'productive work'. 

Getting involved in various activities taught us how to multitask. Literary arts and magazine got the writer and intellect out of people. Debating brought out a perspective of logic in any matter. For which being updated with the latest happenings in the world was required. Drama, dance and music brought out the exposure of displaying your talent on stage. Social events got the human out of us to contribute to the society. Sports got the quality and teamwork out of some. Placement activities taught us how the Corporate functions. And having wrong people for the job can just demolish the entire set-up. Business competitions and National and International level case challenges got the practical application out of the theoretical knowledge gained.

Amidst all this was the constant opposition and hindrance from certain factors. There were always those people who were ready to take the opportunity when someone else made a mistake. Inter-student rivalry and dissent taught us how to deal with petty politics. Fighting against the management for rights and support taught us to protest and rebel against injustice. Traveling Nationally and abroad gave us an outlook towards competing against people from different cultural backgrounds.

There was much to learn. And I'm sure many of us did. Yet, many of us are happy to leave finally. College life will be missed, and remembered. But the tough times faced with apathy and mismanagement? Not really. Who would want to be reminded of rules changing without information being disseminated properly? About 'attendance' being a major bone of contention, significant enough to change the shape of one's career? About the trysts with the department that handles management of 'examinations' and their blatantly disgraceful attitude towards students? About rules changing in between examinations all of a sudden, startling us? About results being declared just before the commencement of the next phase of papers? About the 'hospitality' received in the library and the roasting of one's peace of mind by the staff for any minor reason? About the insulting attitude of a few visiting faculty who considered coming to share their knowledge and training us as a big favor to mankind? About the meaningless assignments that just wasted our time but had no impact on our grades or knowledge, rather than much that could have been done but wasn't because 'they didn't think likewise'? About the syllabus being repeated again and again but no new content being introduced? About the robbing of our pockets for no convincing reason? About getting nothing in return of what was promised (read: Industrial Visit), and when it was, the reason was just to promote their own University and the different courses available? About the running around to a minimum of 5 places and 5 people for one small approval? The level of bureaucracy that kept us waiting for one-third of an entire day during application for re-examinations?

And today, when we are just a week away from leaving this place, there are mixed emotions in mind. We did have good times, with few professors and external experts alike. We had blasts in birthdays of our batch mates. We did enjoy on those short trips with our friend circles or classmates. We did move around during late hours at the beaches or some restaurant watching a match. We did have enjoyable moments in college taking one another's case. And yet, somewhere there is a relief, thanking God that it is all over. Or is it? Will the big bad world be actually worse? Or definitely not as bad as this? Or just the same? Who knows? Perhaps we are soon on the verge of discovering the truth and cracking the mystery.

In the end, after thinking and reflecting, we do realize there was some 'take-away' from here, some things that we managed to snatch away. Perhaps that will help us in the life ahead. In our work places later on, or during our higher studies later in some phase of life. But who would have thought we would have experienced all this? There was a time, during childhood, when the world was all about smiles and joy, about games and picnics, about being loved and giving love. And at that time, they never said that there will be such a time ahead. We joined college not knowing what is ahead. They never said that we will face so many circumstances. We came in as students, but they never said that we will be leaving as individuals. They never said that. But we realized it.

MON-TAJ

     Three Cheers to our Cultural Club. After one and a half years in this college I can speak of participation in several fests and events that have led to my identity as an established actor in my Institute. I thank the club for the opportunities I was given and express gratitude especially to those seniors who took the initiative to start this platform due to which we could showcase our talent and deliver classical performances on stage.

     Drama has always been a passion for me and the determination to perform well has ensured I give my best on every stage I step on to. I can attribute the success in my performances to patience, perseverance and the long hours of practice with a goal to get better and better with each take. Thanks to that, Dr. Prem Khurana, Bhalu Fasad Yadav, Lala Ji and ACP Pradyuman have been successes and widely acclaimed.

     Nevertheless, I cannot deny the constructive feedback and quality advices from my co-actors that have prevented me from committing many blunders. With the Institute we are bonded to for three precious years of our lives being so adamant on maintaining its ‘Scrooge’ image, it’s all left for us to do ourselves, being deprived of expert assistance that our competitors enjoy. Yet I say we can be proud of what we have achieved. With a podium finish to our name in majority of the events we have been part of, no one can deny what a talented pool we are. With the indication of how much more we can achieve if we are provided some more support from ‘You-know-who’. But we have no option rather than cribbing and continuing to be independent.

     Sadly, the truth is much uglier. We have learnt in our childhood in the numerous stories and moral values lessons about looking at oneself before pointing a finger at anyone else. This is just the mistake the club has committed. While the verdict regarding the Management woes may be unanimous, and completely justified, what is the credibility of the current post holders? I strictly speak in terms of management and responsibility, not talent. Least to say is that the way the club has been running after the retirement of the predecessors is absolutely preposterous. With an astonishing number of five people at the helm of just the drama segment, with their mentalities in four different directions, we can imagine why the condition of the drama team is so pathetic.

     Although the club was under constant criticism by other clubs and committees alike regarding politics and the President a deemed ‘autocrat’, no one could question the commitment of the then heads of the respective departments and the manner of function. Though still flawed in many ways, it had tied the team together and ensured that everyone gave activity the top-most priority rather than vested interests and ego clashes.

     Needless to say, the day they left, so did this culture. Slowly, the club moved towards a downfall, the evidence being that the recent Delhi fest was the first time the drama team failed to qualify in any of the events. Not only was it a disappointing end to a satisfactory run of decent results given the constraints, but also a blessing in disguise for our dear old ‘well-wishers’ to take another jibe at us, that too when they crave for such opportunities.

     But what else can we expect when the people at the helm are at loggerheads, so much to question one another’s integrity as well as seeking their ousting from the post? While one questions the selection of another, the other accuses the third of trying to be authoritative. Is this the attitude with which we dream of making a mark at the National level? I disagree. At a time when all should be sitting together and discussing what went wrong and planning a revival, what we see is finger-pointing and the natural blame-game.

     I wonder if it is difficult to comprehend that we being part of the same contingent and traveling with a single purpose should be a united party. Things go wrong when one distinguishes his or her responsibility from another’s. And that’s when a division starts taking place.

     It is disheartening to see the way things are conducted. No sensible dramatist in this world will have the slightest hope of even performing five percent of his potential if the script is not ready till the day of the performance. With such an established committee in place is it really difficult to get three scripts ready with more than a month and a half in hand? So much that work should stay incomplete till the last day and characters should be switched at the eleventh hour to accommodate last minute changes? On a normal course when teams are ready with their plans well in advance and having mastered their roles well in time for the big day, I see no reason that the situation for us to sacrifice an entire night’s sleep should arise by any means. I do not call that drama; I call it a disgraceful attitude towards theatre.

     Moreover, if discipline is that integral to the success of the team and indiscipline intolerable, then why do we still see people coming up to three hours late for a rehearsal with all the excuses in the world from illness to the visit by a relative during those very hours and getting away with it and then all authority and strictness coming out on the day of the performance?

     In a place where everyone is supposed to be equal, if the ones with authority take undue advantage and indulge in unprofessional behaviour, there is no reason for the others to tolerate such ill-treatment. If one doesn’t have the attitude to accept suggestions and changes that could better the set-up, such a bullish individual has no right to be given any role. I would say the same for a person who would rather exercise his or her right to stay silent; reserving all differences in opinion to be thrust once a mistake has been committed.

     Whoever has the courage to accept the truth will agree that we by no means deserved to even perform at such a level, let alone dream of qualifying. There are many areas where we lack, in some cases unaware of knowledge. It surprises me that instead of working on that, more attention is paid to take up authority and have one’s way. When the newcomers questioned me as to the functioning of the club, I could hardly express surprise that the question did arise. All I could answer is they better get used to it if they are here to stay. I had decided though, that enough is enough and I wouldn’t want to be where time and energy are wasted to no avail. When they come across and ask me why I am no more to be seen at the events or auditions, the reasons are quite clear. I have not ruled out working with the drama team completely in the future, but surely not for some time now. One thing’s for sure; if we have to make a mark and get back to the good old days, we have to bid farewell to politics and ego. But if the focus lies on whose head the ‘Taj’ is, we can very well expect the sorry days to continue.