Time to Fly
Almost a year back I joined the senior management program with a clear goal in the mind, and the goal was to use the program a steppingstone to climb the ladder, either in the same organisation or anywhere else. Do I have same goal now? yes, somewhere in the corner of my heart I do have, but do I want it as badly as the start of the program? probably not, so what did change? Gradually the learnings from the program were telling “don’t be the king in the jungle, be the jungle”. The change in the thought process was humming in the ears, but it became a medley at the five-day campus module in “God’s own Campus” IIM Kozhikode.
I was determined to attend the campus module, so beating the odds of the official travel I ran to the airport to catch the flight to Calicut. At 4 AM in the morning phone was vibrating with the messages of fellow colleagues (yet to meet in flesh) that they are sitting at the “gate”. By nature, little introvert in me was sceptical, and kept myself at the distance in lounge sipping “coffee without coffee”, but with extra foam. Finally, met everyone at the boarding, exchanged formal pleasantries, and the hidden question mark on the personalities was visible on everyone’s face?
Day Zero
Like zeroth law of thermo dynamics, the day zero revolved around knowing each other in equilibrium, because after all humans have a power of influence by looks, habits and sometime even the way somebody walks. So, day zero went away welcoming people from different parts of the country, a group Mumbai, Delhi or Bangalore, and in these groups, for me, a Maharashtrian born and brought-up in Rajasthan and living in Hyderabad was a feeling of “Potato”, either mix with “Dosa” or eat with “Bhatura” it provides the same heavenly feeling. Also, interestingly when people met each other on day zero they kept saying to each other that they thought someone could be tall, small, not recognisable without make-up etc, so again it was a realisation for me after reading “The little Prince” that all grown-ups have a cataract in the eye as they rarely try to understand the truth behind the appearance.
Day 1
The most important day of the Campus module, and you will know why before the day ends! So, the lazy Sunday of a normal middle-class engineer, banker or entrepreneur was giving more energetic feeling in the campus. Aroma of college cafeteria was already pulling people for the breakfast, after all, after passing the college it was the first time for many like me to again experience the canteen food, and in the start itself I should thank the “Sarovar” facility management for the food, they religiously kept “Aloo” in “Aloo Paratha”, don’t blame me to bring “Aloo” again, after all I resemble with it.
After the tasty breakfast, it was the time to “let’s break”. This was the session introduced first time in the module, prof Venkat did mention that it was based on the suggestions from the last batch, this was Prof Venkat’s subtle way to tell us that our feedback will help in future improvements. The session was “let’s break” and not break the “ice” because in general people are not warm and to break the ice a warm feeling is must, and that only comes after a while when warmness in relationship gets build-up. It wasn’t a session about knowing each other’s name, designations, or hobbies, it was the time to open-up a child with-in you. It was amazing to see that everyone knew (though only some got gifts, and only the special table) what it takes to be like a child? but we always behave as a grown-up, until a bottle of whisky satisfies the adrenaline rush.
Afternoon was the time for prof Venkat to listen feedback, out of many feedbacks give I envy only one, the one to conduct regular exams. God bless next batches, and our batch from their curse. I immediately thanked the god that the person suggesting this was in my batch and wasn’t in the last one.
Afternoon was also to meet and start the Capstone journey. Time came to become virtual entrepreneur; first round results were out and the desire to get the company profitable was pumping the heart, many teams were in deep shock to incur emergency loans, and that was a sign that a middle-class salaried person started running the business, why do I say that? Well middle class is afraid of loans, and hence many didn’t take so called “Long term debt”. I didn’t know any of my capstone teammates, and I am damn sure that we were not the “Real Madrid’s” of the world, but we weren’t “Mohan Bagan” as well, teams with the star players do care a lot about winning, and loss can get them devasted, but I was with the people who had the same belief as me “live and let live”. We wanted to win, but the learning and knowing each other on the course was the most important thing for us, and like us, at the end, many teams were successful in making the bond.
Second round of simulation was done, so what to do now? Sit around, roam around or go-up and down in the campus, but then a message conversation landed me in the “Monad”, and I entered in the party as un-invited guest, but, hang-on, had anyone got an invitation? and that was the beauty, people followed each other, landed in the hotel, and party started. A night to remember, where less known people met in the morning, but like a child, started enjoying in each other’s company with dance, songs, and whisky. So, child created by Prof Deepa in the morning remained the child in the evening, but with the bottle of scotch.
Day 2
All of us were eager to listen and get the insight on leadership from IIMK director prof Debashish, first time the session was more important than having a breakfast, all legs quickly walked in the direction of the auditorium, some even wore the suit to register the presence. The session started with the simple breathing exercise, and then travelled through spiritual journey to mark a spiritual stamp on traits of leaders, three hours felt as if the session just started.
Second half was to get the feedback on our hard work on “Integrative Project Report”. Everyone one was eager to understand where they stand as a “Market Analyst”. Prof Venkat explained all the nitty-gritty in the length and provided the insight of what was done well and what didn’t go well? In the feedback session he was asked to tell if we did better than last batch, it was like kids “Jack” and “Jones” asking who is beloved to dad? so our batch was praised, but just in a subtle way we were told we could have been better. I took a learning that never ever ask a question which leads to a comparison, rather just look for feedback on your own things and compete with yourself.
Day by day simulation was becoming intense, a desire to make company profitable by launching new products in different market segment or retiring the product in the segment was the common theme. Teams were in play, fighting to stay in game or a zeal to win was visible enough on the faces.
Before saying goodbye for the day, there was again a question on the table to go out for wine and dine or on the beach. People were having fun, pulling legs, giggling, whispering, and having a laugh like bunch of teens would have just got an admission in their favourite college.
Day 3
The new dawn, and the whole new perspective on the leadership with the prof Debashish, this was the session to remember for a life. References of Krishna, Arjuna and the scriptures to carry the message of what leadership is? what leaders should do? was very appropriately massaged by professor to draw the point he wanted to convey in the session. I was also amazed to see that prof Debashish met so many renowned personalities including Mother Teresa, and the references of his experiences was told the one important lesson of life and that was be a human, and as a leader remain humble.
Out of my curiosity and deep interest in learning from scriptures lead me to ask professor about an incident in Mahabharata where Yudhishthira spreads a news of “Ashwatthama” being dead without mentioning if it was an “Elephant” or a son of “Draunacharya” and that led to break the rampant of “Draunacharya” in “Kurukshetra”. My question was that, if it is appropriate to do something like this to win for the team, and I couldn’t have got the better answer, and the answer was that everything is about an intent of what you want to do? What is right or wrong? Depends on your own intent.
I conquered with professor when he said that you may choose to have an ideal and keep his or her qualities to drive the values in the life, I think this is very important for the leader to live with the values. I mentioned for me it is “Ram” and for me the reason to choose that is that I lack patience and that is one of the best qualities of “Ram”, I think probably looking at the ideal you choose you may try to inert his or her qualities in yourself.
The room was full of the fancy designations on the visiting cards, but yes, none of us had choice to make that round or oval than rectangular, it is a realisation that you may have a show-off title, but how little it looks? when you don’t have choice to put the same title in bold and italic. Message was loud and clear that you don’t have anything to proud of if you can’t design your visiting cards the way you like, then work hard enough to design one where you are not at the mercy of policies and guidelines.
Professor’s session ended with the listening of the poem he wrote, named as “Silence”.
All of us were eager to get selfies and professor’s autograph as a souvenir, this session left a deep impact on somewhere down the heart.
Afternoon was for the simulation, and then the time was for another memorable evening, it was time to get drenched in the mist of music. A wonderful memorable evening where many singers tried their voice, and even though rhythm was not the companion of the voice it did touch many hearts. The child professor Deepa awakened in the hearts of people on the first day was still tickling the nerves of grown-ups.
It was the time to sleep for a middle-aged people, but a bachelor in some of us was awake, we kept talking about the random things which in regular nine to five life doesn’t make any sense, but they can be called vitamins come through the source called friends, and by the way they are far from gossips. Stories of “Billu” and “Chintu” floated around for hours in the night. It did remind us of our college days and those lovely hostel rooms where few friends indulge in the talk without thinking about the “cast and creed” of the “designations and money”.
In my own experience, it is difficult to start making friends as soon as you cross the magic forty, because this is the age where individuals reach the second level of grownup-ism, reeling under the pressure of the expectations and desire to full fill those expectations never allows a person to think of relationships without any strings attached, but SMP 5 was different, I made friends as if I made on the first day when my parents might have left me crying in the nursery or as a teenager ready to explore the world in the engineering college. Forty was the new twenty for me and the many.
Day 4
Mystic mountains of IIMK hills were ready to welcome rays of hope again. This was one of those days when people think about the evening drink with a fist sip of coffee, it was the birthday of a tall- handsome friend, and everyone was awaiting to sing the birthday song.
We keep talking, debating, listening, and arguing about the idea of India, for me an idea of the India unfurls when a guy from “Jharkhand” wears a traditional “Mundu” of Kerala with a pride. First time wearer of “Mundu” does have a fear of exposing naked truth, but “Mundu” also keeps the promise to keep them under the cover. It was enjoyable traditional day, furling the colours of India all over the campus. I am sure the Vivekanand statue standing at the gate must be relieved to see that the idea of India is still alive in the hearts, and thoughts, because words are short-lived, but thoughts go far enough to create an impact.
Before vanishing for the party, everyone was equally interested in knowing the outcome of cut-throat competition to make the companies profitable. The profitable company was the one where people worked together, divided the responsibilities and the one where CFO wasn’t holding the funds, but the most important part was the place where everyone understood their roles and worked together towards common goal. “Marwari” in me kept thinking about the option of merger or selling off the company to pocket the profit and start another venture. I hope there will be soon this option and Prof Nycil will help people in selling the stake along with increasing cumulative profit.
Sun was ready to dim the lights to welcome the vibrant and beautiful evening, a birthday bash which was attended by many, and I was, and I am, still jealous that why it wasn’t my birthday? Because rarely in the life you get a chance to celebrate with the people who come to your party to just enjoy rather than measuring the quality of the food or the brand of the wine served. Everyone danced like a grown-up kid, and Prof Deepa should be proud enough that the kid she lighten-up on the first day was still awake.
The day cannot be erased from the memory, the day when people danced and enjoyed the life without any prejudice.
Day 5
When I got up in the morning, I felt bit heavy, and no it was not “hangover” it was the heaviness of the heart, it was the heaviness of leaving the campus and going back to the life of a middle age corporate worker. I must say, happiness of getting the certificate was overpowered by the grief of leaving friends, campus, and the professors. I had already started thinking what I am goanna do on Saturdays. I was afraid that again my wife will find me free to get the house cleaned or to keep me busy in the bargaining game of “Lemon-Coriander and Ginger”. I was happy to see Prof Lionel on the dais to teach the Corporate Accountability, I must admit the topic touched the nerves. Prof Lionel went on telling the true face of corporate reality by giving the example of many industries and the corporates, he helped in breaking the myth that corporate accountability is only about the CSR, my feeling was that CSR is like dipping yourselves in the holy “Ganga” for the sins. I kept a promise to myself that I will
work with the good intent, and as Prof Debashish says, I may not become the best in the competition, but I will remain good.
All the professors were on the dais, and every child in grown-up was waiting to hear their name called to go and get the certificates. By all means, everyone was in the Campus and were hiding on Saturdays for whole one year from their wives, kids or husbands for this day. Eventually, my name was called, and I don’t know this, but my inner voice called me to touch the feet of the Prof Lionel. Learnings from the last lessons from Prof Lionel were engraved on my heart.
Everyone posed for the photos to keep the final memories. No people didn’t cry, because though the child was there in the grown-ups, yet the grown-up was strong enough to overpower the emotions.
Time came to say goodbye to each other with the promise of remaining in touch.
What did I gain after spending every Saturday for a year on this journey? Was it to get the certificate from IIM K? Was it about becoming a HiPo? and yes, all these things were there, they were there as an intended outcome of the program, but I must say I gained more that that. First time in my life I realised that my wisdom tooth has popped out and taught me to be a good person than a lust of triumph. I never thought that this journey could imprint so many memories of good people and fine grain learnings.
We are still in touch, we keep posting thing on WhatsApp groups, still pull each other’s legs and feel like drowning in the memories of yesterday.