Naveen’s Journal

No, these lakes are not the ones associated with Mumbai, nor any pilgrimage as you may ponder. Located in the southern suburbs of Calcutta, whithin the serene campus of Indian Institue of Management, Calcutta in Joka, they cover a better part of the sprawling 135 odd acres of the eminent B school of India. Courtesy Siddharth, my childhood buddy, currently on the rolls of PGDCM 2005-07 there, and more to my habit of last minute desperations for anything important, yesterday i had the good fortunes to get up n close with the one of the most coveted institutions of higher education in India. Had he not taken the CAT bulletin for me the previous day (the last day too!) , i’d have had to be content with the memories of the excursion only, quashing any hopes whatsoever of gracing any of the IIMs with my presence as their guest for 2 years! It was not to be. The goody-goody guy sid is (at least seems so), not only did he bunk his already-down-in-the-dumps Financial Accounting class for it, but also gave me a guided tour of the college premises with an obvious sense of pride, coated with humility. We started off with the hostel itself, his room being adjacent to the Computer Lab, the Common Room …… and ……….. the GIRLS’ HOSTEL…………!!!!!!! yes, the Girls’ Hostel. Moving on to what looked like a small club, having a tennis court, a basketball court outside, inside was the empty gymnasium, as if its ultramodern equipments begging to be used! Alongside was the indoor badminton court, slick enough to give the ones maintained by national authorities a run for their money! With such facilities in-campus, i wonder how the college keeps churning out brains as it does. Next stop was the ultramodern auditorium at the heart of the campus which we didn’t go inside and moved on to the academic blocks. The thing which would strike anyone was the roll of honour hanging on the walls inspiring each of the 250 odd students each year. After having a good look at the lecture halls, we made a move and on the way saw the bird sanctaury, the Kendriya vidyalaya, the library, the administrative blocks. HELLO…. we are still in the campus! A good one and a half hours of the PILGRIMAGE was enough to give to me something to think about.