The Return- "Lehman(y) Snickets"

It has been a long time since I have written something here.. A lot has happened since then...
(Well..at least for Lehman (Bang)Bros and Merrill Lynched!!.. )

A lot of ink and time has gone in writing about and reading how the global scenarios have affected us at IIMA..and rightly so - an entire business function - Investment Banking is on the verge of obliteration!!..and companies in that field are huge recruiters of talent at WIMWI..
but it's all cool... this place wouldnt be what this place is, if a few companies going bust would affect it colossally...

What bugs me these days is this - I met a couple of students from other B schools.. A common friend introduced us.. He said - "Oh. meet these guys- They are IIM A " ( Mind it- not "these guys are from IIM A" but " these guys ARE IIM A" ) ..
and suddenly- the room is filled with EXPECTATIONS!!..it was as if I am expected to just open my mouth and suddenly all would be right with the world!!...

Wherever we go.. our brand precedes us ..we arrive - we are greeted with superhuman expectations... and you ought to see the disappointment on their faces when they discover that we are really normal human beings- replete with Foot-in-the-mouth tendencies AND a normal Sense of Humour..
(some of them were suprised that we could appreciate a good joke too!!) ..

The piss off is that we cant compete with superhuman expectations.. if we try - we get stuff like " What !!.. you guys ARE IIMA ..this fourier analysis on quantum generated business reports should be like a cakewalk for you!!" ... (yeah.. maybe we should even start running the RBI and the Fed !!)

And if we dont bother, we are labelled as arrogant suckers... Fantastic, na ?

Had gone to a local radio station... it was interesting to see how even a small radio station that caters to just a few lakhs takes its branding so seriously.. had an intense session on Branding, Consumer preferences and a lot of other stuff which I should have taken notes on... (not my fault- the RJ was hot !! )

Today- it was a special day - every class has its SLEEPER's Club- it is an honour to be a member of this club- Members often take on tremendous risks and sleep off in the class..
Apart from risk taking, members need to be quick thinkers- We are often woken rudely out of our beautiful slumber and asked questions -difficult specific questions pertaining to the case we are studying at that point...
and mind you, the guy was asleep at that point.. so the chances that he had not even heard the question are pretty high...
This where the member's skill kicks in.. sample this -

Case 1
Prof: " A***, so do you think that Nirmal Rayons should double its capacity ? "
A*** (startled outta his brains) : " Uh... Sir.. this is ...uh ... IT DEPENDS !!!"
Prof : Good..Morning!!..join consultancy!!

Case 2
Prof : "R***, what is your opinion about the current situation of Smokey Valley ? "
R*** (Kicked into consciousness by his concerned neighbour) : " I...I ..think...uh..
Prof : "Hurry..I havent got whole day"
R*** : "Sir, I believe that Smokey Valley is in bad shape"
Prof: "Why? "
R*** : "Otherwise, we wouldnt be discussing this case!!"

The difference between a Sleeper Cell Member and a normal student at WIMWI is this-
Sleeper Cell Members are just a bit more smarter and often luckier if they are not caught!!...
Our President of the Sleeper Cell got caught THRICE in THREE lectures.. a first in the history of either WIMWI or Sleeper Cell!!!

..going over to his dorm for an emergency meeting !!.. We are selecting a new President!!