XLRI PI Experience

8th March, 2007
The Ashok, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi

3.15 p.m. - Reached the venue. I was wearing a black suit with a light blue shirt and a blue tie. Forgive my immodesty but I've to admit I looked pretty smart. There were 3 guys (no girls). All of them were looking very smart (Is there something about suits that makes a guy look smart? Or is it that only smart people have come to give their interviews?). As soon as I reached, I finished 2 glasses of water, that calmed me down a bit. Started talking with the guys. Don't remember much of the conversations except I remembered telling one of them that talking helps in reducing the nervousness and started making remarks which makes other laugh. Well, that's one thing about me, sometimes, I can make strangers at ease with themselves (only sometimes, when I'm in the mood, I'm a moody person). The only thing is - who's going to put me at ease. Anyway, after about 20 mins, the 2 glasses of water started to take effect and I'd to go to the loo. God, the doors to the loo were looking similar to the normal room doors and I almost went inside the one for the opposite sex. Thank God, noone was there to saw me. I came out, chat for another 10 mins and then one of the professor called my name around 3.50 p.m.

3.50 p.m.
There were 3 members in the interview panel.
Left: Mr. Ashish K. Pani, Information Systems
Centre: Mr. Paul Fernandes, Ethics
Right: Mr. Vijayraghavan, Information Systems, Operations Management

PF was smiling, VR has a slight smile, AP was neutral. All three were very cordial and friendly.

Me: May I come in Sir? (Forgot to wish them Good Afternoon but I guess that's fine)
All 3 nods
PF: Have a seat
Me: Thank you (Sat down and adjusted the height of the chair)

PF pushed a sheet to me for me to sign

VR asked for my certificates

VJ: How do you pronounce your surname?
Me: (Looking up) Cha-bung-bam

PF: Where are you from?
Me: Manipur (and not Imphal, why?)

PF: So, your father is a proffesor in the Manipur University?
Me: Yes, Sir, he's the Vice Chancellor right now (feeling proud)

PF: And your mom?
Me: She's the principal of a college (didn't elaborate)

PF: Both your parents are in academics, why not you? Don't you like to be a academician?
Me: (Smiling) No, Sir, it's nothing like that. Our parents have given us the freedom to choose our own professions and I choose computer science engineering because I was fascinated by computers when I was a child.

AK: How many are you?
Me: (waiting for this question) We're 3 brothers, I'm the youngest. My eldest brother is in Kolkata and is an officer in the IRS (should have expanded it to mean Indian Revenue Service and not Indian Railway Service). My second brother is working in Microsoft, Hyderabad as Program Manager. He was also an XL alumnus. He passed out in 2005. His name is Sameer... Sameer Singh Chabungbam

AK or VR: The football player?
Me: I don't know if he played football, Sir. (I asked TaSameer afterwards, he didn't play football).
They were still looking at me...
Told them my bro's 2005 passout, BM.

PF: So, u’re staying in Bangalore. Why did you choose Delhi as an Interview center? Chennai is much nearer to Delhi.
Me: I studied for 2 years in Delhi, did my +2 from Army Public School, which is at Dhaula Kuan. I wanted to visit Delhi again and right now is the perfect time to visit Delhi as Delhi is quite pleasant and beautiful this time of the year.

PF: U studied in Delhi. How do you compare Delhi and Manipur?
Me: (Got confused as to compare which parameter... cultural, education, weather, etc.) Sir, I'll talk about education as that was what I came to Delhi for. The first thing I find is that parents takes more active interest in their child's education. For e.g., there is PTA. This is not the case in Manipur. Secondly, I found that children in Delhi schools can speak English very well. I spoke to children who are studying in Class 3 - 4, they spoke English better than me. Out there in Manipur, it's only in the later classes that students pick up English. (Thought for a while). Beyond these two points, the rest is pretty much similar.

(Silent pause. I hate silent pauses. Although I can out-silent anyone, I'm expected to fill in the void here.)
Me: The other parameters are the same. Students in Manipur are as competitive as in Delhi. They are as hard-working and as diligent too.
PF or AK or VR: And?

Me: And that's it, Sir
(Later, I realized I could have talked about frequent bandhs, strike, not condcutive study environment, blah, blah.)

VR: What do you do in Bangalore? Studying? (Most probably deliberate, they have my profile form)
Me: (Smiling) No, Sir. I'm working... in as a software engineer
VR: What do you do in your company?
Me: I'm a software engineer. (silent pause)... a developer (silent pause, i out-silent them. Well, what do they actually want to know? what's a developer?)

VR: Ok, what do you find is different between Delhi and Bangalore?
(Hesitated a little. Was thinking where to start, from weather? or infrastructure? or job opportunity? VR seemed to read my mind...)
VR: Culturally
Me: Well, both are metropolitan cities so both cities have got mixed cultures. People came from all over India to work in Bangalore, and they bring their own cultures. And Delhi is the national capital, and people from all over the country came here to work as well as to study so I don't think Delhi has its own distinct culture. However, I found one thing that people in Bangalore are more orthodox than in Delhi. For example, pubs and disco are closed at 11 pm. (Stupid, that's me... can't you give a better example)...
VR: Here, they are closed at 7 pm. (All three laughed, I smiled... Didn't argue)

PF: What are your plans?
Me: (Gave my Why MBA answer) wanting to work in strategic unit of a business so as to achieve the organization's goal, blah, blah

PF: So, what will your strategy be to make manipur the foremost state amongts the seven sisters?
Me: Can you give me a few mins to think, Sir
PF: Please...

(Thought for sometime, about 1 min)
Me: Talked about 4 points mainly
1) Insurgency - Solving insurgency problem. Military solution not working, a political solution needed. Hampering development, blah, blah
2) Education - Mainly primary and secondary education. Wants to bring it in par with the rest of the country. Don't want the excuse by a student saying that since "I came from Manipur, I cannot get into IIT" (decided to forego school dropouts thing)
3) Tourism: Manipur is really beautiful, lots of scope for tourism. Wants to promote Manipur as tourist's destination like Kerala promotes it's tourism with "God's own country" line. Needs to develop infrastructure and roads for this.
4)Border Trade: Talked about Moreh. More transparent trading between Myanmar and India.

PF: (Summarized what I just said)
Me: Yes, Sir
VR: What about sports? (Why am I forgetting about sports?)
Me: That's also one area I would like to develop. Manipur is doing really well in sports. Came second in the National games. Heard that Andaman n Nicobar got their first medal... a bronze medal in kayaking and it was by a Manipuri. (Later, I thought I should have mentioned something like Manipur doing very well in the national arena, wants to develop sports to bring it in par with international arena.)
AK: Cultural? Manipuri Dance
Me: Yes, that's also quite famous. Talked a bit about Ras Lila, Pung Cholom (Could definitely answer better)

VR: Ok, tell me 2 things that make you happy, 2 things that make you sad and 2 things that make you angry
Me: Happy
1)Books, talking about books
2)Love, feeling of being loved
Sad
1) Breaking trust
2)Can't think up
Angry
1)Hypocrites
2)Sloppy work, people not doing what they are capable of doing. Mentioned having problem at work because of this.

PF or VR or AK: How did you handle it?
Me: With patience. Talks to the person. Tells him it wasn't only affecting him, it was affecting the whole team. Talking helps a lot.

PF: Are you good at Maths?
Me: Yes, and bragged about my achievements in Maths
PF: But there is no Maths in Computer Sc. so, why did you take Comp Sc?
Me: Although there is no pure maths after 4th sem, the application is still there. After all, what does Maths teach us? To think analytically and logically. While writing a program, u have to think logically, like how data will move from one module to another, blah blah

VR: How will your friends describe you?
Me: The first thing they'll say about me is that I'm intelligent, though I don't know why (All laughed)
They'll also say I'm smart and a little bit arrogant (thought I'll put in some weak points)
VR: Lovely, friendly?
Me: Oh, I'm quite friendly.
AK: Polite, quiet?
Me: I don't think they'll say I'm quiet although that's the first impression people usually have about me
PF: So, u mean u're someone else at college and someone else outside?
Me: Well, sir, I'm an introvert and it takes time for me to open up, so I'm usually quiet and polite the first time I meet somebody. But once I opened up...
PF: you are unstoppable (they all laughed though I didn't get the joke. I just smiled)
PF: From which one of your parent do you think u've inherited your intorvert nature?
Me: I don't know (An embarassed smile)
PF: Which one of your parent is more introvert?
Me: My dad is more introvert

PF: That's it.
VR: Any questions you want to ask us?
Me: Yes, Sir. There is actually one. I've heard XL has got little international connection. I talked to many alumni and they all confirmed this. Why this is so?
(They told me about XL opening up new campuses in Dubai and Singapore. Students exchange programme available. International connection really picking up in the last 2 years. PF asked me where I wanted to go)
Me: Not as such but will be good to have students exchange programme. Students who went there can share experiences with others, blah blah
They thank me for this.

That's it$. It's done.

One of my best poems

Here I lay, thinking quietly
For me, what the coming days hold?
Will they be bright and sunny?
Or filled with days dark and cold?

I cannot say for sure,
What is my destiny?
The future is so obscure..
So big yet so tiny.

But I can say this with confidence,
I can face all the weathers of life.
Only a thing I ask without any pretense,
Hold my hand and walk by my side.

Then a destiny we'll have,
That will be the envy of many.
After all, what do the hearts of people crave?
Something that will make them happy.

With you always by my side awhile,
I have no doubts, no fear.
For I can always look at your smile
Before I close my eyes, my dear.

Poetically yours,
Bij Chabs

[Can't think up of a good title. Any suggestion?]

A 20 mins poem by an insomaniac

The ship was sinking, and no land was in sight
Everywhere around me, people were drowning and screaming
A sense of hopelessness, I could see no light
And out in the blue, I could see the end coming

Then I saw a most beautiful sight
She was there calm and serene without a shimmer of fear
She filled me with a hope so bright
And I no longer feared that has to come far or near

Poetically yours,
Bij Chabs

Red Sky at Night

This kind of love is hard to find
I never got to you by being kind
If I'm the one to throw you overboard
At least I showed you how to swim for shore

When you're down is where you'll know yourself
That if you drown there's nothing else
When you're lost you need to find yourself
Then you'll find out that there's no-one else

-David Gilmour

IIMA 's Placement holiday

IIMA has done it again. First the Laloo Yadav's class and now this. One more innovative process has come from the IIMA stable. This time, India's most admired B-school has declared placement holiday for 2 years. What it means is that a graduate passing out in 2007 may opt out of the placement process in 2007 and instead, participate in the placement process in 2008 or 2009. This is done mainly to promote entrepreneurship among it's students. This has mitigated the risk associated with entrepreneurship and as a consequence, more and more no. of students may and will decide to go solo. This is really good and I hope other B-schools (and even IITs) follow this example.

Why this is so good? Just supposing if noone ever bothered to take risk in the Silicon Valley, then there'll be no Google, Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft, etc. Again, ask why the American software companies are product companies and why Indian software companies are services companies? Right, the answer is entrepreneurship. But why in America and not in India? It's not because they're more intelligent than us or they're more resourceful. These parameters are same. It's because they're not averse to risk taking like we Indians do. But why are they not averse to risk taking? Because of the prevailing atmosphere out there. First, sociological factor... America has a very high standard of living, so they can take more risk. In India, this is not so. If you want to start ur own business in India, the major opposition will be from ur well-wishers (family, friends, etc.) Because a person without a secured job in India is considered to have a very high liability. Second, it is the support that they receive - from the faculty, industry, etc... I don't really know but I don't think that's the scenario in India, what with all the Red Tapism, skepticisms and all.

But things are changing in India. India is in an unprecedent path of growth. Never before has the condition more favorable for entrepreneurship in India. Every sector is booming in the Indian economy, so there's a high probability that a very good idea will succeed now than before. And IIMA has taken that initiative to provide the support to it's young entrepreneurs. Kudos to IIMA.

On the flip side (everything has a flip side), some people may argue that this step will make the young entrepreneurs take things lightly and not concentrate enough in their venture, and so, their ventures will more likely fail. I say this is bullshit. Noone will throw away 2 yr's package (will amount to about Rs. 20 lakhs, going by their average salary) if they're not serious. If they somehow fail in their venture, they can always fall back on their old alma mater. In fact this removes the fear from their mind and they can work with more positive attitudes, and belieive me, I wouldn't be surprised if none of the students who decided to go solo this year come back for placement the next year and the year after.

Time to wind up. First time, I've written on a serious note. Must be the cycle of the moon, after all, I'm a Cancerian. Finishing with this beautiful quote...

"If you want to feed a person for a day, give him a fish but if you want to feed him for the rest of his life, teach him how to fish. If you don't know how to fish but wants him to learn how to fish on his own, send him to IIMA."

Au Revoir,
Bij Chabs

2 days before D-Day - Restrospect and Introspect

March 6th, 2006 17:05:
[Did you know the Indian GDP is around $4 Trillions? Or that the FM has introduced FBTs on ESOPs? Or that this year Indian IT companies will come under MAT (it's supposed to be tax holiday for Indian IT companies till 2009)? Or that the inflation is above 6% already and it's growing and the Government is worried? Or that I think the Americans are playing some sort of neo-Imperialism on the Middle-East countries (Iran-Iraq issue)? Or that the Indian IT revenue for FY2006 is around 30b USD excluding hardware revenue, of which about 23b is exports? Or that I'm boring you with all these facts which u can find out by just googling? ...]

It's 2 days now to D-Day. It's hard to believe that after 48 hours, it's gonna be over. "Will I, won't I?". I guess there's no use in answering this question. My motto is "Live Right". It means whatever u do, do it right. So, that's what I'm going to do. Do it right and hope for the best.

For the uninitiated, 2 days from now is my XL interview. It's my only call this year because of the CAT verbal section fiasco (don't really want to comment on this. So, don't ask).

The feeling right now is that I'm confident to say I'm confident. I've prepared what I think I should prepare. Now, from tomorrow, all I'm gonna do this relax. For that, I've bought MAD's bathroom companion and I'm gonna laugh my head off. (Yh, yh, I know I'm "mad" for liking MAD magazines. In fact, I'm thinking of getting a certification from the MAD guys themselves. They'll readily give if I just mentioned I'm a fan of their magazine). Ok, coming back to the thread... The whole journey of preparing for MBA is rewarding in itself. I've really gone into introspection about myself and my career, have become more aware, have taken an interest in both business and social issues. The biggest gain is that I've got a clearer goal in sight, I've something to focus on and for me, having a goal is very necessary, I just don't want to be a drifter. I've also become a better thinker, have started becoming opinionated on things which would have bored me a few years back. In short, I've become more mature than what I was a year back. (Does it also mean I've become more snobbish? No way.... "Rover, wanderer, nomad, vagabond.. Call me what you will")

So, finally, it's all going to boil down to this 20-30 mins on 8th March, 2007. Many people, who've known me, who've "interviewed" me, who've assessed me, say I've got a good chance of getting through. But will the panel members have the same opinion. That's the Rs. 4.4 crore question (if you're wondering why Rs. 4.4 crore, then I'm afraid to say u're somewhat slow in getting this "joke". See, 1 dollar = Rs. 44 (approx.). So, a million dollar question is Rs. 44 Million question or Rs. 4.4 Crore question. And Why am I explaining this? Am I trying to prove I'm smarter than you? See, an introspection about my own self). I certainly will try to make that impression on them, that I'm good, that all of us are going to gain if I get through.

Lastly, I hope I'll be writing another blog with good news soon.

Signing off for now, I've still to read up on China's IT industry.

Till next time,
Bij Chabs