35 days to go...

Yes, this is how Blondie now looks.
We are now informed of the exact number of minutes and seconds we have left here in IIML. The countdown is truly on.

Last night was a batch meet called by the Placement committee, a ritual that takes place usually one month before summer/final placements. This is usually the place where the placement chairman comes and abuses the batch about the lack of preparedness and the lackadaisical attitude of the students, with the placements just around the corner.

This batch meet was a little different. A batch consensus was taken on whether want hundred percent placements or not (An issue I'd rather not comment about), and then we got down to interesting debates about whether CG should be revealed or not. A routine meeting, but as in all PCom meetings, right after, the buzz and the excitement is palpable. The excitement is in the air, and every other person is having animated discussions about some of the more sensitive issues concerning placements.

These days, it is becoming rather difficult to find a group of people who are discussing a topic other than placement rules (CG disclosure and the 18 company cap), HLL or P&G, and the functions being offered by HSBC. These three topics have become so goddamn commonplace, that I find that most of the discussions end up making the same points over and over again. In this vein, I have decided that I'd rather leave such conversations when I see the above topics coming up, and work on more serious and pressing issues (such as this blog).

As I settle down with a plateful of dinner, someone whom I don't even remember sitting opposite me looks up and says, "So Shravan, what are you looking at?". I'm confused for a second, because I'm obviously looking at the carrot kheer on my plate. I immediately realise he is referring to placements. Almost as a reflex, my reaction is, "Sales and Marketing man, and you?".
"Dude, I'm a PGP1"
"oh, sorry".
It's back to carrot kheer.

The other day, I was sitting with my watchman beside the fire, on a foggy night, and he suddenly starts lamenting about his children and their lack of opportunities in life. I nod sympathetically. He looks at me very admiringly and says, "Aapka tho koi problem nahi hai. Badi company mein badi naukri lag jaayegi".( You people won't have a problem. You will get a big job in a big company.) I smile with false pride and mentally thank the media for their contribution in making us seem like heroes for the lower middle class. So what if we end up selling soaps, colored water and paints in villages for the next three years of our life? So what if we have no practical applicability for our education since the only learning we will be doing is the abusive language required to deal with distributors and retailers? As long as my watchman thinks I'm going to be rich, who cares?

As I write this, lazy PGP2's are waking up from deep slumber, clearing their tables of cigarette butts and old newspapers, dusting polycopies and textbooks issued along with registration, and getting down to study for the final end terms that they would probably take in their academic careers. Yes, the final end term exams begin in 6 hours.