Alumni@work 4th issue

From the President’s Desk

Dear Alumni, Wish you and your family a very Happy New Year. May the year 2014 bring happiness, peace, and good health to you and your family.

This is the fourth edition of alumni@work. I have to express my disappointment to note that we have no inputs from our alumni inspite of my earlier requests. Don’t you think you and all our alumni keenly want to know the highlights in your career and in your family? Do make it a point to send us news about your career, family, and the place you live with an interesting write-up along with photographs, if possible.

You will be glad to know that our campus interviews have started and all out efforts are being made to bring in old and new companies to our campus. In this connection we do expect our alumni to persuade their employers to visit us for campus interviews. You can fix up a meeting with your HR Manager for our Directors to come and work out details.

I welcome you to visit our campus whenever you happen to be in Pune. We would be very happy to meet you and catch up with the developments in your family and employment.

With warm regards, Prof. (Col.) A. Balasubramanian President, Sri Balaji Society, Chairman, Campus Placements Executive Director BIMM & Dean BITM, BIIB and BIMHRD

Director’s Cut

Dear Alumni, Wish you a very happy and prosperous new year 2014.

On the New Year’s Eve Let us pray to God to strengthen our faith and resolve in meeting the Challenges and in leveraging our opportunities.

By this I also wanted to thank you for all your support over the past years and hope this continues in coming year also.

It gives us great pleasure to introduce our 4th issue of quarterly e-magazine “alumni@work”. We request you to contribute to the magazine by sending us your articles; you can write about your experience, your achievements, any memory related to your alma-matter We are glad to inform you all that we have started with our admission process 2014-16, all the details are given in our website for the admission process. Please share this message with all your friends, relatives who are searching for good business schools for Academic Year 2014-16.

As the students of batch 2013-15 will be going for 2 months (May-June 2014) Summer Internship programme , we request you to share any opening that you come across with us and help your juniors in getting good projects.

Once again my sincere appreciation to all the alumni who cooperated and supported us and we shall be counting on you again for your continuing support.

Your contribution and suggestions are valuable for us.

Regards, Prof.D.S Kadam Director For Projects & Alumni Affairs

Director: Alumni Affairs Prof. D.S. Kadam Advisor: Alumni Affairs Mr. Yeshwant Moodliar

Alumni Coordinators Yugal Hinduja Priyam Bhardwaj Daneshwar Sahu Shraddha Jogelkar Sanket Bhaskarwar Anusuya Sharma Mukund Kumar Neha Jha

S.No.55/2-7, Tathawade, Off Mumbai-Bangalore bypass, Pune 411033 Maharashtra (India) Tel : +91-20-6674 1235/ 3063 1236 Telefax : +91-20-6674 1234 E-mail: admissions@balajisociety.org

INGREDIENTS OF SUCCESS: TEAM BUILDING  Dr. Vilas Kulkarni

“Great Teams are those………………… those…………………which which creates their own ways to Meet Challenge.”

Challenge.”

INTRODUCTION: In the present era of modernization every individual is having lot of resources to shape his own personality. These resources are found suitable to be a successful leader as an individual but when same individual starts performing in a group or team these resources are having their own limitations. To cope up with these limitations and to achieve business objectives, it is essential to nurture the team spirit. The organization itself is an excellent example of team work where, every individual strives hard to give his best. That’s why TEAM also can be defined as “Total Employees Associated Mentally”.

DEFINITION TEAM: It is a form of group but has got some characteristics in greater degree than the ordinary group, includes higher commitments to common goal & higher degree of interdependency & interaction with each other.

As per Douglas Smith: A small number of people with complementary skills who are committed to common purpose, set of the performance goals, & approach for which they hold themselves equally accountable.

As per Richard Beckhard: Team has •To set goals &/or priorities •To analyze or allocate the way the work is performed •To examine the way in which the group is working & its processes (such as norms, decision making and communications) •To examine the relationships among the people doing the work AIMS OF TEAM WORK: Get the right people together.

Longer time association.

To set the priorities. to identify problems & opportunities To work as per structure designed.

To find out solutions to various crises To implement them using enthusiasm.

To achieve expected results CHARACTERISTICS TIVE TEAM:

OF

EFFEC-

Clear purpose.

Informality Participation Listening Civilized disagreement Consensus decision making Open communications Clear roles & work assignments Shared leadership External relations Style diversity Self-assessment Human Concept for Team Building: It is necessary to understand at first, type of Human in industry, their mindsets, impact of mind in team building , their thinking process, what is an exact meaning of positive thinking, how it benefits in team building, various problems and worries of an individual and if solved how it helps in building team spirit which is required to be studied.

Human Behavior and Attitude: It is also an essential factor which can be studied with the help of following points.

Reasons for stress & strain.

Reasons for frustration & monotonous type of working.

Psychological & sociological crises.

Emotional & economic crises.

Difference between crowd, fair & teaming context with team building.

Factors required for team building & attitude Fellow feeling Common aim Self-Improvement Attitude to remain in competition Discipline Cooperativeness Temperament (Emotional Balance)

cess; may be resistant to the task; and, Have poor collaboration.

STAGE 3: NORMING

Why team building concept felt essential in industry Job security Self-Development To maintain quality To avoid rejection, reworking To remain in competition To achieve industrial aim For industrial progress To bring changes in various regards Why No-Team Spirit Various economical, psychological, social problems of employees not solved in time.

Illiteracy Labor Turnover Ratio Management’s Attitude Union pollution No trust or faith with each other Alcoholism and indebtedness No Job security Indiscipline, Laziness

Stages in Team Building Forming Storming Norming Performing Stage 1: FORMING

Define team Determine individual roles Develop trust and communication Develop norms Set Task Define problem and strategy Identify information needed Stage 2: STORMING During the Storming stage team members: realize that the task is more difficult than they imagined; have fluctuations in attitude about chances of suc-

During this stage members accept: Their team team rules and procedures; their roles in the team the individuality of fellow members Team members realize that they are not going to crash-and-burn and start helping each other.

Stage 4: PERFORMING

Team members have: gained insight into personal and team processes; a better understanding of each other’s strengths and weaknesses; gained the ability to prevent or work through group conflict and resolve differences; and, Developed a close attachment to the team.

RECIPE FOR SUCCESSFUL TEAM: Commitment to shared goals and objectives Clearly define roles and responsibilities Use best skills of each Allows each to develop in all areas Effective systems and processes Clear communication Beneficial team behaviors; well-defined decision procedures and ground rules Balanced participation Awareness of the group process Good personal relationships Importance of Team building Higher understanding fellow feeling makes good work environment More interaction leads to more result

Better understanding results in low wastages Productivity can be enhanced Less conflicts Efficiency and creativity can be geared up planned More involvement, interaction brings quality at eve- Attitude can be changed ry aspects Rejection, rework and cost reduction can be planned Organizational harmony Fellow feeling, cooperative nature can be developed Morale can be high Benefits of team working Change can be easily accepted Overall progress of self, family and industry.

Quality can be maintained at all times

Conclusion: Thus every organization sets their own parameters to developed team spirit among their own members. You, being the future leaders of corporate world are supposed to have same quality of developing excellent team spirit among your subordinates. Hence to become successful leader in your area of business, you must have to add the quality among yourself first.

The Future of Indian Rupee

…

The support received by the Indian rupee in the

its trade deficit to $196 billion, causing a CAD of

month of Oct 2013 were it got stronger to Rs 62

$88 billion or 4.8% of its $1.8 trillion GDP. It is

per USD against the low of Rs 69 in Aug 2013, is

this data that hurt the rupee last summer and led

seen less sustainable in the economic and financial

some nervous foreign investors to pull their money

circles. The experts believe that the Indian rupee

out of the country.

has still to see the downside in future. The slide in

India, or for that matter any crude oil importing

Indian rupee from May 2013 to Aug 2013 is not

country, has no control over prices since that is de-

particular to India but also seen in the other emerg-

termined by global demand and supply. Low oil

ing economies like Indonesia, Turkey was due to

prices benefit India while high oil prices are harm-

the fear of growing trade and current account defi-

ful. Domestic consumption rose from 2.9 million

cits. For years, financial markets ignored this issue.

bpd in 2008 to 3.1 million bpd in 2009. Yet, in

Then, suddenly, after the U.S. Federal Reserve an-

2009, the cost of oil imports fell to $74 billion,

nounced in May that it was likely to soon begin

from $106 billion the previous year. So, the hit of

reducing the size of its $85 billion monthly bond

net oil imports to India’s balance of trade was low-

purchases, the focus turned to current account defi-

er in 2009. This is because Brent crude prices fell

cits in emerging countries.

in 2009, averaging around $60 per barrel, down

About 30% of India’s energy needs are met by pe-

from about $92 the previous year.

troleum. But some 80% of this oil is imported —

From 1980, India’s domestic output of oil climbed

the major factor behind the country’s ballooning

four-fold to 800,000 bpd by 1995. Then it stayed

trade and current account deficits (CAD). In the

flat for the next decade, picking up slightly thereaf-

fiscal year ending March 2013, India’s net oil im-

ter. Last year, it reached 990,000 barrels —

port was 2.6 million barrels per day (bpd), at Brent

780,000 barrels of crude oil and the rest natural gas

crude prices averaging $110 per barrel. Over the

and other liquids.

past decade, the more than five-fold rise in India’s net oil import bill to $109 billion last year enlarged

Oil Consumption gallop:

which was officially put at 5.2% of GDP last year.

Petro-products Subsidy is Huge: So, policies to curb the growth as well as sharply reduce consumption of petroleum products need to be aggressively implemented. But the Indian govMeanwhile, oil consumption since 1980 rose six-

ernment spends an estimated US$25 billion a year

fold to 3.6 million bpd in fiscal year 2013. Even in

to subsidize the purchase of diesel, kerosene and

1980, just before policies to boost automobile sales

other petroleum products that benefit farmers, truck

were implemented, and when oil imports were

transport operators and car and other automobile

458,000 bpd, the oil import cost of US$6.7 billion

owners. Last year, there were 2.7 million cars sold

enlarged India’s trade deficit to about 4% of GDP,

in India plus 800,000 commercial vehicles and 13.8

from under 1% just three years earlier.

million two-wheelers, such as scooters and motor-

A puzzling aspect of India’s oil imports is that do-

cycles. In 1980, when Rs. 10 (around 17 U.S. cents

mestic refining capacity is four million bpd,

now) bought a dollar and before Maruti Suzuki cars

400,000 barrels more than domestic consumption.

reached the market in 1983, only 47,000 cars and

Most of the recent capacity increase has come from

79,000 trucks, buses and vans were sold. Automo-

Reliance Industries’ 1.2 million bpd complex in

bile policies until 1983 were aimed at conserving

Jamnagar and Essar Oil’s 400,000 bpd plant in Va-

foreign exchange and containing the current ac-

dinar. These privately owned plants are expected to

count deficit.

help reduce imports as well as boost exports of

Now, in addition to cancelling petroleum subsidies,

higher-value refined products. But Indian refiners

there is need for punitive taxes to curb use of petro-

are likely unable to compete in global markets, un-

leum products, as is the case in some European

less subsidized by the Indian government, against

countries. But both are unlikely to happen given the

lower-cost producers from the Middle East, espe-

political backlash from the beneficiaries of the sub-

cially Qatar, given their far cheaper input costs.

sidies as well as automakers, distributors and ser-

India’s proven crude oil reserves are estimated to be

vice providers, and employee unions in the auto in-

about 5.5 billion barrels, with 53% of it onshore and

dustry.

the rest offshore. That is barely enough to meet do-

Besides policies to boost exports, the Indian gov-

mestic consumption over the next four years. Ex-

ernment has chosen politically easy ways to cut the

ploration and production of major oil deposits, if

current account deficit, notably taxes on gold im-

any, take decades. The railways and coastal ship-

ports and sharp cuts in the amount of foreign ex-

ping, using India’s long coastline, are both highly

change available to Indian companies and individu-

energy-efficient transportation alternatives that will

als. Due to the taxes, gold in India now sells at a

sharply reduce oil imports. But to do this, as well as

$120 plus premium per ounce above the price in

develop other major sources of energy like solar

Dubai, the largest source of gold smuggling into

and nuclear plants, the Indian government will have

India. It is estimated that about 200 tons of the pre-

to spend hundreds of billions of dollars, a difficult

cious metal will be smuggled into India in 2013, up

prospect since India is also running a budget deficit

from tiny amounts three years earlier. Also, with

the curbs on exchanging rupees, the unofficial or India’s net gold import bill is large: $47 billion in

black market rates for buying dollars and other fiscal year 2013. But that is less than half its net oil strong foreign currencies with rupees have risen import bill. So the weakness or strength of the Indian sharply. With the implementation of these policies, rupee will continue to be largely determined by the India’s current account deficit has been shrinking level and costs of the country’s crude oil imports. slightly as gold imports and foreign currency demand through legal channels have declined. Gold smuggling and black market purchases of foreign currencies do not show up in official balance of payment statistics.

Viral Marketing Prof. Quresh Moochhala

With the recent surge in viral campaigns worldwide including India, it becomes a very interesting topic to discuss. The word ‘viral’ originates from the term ‘virus’ which spreads and infects quickly in the context of medical science. At first it makes you wonder whether it is something harmful, given the fact everyone installs an anti-virus. In the human body it would cause an infection, but in the world of marketing it creates hype. It is

“It is the ultimate marketing program that has a lower budget and creates a maximum impact of creativity that results in good impressions and exposures.”

‘contagious’ as people get a sudden urge to share marketing campaigns online (through the internet) or via WOM (word-of-mouth). This social virus mainly uses the Internet which is a public domain to sell products or concepts online and sometimes it helps these to create an impact on a large audience. A product, message or opinion can instantly go viral which can be inspiring for many or embarrassing for some. It initially started through e-mail service websites and slowly spread onto YouTube, Twitter and Facebook. It persuades websites and users to pass on a marketing message to other

sites and users. Hence, it creates an exponential growth in the message’s visibility and effect to millions of people multiplying it. Without doubt, Hotmail was initially considered as a successful viral marketing that promotes its advertisers’ and service messages in every user’s e-mail notes. Today it has evolved from email to streaming videos.

Some of the essential components of a viral marketing campaign: Can be easily shared by others Entertain viewers without losing a connection to the brand (mainly an emotional connect) Identical effect on your behaviour and motivation Giving a product/service or its concept for free – payment comes much later (Freemium)

Piggy-backing on others resources (someone’s blog, website, meme, affiliate marketing) Synchronize it with good offline promotional activity Uses existing communication platforms like Social media, Cell-phones and E-mail

It is the ultimate marketing program that has a lower budget and creates a maximum impact of creativity that results in good impressions and exposures. Some fantastic examples from recent times that are worth checking out would be: Dove ‘Real Beauty Sketches’ (2013) Red Bull ‘Stratos Jump’ (2012) Volvo Trucks ‘The Epic Split feat. Van Damme’ (2013) The Best Job in the World ‘Australia’ (2009) Evian ‘Baby & Me/Live Young’ (2013) Dove ‘Evolution’ (2013) Volkswagen ‘Suite’ (2013) Google ‘India Reunion’ (2013) British Airways ‘Visit to Mum’ (2012) Vodafone ‘ZooZoo’ (2013) Movies such as The Dark Knight, Blair Witch Project & Cloverfield

Research suggests that our brains primarily work as

Farmville. But it must be understood, that Viral

story-telling machines – we usually do not remem-

marketing is not a formula or recipe for marketing

ber facts, but we do remember stories as we can

success. It can backfire and even destroy a brand

visualize them. Emotion is a strong attribute and

within minutes. Today there is a thin line between

serves as a powerful vehicle in marketing. This type

theatrical television and Digital entertainment – in

of long-form video storytelling is simply too expen-

the future we won't. Sophisticated targeting and

sive to do on television for most campaigns. But the

segmentation allows advertisers to direct consumers

Internet is not broken up into 30-second spots and

to useful brands, products and services that are

becomes a viable option. Not only can advertising

somehow related to what they are viewing, rather

show you more online, but it can enhance those

than things they have viewed in the past. Many

short-form traditional commercials with more inter-

businesses can use this tool as long as they target it

esting and creative content. The emotion can range

to the right segment(s) of the market, have the right

from a tear-jerker to humour such as the Gangnam

content and a well defined business goal. So what

Style Music Video or even the Facebook app called

are you students waiting for – go spread the word.

Life @SBS Moments of Joy

The Sixth GIREM Leadership Summit

The Sixth GIREM Leadership Summit (GLS) – with the theme of ‘The New Dawn for Indian Real Estate and Emerging Cities’ was held on October 24 at Delhi. The 2013 summit provided insights into the changing economic scenario and market behaviors which are poised to show an upward trend post the downturn and recession effects. This global summit also served as a platform to network with the most influential people from the real estate sector and connect with key decision makers.

Speaking about the summit Shyam Sundar S Pani, President GIREM, said, “This year the summit entailed some insightful discussions with the ANURAG TYAGI recession more or less over and above a positive forecast ahead. At this point we must work towards seamlessly integrating the public and the  Vice President, Morgan private sector so as to offer optimal lucrative solutions in terms of real Stanley estate and infrastructure development over the next two decades. The  Winner: “Real Estate challenge is not just to achieve growth platforms across industry specCorporate Head of the trums but to sustain this growth. This can only be done by partnering Year” with the private sector and channelising our efforts collectively with  Alumni: BIMM (formerly them. There is also a serious need to fine tune these plans with our city IIMM) planners as they are responsible towards voicing the needs and integrat-  1999-2001 Batch ing them with our cities. The industry has flourished in the past 20 years, but it is now time to look forward and gear up towards making the next chapter for this industry more illustrious and rewarding.”

The event also facilitated the Sixth GIREM Leadership Awards, awarding the most respectable names across the Indian real estate industry. This year’s winners included, Pirojsha Godrej of Godrej Properties Ltd who was awarded the ‘Person of the Year Award’ and Anurag Tyagi of Morgan Stanley who was awarded the ‘Real Estate Corporate Head of the Year’.

Speaking on the event, Dr. Sudhir Krishna, Secretary, Urban Development said, “Post independence the government believed in pushing populations from the cities to the rural areas, that trend has since been cor-

rected. We have realised that the cities are the engines of growth with high co-relation between the development of the cities and the development of the countries. I would like to congratulate GIREM for identifying that the real drivers of the economy are those who are working towards the planned urbanization of the country. It gives me great pride to see the 21 cities that have made it to the list of best business destinations in the country. I hope that GIREM continues this great endeavor and the government will continue to provide them with as much encouragement and support they need.�

Like previous summits, GIREM, featured prominent figures as guest speakers, such as Sangeeta Prasad, Chief Executive Officer, Integrated Cities & Industrial Clusters, Mahindra Lifespace Developers Limited and Ernest Rwamucyo, High Commissioner for Rwanda to India

Why-financial-world-rooting-Modi??

All this while, the Congress would have us believe that Narendra Modi was a media-hyped and mediacreated phantom. So, let us end the hoopla and cut to the chase. When reality and perception coalesce, then the truth emerges. Now there is a whole new catalogue of foreign brokerage reports which are telling all and sundry and anyone within earshot that the phantom has arrived and is knocking on the Congress door. And these reports need to be given credence because they are being furnished to entities which are looking at investing in India.

How and why did the phantom become the phenomenon for these arbiters of where foreign money will be parked?

Foreign Institutional Investors have shown a preference for India in 2013, but major informed decisions or large sized investment calls for the new year will be taken now.

Despondency Yes, India remains an attractive emerging market where money can be made and taken off the table, but growth imperatives need to be put on the agenda with deliverables attached by the political leadership of the country. The Prime Minister has in the past spoken about unlocking and unleashing the animal spirit; he has asked India Inc to do this rapidly.

Now, the question is -- is it incumbent on the Government of the day to create the right enabling envi-

How and why did the phantom become the phenomenon for these arbiters of where foreign money will be parked?

Brokerages are actively plumping for Modi. It is not regular for global biggies like Goldman Sachs and Nomura Securities to take a position on politics.

ronment for business and industry to flourish, or alternatively, would you prefer impeding their progress by throwing imponderables in their path?

Against this backdrop, brokerages are actively plumping for Modi. It is not regular for global biggies like Goldman Sachs and Nomura Securities to take a position on politics.In all these years of covering financial markets, I don't remember such a keen interest being taken by investment managers abroad. It is clear that an element of despondency over India's economic future has set in across boiler rooms.

The old saying that 'things fall apart, centre cannot hold' pretty much sums up India's bleak economic performance in recent times. Seven straight quarters of five and sub-five per cent GDP growth has sent sentiment crashing to an all time low.

Optimism

Contrast this with the present leadership which, courtesy of the J Virus - Jairam Ramesh, Jayanthi Natarajan, C P Joshi and Sriprakash Jaiswal - has pretty much imperiled the economy. Of course, the proof of concept will only be known when the EVMs record the votes, and the outcome is officially known sometime, one presumes, in late May. As it is said, there is many a twixt the cup and the lip.

The optimism of global brokerage houses emanates from a detailed set of meetings in New Delhi and Mumbai. They have predicated their change of investment stance based on their conversations and findings. The key reason for Goldman to upgrade its India view is optimism over political change led by BJP's prime ministerial candidate Modi, which is dominating economic concerns.

Goldman's report raised Cain within the Government, the backlash was severe with commerce and industry minister quick to rise to the bait and trash Goldman's prognosis. What did Goldman say which riled one and all within the Congress party? Goldman said: "Currently the macro challenges that India faces in terms of external and fiscal imbalances, high inflation and tight monetary policy are being dominated by expectations of political change, specifically that the BJP-led NDA could prevail in the next parliamentary elections."

Not only are opinion polls complete flights of fancy and mere conjecture which don't reflect the ground realities, but equally brokerage reports are anathema for the ruling dispensation. Stung by both, the Con-

gress chooses to shun the groundswell of opinion against it.

Stable recovery Similarly, Nomura which helps to channel big ticket Japanese investment flows into India said the other day: "We expect a BJP-led coalition to form the next government at the Centre after the 2014 elections."

Nomura political analyst Alastair Newton tempered his political forecast saying: "A stable government, regardless of whether it is led by the BJP or the Congress, should support a gradual business cycle recovery." But, Nomura India chief economist Sonal Verma added: "Once political stability has been established, we believe past investment projects cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Investment could be implemented. This revival will be led by a debottlenecking of existing investment projects."

Goldman had also said that the recent market rally was driven by the Modi effect and had pegged the Sensex target for December 2013 at 23,000.

It is unprecedented that investment biggies too are waiting for direction in India. And rightly so, for India cannot be ignored. Meanwhile, the phantom versus phenomenon battle rages on.

The other side of being selfish Being selfish comes from the heart, from within; one rarely needs a second thought about it but it mostly happens that we tend to overlook the other side of it! I am glad, life at SBS brought this amazing feeling to the fore. Its difficult to etch out a proper sketch of times spent here. Being a part of the Corporate Relations Team itself starts off with a self concerned and self absorbed notion. All one thinks of it as a team that stands ahead of the others and receives all the royal benefits imagined within the parameters!! Like it is taught here to be selfish and to acknowledge problems as opportunities its not wrong to admit that self placement is one big push when one thinks of joining this team. But then why to speak of what is pretty obvious. What needs to be showcased is how the face of reality has a million shades. And all these shades just brighten the personality of each team member. Its a jesterous one liner that runs in the team saying " If you have worked in the CRT, you can work anywhere in the world!!" Certainly. One learns to exhaustively fight and unite at the same time! Imagine shouldering the responsibility of placing over a thousand students of which you too are a part. The courage and humility that you need to gather in each step that you take. Keeping the martyr syndrome apart of course! That is a learning you do not get in the classroom. The whole focus shifts from thinking about oneself to selflessly working for your batch's placements!

The problem of working extended hours in the college , skipping lunch hours , coordinating placement processes all day, facing blunt rejections from the corporates all turn into opportunies of learning to work patiently, acknowledging hard work and sincerity, respecting the spirit of a team and building the go getter attitude!! The pros and cons are many. From following over a hundred companies a day to drafting n number of mails each week trying not to miss out on any event or opportunity!! From facing blunt rejections over the call to the joy of receiving consent from the corporates. From competing with your sister concerns to celebrating in their success together. So much of thrill and such a worthwhile run. We as a team have learnt to look through a new outlook. The kind of mentoring that the team gets inculcates so much positivity that one actually begins to fear nothing. No rejection ever disheartens rather spurs to perform better n better.

Each day we learn better. Work better. Perform better. Of course at times we face bantering from our own friends for being too "secretive" as they put it. But we believe that is the most prices less attribute that our mentors pass on to us and that is Integrity. when each team members integrity blends with the integrity of the team as a whole. We function with confidence. We have our own moments of joys too. The smile on each batch mates face when they get successfully placed. That is what priceless actually means to us! When you know. Somewhere somehow your hard work ..your patience is the reason behind somebody getting a successful start to his or her career. Then you realize that the other side of being selfish has so much more to give!! When the clock keeps ticking and the count down begins. That thrill of changing the count of placed numbers can be compared to nothing!! And through out this journey we skip to realize that the same

job grills us so well and our mentors groom us so well that we grow to become confident and bright personalities!! What more can one seek!! All we can say is that the Corporate Relations Team is the place to be and we as a team today and all the teams that worked in the past and all the future teams to constitute are the ones who have and will learn and experience teamwork, patience , selflessness and optimism!! To wrap it up all I wish to just say that sincerity never goes unnoticed and to each one who is reading this ..some of you may be recollecting your days at SBS. Some of you must be at the top of hierarchies in the big corporates but somewhere somehow this selfless team contributed to your endeavors and its a joy tht is never missed to be smiled upon no matter how old or new! The other side of being selfish brings contentment when we see you basking in all the success you deserve!!

Hostel Life

The best years of your life are the ones in which you decide your problems are your own. You do not blame them on your mother, family, and friends. You realize that you control your own destiny.”

That is it. Perfectly fits the definition of hostel life. The overture goes something like this – A life of adventure, freedom and seclusion, falling in and out of love, a life of progressing and partying, a life of last minute studies, 2 a.m. gossip, being broke, crafting skills, bridging thoughts, finding friends with whom we connect, trying to emerge despicably and at times perilously – is what hostel life revolves around. We come across people of different kinds, confront situations alone, take decisions we never took.

I still intensely remember the day of mixed emotions when I was coming to college, it was 18th June 2013.

I was elated and was feeling euphoric at the thought of the freedom I would be revelling in, during the hostel life. The hostel stories were pretty swaying as had heard from my friends. But still I was very eager to meet new people and make new friends. I was delighted……Then I met my prospective new roommates and we had a good time introducing ourselves and exploring our room in the hostel. I was missing everything about home, from the morning sunshine to the local tea, friends who never seem to grow old, mum’s cooking, dad imparting life philosophy (gets boring after a while, but yet we feign the “I’m-basking-inyour-glory” face), pesky yet loving siblings. I miss it. Memories are in every lane. When we begin our journey homewards, we surety our worries, problems and every other feeling to head towards our strawberry fields. And finally after we arrive, it is – ecstasy.

When I got a hostel seat in Sri Balaji Society, I was also a little trampled by these illogical rules. Having always lived with my parents who always gave me freedom to do what I want (well most of the times!), these restrictions seemed like a horrible barrier to my life. I resented them at first- 9.30 p.m. deadline, fixed mess timings, no off and other ridiculous ones owning electric appliances etc. I was frustrated with them and felt that they are a hindrance to my life. I just wanted to get out of this mesh of rules and be free. I then realised that I too was suffering from the disease- hostel disease. I wanted to break the rules badly (I wish I could....). But after so many restriction we have enjoyed parties also- Diwali party, dandiya night and many more...In my 6 months , me and my friends did break some knowingly and some quite unknowingly.

Breaking rules about having electric heaters and kettles was quite common in the hostel. Initially I was quite apprehensive about breaking this rule too.

This is a journey where one walks alone. Parents no longer scream “why is your room still in a mess?!” “– to which we used to make a Bond face. Now, the only words I hear over here are- 3D’S which are not followed by most of us. We are free to set our own decree, free to set our own goals, but with so many restrictions. This is a journey to find ourselves. Make sure to make to worth it.

I think the Mess is rightly called a mess, what to say about it. Whenever I ask –“what is the menu? “I got a reply-“Mate, its paneer”, “paneer?! Why is it red?” in breakfast “idli-sambhar-vada” If I could rebel against the mess, I would! I’ll happily hang a R.I.P board on their door. Ask anyone who has ever lived in a hostel and they will have a story to share about the mess. So back to point one, I cannot rebel. My personal experience says weep, whine, do whatever but the half burnt, half cooked has to be gulped down the throat. I think the Mess is rightly called a mess When the calendar hits the 3rd week of the month, I scrape the bottom of the cask. No money which leads to no food, no fun, no going out, no extravagant anything, Lays is a luxury, restaurants are beyond imag-

ination, coffee and chocolates are the saviours and we are dining rice with daal. Solution? There isn’t any.

The 2 a.m. Maggie noodles, oats coffee, tea, omelettes. Of course it does not turn out as an actual master dish but it is a dish served with pride! Master Chef-ing is mandatory in our to-do list.

Here some people are pessimistic, some are optimistic, some are opportunistic, some are winners some are superiors. In a hostel, there are all kind of people. People we like and people we dislike. Hostel is also the place where we meet people of various regions. Every region has a different culture, language, music, celebration, etc. With friends from Kerala, Gujarat, Manipur, West Bengal, Kashmir, Rajasthan- we have a nation under our wings. I started speaking words of my friends region in their company........ It is fun to speak their region language, funny words without knowing what it actually means. But, hostel is an epitome of “unity in diversity”. And it is my family.

Whenever u feel home sickness get lost in ocean of memories of home... In hostel it is our friends who supports us, who stand by us in our thick and thins. They are the second family. They are not just a friend, but a guide who reads between the lines, gives the best medicine: Laughter, will punch and protect. They are the people we fall on. It is very essential in hostel life to have good friends. Friends made here lasts for a lifetime-from which we can benefit both professionally and personally. The favourite formula of friendship: “All for one, and one for all!”

Afterwords

Dear Alumni,

In this New Year I do look forward to plenty of initiative and drive from our Alumni. In this connection we are proposing to form ALUMNI CHAPTERS in all metro cities & in Pune to begin with. Objective of this activity is to bring our alumni and their families to meet and interact. This forum will ensure apart from interaction, some new projects for alumni prosperity and joy. In the next few months we will formulate a brief constitution of "Alumni Chapter" With warm regards, Yeshwant Moodliar Advisor Alumni Affairs.

Projects & Alumni Affairs: Director (Projects & Alumni Affairs) Tel.: +91 (020) 6674 1215 / 16 email: alumni@balajisociety.org