tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-193749442024-03-13T17:31:25.719+05:30Peggy's DenPatriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all others because you were born in itPrahlad(Peggy) Krishnamurthihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03133050620846681414noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19374944.post-56841263801450706882007-11-14T15:35:00.000+05:302007-11-14T15:42:04.958+05:30Home for Diwali<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_RRH3vmny2gI/RzrJtn0JMjI/AAAAAAAAAMI/amBseMqsCCc/s1600-h/happy_diwali_2006.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 297px; height: 297px;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_RRH3vmny2gI/RzrJtn0JMjI/AAAAAAAAAMI/amBseMqsCCc/s400/happy_diwali_2006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132636510961087026" border="0" /></a><br />This Diwali was a blast!! Home for 5 days..<br /><br />Ring..<br />BayLeaf..<br />Scary Meet, with an anti-climax..<br />Two super Mass Tamil Movies..<br />Crackers..4 times at both homes..<br />A Jeep that could have been..<br />Random drives..<br />Pergola debacle..<br />Rhapsody..<br />Blackforest on the beach..<br />20's..<br />A stupid NAC fight..<br />2 movies for others..:)<br />BNB with friends..<br />Mayajal..<br />The Vakil incident..Prahlad(Peggy) Krishnamurthihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03133050620846681414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19374944.post-3020406678474556962007-10-02T19:37:00.000+05:302007-10-02T19:41:46.270+05:30Independence DayTotally forgot about this wild night on the 14th of August!!! Documenting it now. ;)<br />It was an awesome party at the Pasha, Tamil Galatta night, Aishwarya & Danush, Sarika and the entire gang of 600028 along with Lavi and me...<br />It rocked on and on and the most awesome songs in the world of tamil music were played and played and played till eternity....<br />I redeemed my dancing status, totally did!!<img alt="http://www.picflock.com/images/viu1169999884l.jpg" src="http://www.picflock.com/images/viu1169999884l.jpg" />Prahlad(Peggy) Krishnamurthihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03133050620846681414noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19374944.post-76355283860875653012007-08-30T11:45:00.000+05:302007-08-30T11:55:56.296+05:30A New Beginning<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_RRH3vmny2gI/RtZi1ptCMuI/AAAAAAAAAD8/PHv1VqlN3W4/s1600-h/thumbsup.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_RRH3vmny2gI/RtZi1ptCMuI/AAAAAAAAAD8/PHv1VqlN3W4/s320/thumbsup.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5104375901538366178" border="0" /></a><br />A new beginning was going to start a couple days ago on Avani Attam. Small failures on that day and the day after, but today I think I'm on track.<br /><br />I've finally decided to move forward, faster and stronger. Leaving everything that hurts, now the focus is work and more of it. Prep needs to be like damn good so that even failure never hurts, used to know what that used to feel like. Working for that feeling once again.<br /><br />A month more to got till I hot home, so plenty of time to get things back on track. Better now, a lil late, but so much better than never.Prahlad(Peggy) Krishnamurthihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03133050620846681414noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19374944.post-28781598334282834472007-08-28T18:44:00.000+05:302007-08-28T18:52:37.990+05:30Mumbai...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_RRH3vmny2gI/RtQhK5tCMsI/AAAAAAAAADs/6P7a-Ec68Lg/s1600-h/india_mumbai_marine_drive.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 245px; height: 169px;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_RRH3vmny2gI/RtQhK5tCMsI/AAAAAAAAADs/6P7a-Ec68Lg/s320/india_mumbai_marine_drive.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5103740748889731778" border="0" /></a><br />Mumbai happened for a week for "Corporate Placement Presentations" (as we used to sell it), a practice that has supposedly been followed in IIFT for quite some time.<br /><br />Interesting events occurred throughout, and the whole exercise was personally a big question mark(?).<br /><br />But the city totally rocked, a superb place to work in, provided you have the dough of course; but the skyline especially early in the morning and late at night is quite breath taking.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_RRH3vmny2gI/RtQhRZtCMtI/AAAAAAAAAD0/pBw7LTj8NoI/s1600-h/marine-drive-mumbai.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 254px; height: 180px;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_RRH3vmny2gI/RtQhRZtCMtI/AAAAAAAAAD0/pBw7LTj8NoI/s320/marine-drive-mumbai.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5103740860558881490" border="0" /></a>The locals are quite a different experience in itself, my round corners finally came to good use and I literally threw my weight around. A week at home Vs a week in Mumbai, well guess it was gonna be a tough decision either way..Lets see if Mumbai holds the key..[:D]Prahlad(Peggy) Krishnamurthihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03133050620846681414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19374944.post-40243558560240327072007-07-07T11:25:00.000+05:302007-07-07T11:30:10.671+05:30Back to Delhi..Been a week at IIFT now, not all that great as I expected to be. Miss home and L terribly and delhi aint helping that one bit. Emotions running high. Juniors offer a good distraction, and PDP's are going on in full swing. Back home again this week for coach's wedding.<br />Electives seem to be promising, everything else is so "interesting". GEEP, SSE, IHRM, SCSS, GSBD; five subjects not in even a nearby line with respect to the future..<br />Waiting for it to get more exciting.. [:D]Prahlad(Peggy) Krishnamurthihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03133050620846681414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19374944.post-46489634719367086532007-06-18T05:48:00.000+05:302007-06-18T06:00:33.124+05:30What can say!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_RRH3vmny2gI/RnXSAF5e7CI/AAAAAAAAAAc/57hjx5ut9Z0/s1600-h/MonacoGP_2_1024.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_RRH3vmny2gI/RnXSAF5e7CI/AAAAAAAAAAc/57hjx5ut9Z0/s320/MonacoGP_2_1024.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077195053955214370" border="0" /></a><br />So waiting for History to repeat itself..The duel today was exhilarating. This has been one of the best seasons yet..Prahlad(Peggy) Krishnamurthihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03133050620846681414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19374944.post-28450979957605529232007-06-17T08:53:00.001+05:302007-06-17T09:08:30.806+05:30Silver set to rule againOne of the most exciting weekends ever, a week ago. We were fast and exciting and the race had just about everything. A Champion losing control 4 times and a rookie not making a single mistake. Either way Mercedes was on top and they were unbeatable.<br />Bloggin this on a Sunday, eagerly awaiting for the next race tonight where Mclaren will reign again, the Champion I hope this time around. This season so proves that its the driver and not the ride that matters and that is jus perfect, almost 10 years after the Flying Finn reigned and bathed in Silver glory. Man, it been that long, a really really long wait..10 years..Patience pays..[:D]..I can never forget getting a kick out of the constant 1-2's of the Silver cars lapping everyone else including 3rd position.<br /> <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_RRH3vmny2gI/RnSrQl5e7BI/AAAAAAAAAAU/FJHqVvm7I6U/s1600-h/Spain_1_1024.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_RRH3vmny2gI/RnSrQl5e7BI/AAAAAAAAAAU/FJHqVvm7I6U/s320/Spain_1_1024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076870981492861970" border="0" /></a>Prahlad(Peggy) Krishnamurthihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03133050620846681414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19374944.post-91662288469403286532007-06-08T15:35:00.000+05:302007-06-08T15:41:49.544+05:30Almost Over..<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_RRH3vmny2gI/RmkrQ15e7AI/AAAAAAAAAAM/y1CTz2K1e7Q/s1600-h/Front.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_RRH3vmny2gI/RmkrQ15e7AI/AAAAAAAAAAM/y1CTz2K1e7Q/s320/Front.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5073634023555656706" border="0" /></a><br />The mega UP tour is almost over..Hardoi, Hathras, Chandouli....the list goes on..The long journey is coming to a soft and hopefully fast end..Prahlad(Peggy) Krishnamurthihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03133050620846681414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19374944.post-1175693333549162172007-04-04T18:53:00.000+05:302007-04-04T18:58:53.563+05:30The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.profilebooks.co.uk/images/titles/t171.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://www.profilebooks.co.uk/images/titles/t171.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;">The first few chapters change your perception of Marketing drastically for a person nascent into that field. For a person familiar with the basic marketing functionalities it analyzes and attacks these commonly held practices of marketers. The premise behind this book is that in order for marketing strategies to work, they must be in tune with some quintessential force in the marketplace. Just as the laws of physics define the workings of the universe, so do successful marketing programs conform to the "22 Laws." Each law is presented with illustrations of how it works based on actual companies and their marketing strategies.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p>In this book, they argue that the market position of a product or service in the perception of the customer is everything, and offer up twenty-two "immutable" laws of marketing that to them demonstrate this fundamental point. Their basic thesis is that "...to cope with the terrifying reality of being alone in the universe, people project themselves on the outside world. They "live" in the arena of books, movies, television, newspapers, and magazines. They "belong" to clubs, organizations, and institutions. These outside representations of the world seem more real than the reality inside their own minds....</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;">People cling firmly to the belief that reality is the world outside of the mind and that the individual is one small speck on a global spaceship. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Actually, it is the opposite. The only reality you can be sure about is in your own perceptions. If the universe exists, it exists inside your own mind and the minds of others. That is the reality that marketing programs must deal with. Most marketing mistakes stem from the assumptions that you are fighting a product battle rooted in reality. All the laws in this book are derived from the exact opposite point of view."</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;">The book challenges almost every major corporation and its decisions with respect to marketing strategies.</span></p>Prahlad(Peggy) Krishnamurthihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03133050620846681414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19374944.post-1157276018129078082006-09-03T14:52:00.000+05:302006-09-03T15:03:38.170+05:30The Iron Maiden Concert<img alt="The image Âhttp://ironmaiden.webvis.net/images/Eddie/Eddie-Chewing-Iron-Maiden.jpg cannot be displayed, because it contains errors." src="http://ironmaiden.webvis.net/images/Eddie/Eddie-Chewing-Iron-Maiden.jpg" /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:130%;" >It was a mind blowing experience. It was a semicircular stadium hall, and I was right in the middle with various fellow IIFTians. The rock was way over the decibel limit and it was ear shattering. The band were playing some of their best hits, at least my personal favorites.<br />Then the stadium started rockin literally and I soon found myself of the floor of Room No:51 thrown off the bed with my friend looking at me in horror.<br /><br />At that moment my friend was playing "Run to Hills" in full blast and at that moment I knew how real my concert was.<br />An awesome experience neverthelesses.. </span>Prahlad(Peggy) Krishnamurthihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03133050620846681414noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19374944.post-1154746686150149902006-08-05T08:23:00.000+05:302006-08-05T08:28:06.166+05:30All Shook up..<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3633/1916/1600/swift_tow.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3633/1916/400/swift_tow.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:130%;" >Well..An Eventful Friday..And the picture signfies a few words, if not a thousand. </span>Prahlad(Peggy) Krishnamurthihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03133050620846681414noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19374944.post-1154297715792317162006-07-31T03:43:00.000+05:302006-08-01T19:05:40.713+05:30Classes..Food..Laptops..Books...<span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">And much more..Almost to the levels of high academic rigour here...But the fun part is gonna start soon..Everyone's becoming indifferent to the quizzes and tests already.<br /><br />My thoughts are very disconnected, there is so much to say here..</span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">I am waiting for next week, to see what IIFT truly is, behind the PDP's and more.<br /><br />If this is what I wanted. Currently a bit of skepticism in every move that is being taken.Well, apprehension is more the word I was looking for.</span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><br /><br />It feels good sometimes that we're up there..sure hope its a little true..Else the usual continues again and here I come[:D]</span><br /></span>Prahlad(Peggy) Krishnamurthihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03133050620846681414noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19374944.post-1153952098980743622006-07-27T03:36:00.000+05:302006-07-27T03:46:11.483+05:30PDPzz<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3633/1916/1600/Peg-snap%282%29_2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3633/1916/320/Peg-snap%282%29_2.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;" ><br />This one was the longest..Yet, I must add.. I am unable to sleep and its almost 4 am..Life's sure has changed since 2 weeks ago. 9 subjects trying to get the better of me.<br /><br />The day/night is packed. Guys sleep in minutes, and breakfast and lunch is jus almost reaching that chaotic stage..<br /><br />Looks like Maslow's pyramid has crumbled right onto my head. My needs are a big mess now..<br /><br />But its good..Well..gettin better..the first party would set things right..<br /><br /></span>Prahlad(Peggy) Krishnamurthihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03133050620846681414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19374944.post-1152502646242869432006-07-10T08:46:00.000+05:302006-07-10T09:08:46.536+05:30Les Blues falter..Never for a minute I thought that Italy would beat France, but I appreciated Italy's first half performance. But after Zizou's horrifying dismissal, I knew France was beaten mentally. Momentum was with Italy, and the blue mountain came down because of a single man's loss of control..<br /><br /><img style="width: 521px; height: 411px;" alt="The image “http://images.encarta.msn.com/xrefmedia/sharemed/targets/images/pho/000f0/000f0583.jpg” cannot be displayed, because it contains errors." src="http://images.encarta.msn.com/xrefmedia/sharemed/targets/images/pho/000f0/000f0583.jpg" /><br /><br />Lets hope they rise again..Prahlad(Peggy) Krishnamurthihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03133050620846681414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19374944.post-1152463400671354122006-07-09T22:06:00.000+05:302006-07-09T22:13:20.686+05:30An Excellent Display of TennisIts been a while since I watched an entire tennis match, but this one was worth it. Nadal had no chance, but still he is one of the few who can shake the Champ a little bit.<br /><br />Was worth it, hoped for a fifth set; for tennis' sake.<br /><br /><table style="width: 368px; height: 205px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /> </td> <td valign="top"> <table style="width: 1px; height: 222px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td colspan="3" height="8"><spacer type="block" height="1" width="1"></td></tr><tr><td class="vstext" valign="top"><img style="width: 244px; height: 238px;" src="http://www.wimbledon.org/images/pics/large/b_11_nadal_105_getty_p_cole.jpg" alt="Nadal Prepares a Dropshot" border="0" /><img style="width: 245px; height: 240px;" src="http://www.wimbledon.org/images/pics/large/b_11_federer_131_fsi_t_parker.jpg" alt="Federer Tip-toes" border="0" /></td></tr></tbody></table></td><td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /> </td> </tr></tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr><td rowspan="2" width="15"><spacer type="block" height="1" width="1"></td></tr><tr><td valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="398"><tbody><tr><td colspan="3" height="8"><spacer type="block" height="1" width="1"></td></tr><tr><td class="vstext" valign="top"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody> </table>Prahlad(Peggy) Krishnamurthihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03133050620846681414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19374944.post-1151019048641221002006-06-23T03:44:00.000+05:302006-06-25T19:48:12.083+05:30Another Change..Too tough a decision, though people say its a "no-brainer".<br />But what happens when you get used to a place and then suddenly change hits you..<br /><br />As always I knew something might hit me like this..Intuition is a great thing (though intuition might not be the correct word); I have never really gone too much by it, but trying to figure it out thesedays to my advantage.<br /><br />I never did feel or get too comfortable with this place. Dunno why..<br />This place is excellent; the campus, the faculty, and the best of them all the people..Some real good characters I would have loved to have known better. But it aint gonna happen, and my mind is made up.<br />The next tough decision has been taken and almost sealed.<br /><br />A few problems left out here, more than anything the pain of telling my new friends about what's in store.<br /><br />Let us see how it shapes up, not feeling either too good or too bad right now!Prahlad(Peggy) Krishnamurthihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03133050620846681414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19374944.post-1150444720419841222006-06-16T13:26:00.000+05:302006-06-16T13:28:40.430+05:30A poem jus for me..<span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#666666;">As I say it..PoeemMM.. here it is..</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#666666;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#666666;">you said u would call</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#666666;">before the next leaf falls</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#666666;">though there is a lot to tell</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#666666;">there is no telephone bell</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#666666;">waiting for u to get in touch</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#666666;">as to talk thre is much</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#666666;">to call me i beg</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#666666;">cause i miss u too much dear peg!!! </span>Prahlad(Peggy) Krishnamurthihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03133050620846681414noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19374944.post-1149537237046890082006-06-06T01:22:00.000+05:302006-06-16T13:35:29.593+05:30Bangalore Again!!<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#666666;">Bangalore again was awesome..3 cracking days of total fun..</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#666666;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#666666;">It had everything..money, style, cops with plenty of thrillers..I guess the little said here is better than nothing..and is is of course more than enough, its enough if the ppl who need to know need to know..right? </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#666666;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#666666;">Mainly for the record!! [:D]</span>Prahlad(Peggy) Krishnamurthihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03133050620846681414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19374944.post-1149244371756252772006-06-02T16:02:00.000+05:302006-06-06T01:21:26.606+05:30The Pilgrimage<span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:130%;" ><br />This was one journey I guess I would never forget. The right age to visit a place like this my Dad kept saying, and he was right on. The memories that a person gets during these years lives with one forever.<br /><br />It was an awesome trip, Sabari Malai during the off-season. Two heavily bearded guys scaring the wits out of every train passenger with our crazy financial talk. My dad teaching me Business is funny, I jus keep asking questions so very naive that there sometimes ceases to be an answerable answer.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3633/1916/1600/DSCN1057.1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3633/1916/400/DSCN1057.0.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span> <span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:130%;" ><br /><br />There you are, the famous 18 steps. Did any of you know that majority of the staircases have 18 steps. I know the answer is just a Google away, but its late and frankly I just don't give a damn. Its interesting. Let's leave it at that.<br /><br />My Dad right at the top. Imagine these steps being empty; a rare, really rare sight. </span> <span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:130%;" ><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3633/1916/1600/DSCN1062.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3633/1916/400/DSCN1062.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span> <span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:130%;" ><br /><br />And finally the bearded Tamil karan once again-traveling unreserved in the luggage compartment..<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3633/1916/1600/DSCN1064.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3633/1916/400/DSCN1064.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span> <span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:130%;" ><br /><br />A trip I will never forget; plenty of more snaps, but me being Mr.Photogenic, enough is enough for one post.. [:D]<br /><br /></span>Prahlad(Peggy) Krishnamurthihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03133050620846681414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19374944.post-1146835064281331932006-05-05T17:49:00.000+05:302006-05-05T18:47:44.333+05:30The Two Pills<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:130%;" >As the nonsensical red pill-blue pill bullshit argument, I was in a similar predicament for quite sometime now, say around 2 months. Though the consequences may have of course been different, a pain in the ass the choices were.<br /><br />Had been longing for choice since January, hell everyone wants a choice. But a difficult choice, I doubt it. Choosing between IIT Delhi and XIMB was such a dilemma. Though for a few this would have been a "no brainer", it was nevertheless a career decision.<br /><br /></span> <br /><img alt="The image “http://www.listenforjoy.com/art/large/choices.jpg” cannot be displayed, because it contains errors." src="http://www.listenforjoy.com/art/large/choices.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:130%;" >A month of trying to find out about both institutes lead me nowhere. It was still a 50-50. I was beginning to wonder that a phase of the year where I should have been at peace was turning out to be a nightmare. There's nothing worse than not knowing what might happen next, but yet knowing it is in your control. But this is what everyone ultimately strives for and accomplishes. But this is my heart speaking out here, not the tiny cerebrum.<br /><br />My thinking started to make me ponder on if me having the choice in the first place was good at all. Just give me anything, but give me one. All through my life whenever I've had opportunities coming at me they have been in twos. Everything. The list is innumerable.<br />It would be dry for ever, and suddenly out of the blue two bolts of lightening striking the same dumb ass. All maybe for the good and but I don't wanna belive in all the philosophical crap, except when it is advantageous in any argument of course.<br /><br />So all my top sources and higher up Managers recommended XIM, but all coaching institutes and students preferred IIT D. My emotions used to run wild. My friends and family got the brunt of it. Wanted to quit work badly, but that's not reason enough to join XIM (since XIM=June, IIT D=July).<br />The location and cos played a significant role in my final decision ultimately as a few unbiased objective analyses from people in the field pointed towards the Capital.<br /><br />My choice was clear and was at peace finally. As always "Never get too comfortable" with anything yea? The IIT Delhi waitlist moved only 4. Four!! Could you believe it? That is like unprecedented. Last year it moved till 55. Either this insti is rocketing upwards or plummeting down was the only thought running through my mind.<br /><br />So I was literally refusing to accept reality and still praying daily for a place at Delhi (Delhi..Did you get that? Not IIT Delhi, was still hoping for IIFT like a brainless idiot in hope-and to think I detest that kind).<br /><br />Then the day the WL clearence was going to be announced officially the WL had suddenly moved all the way to 30. Jumped from 10 to 30 in a day. I was well placed at 17, a supposed easy walkthrough number.<br />My first reaction was skeptical, 20 in a day, after It had moved only 4 for the past month?? What the hell? Dal me kuch tho kala hai!!<br /><br />Then the clarification came in waves from the seniors. They had offered me a course in Telecom Management. I was now rolling in laughter, this is hilarious stuff man. They offered me a course I didn't even apply for. hmm.. And there were seniors asking me to take it up, without a second thought. The problem here was not the course itself; as it turns out it aint too different from their regular program except for a few credits. But what about the "Telecom" tag I repeatedly asked. "What about it? You should be grateful to get into IIT man." That did it.<br />The course is great but was I willing to go back to a tag on me-"telecom" a field from which I have been running for the past 6 years.<br /><br />I had finally thought Management was in for me, the domain could be decided later, and then this..<br /><br />I suddenly realized the choice I had till now had been snatched away. I no more had two institutes at hand, a single lone location stood in front. I don't know whether it was destiny as some morons like to say (I am also in that list sometimes, though no one attacks that line of thought as effectively as I do). Meet the contradiction junta.<br /><br />As a conclusion would you believe it that when I filled for the XIM application back in December, I knew that I would maybe not perform well enough to get into the elite top 10 and would land up at XIM (this feeling didn't come even when I applied to IIT-D, IIT-Kgp and MICA). <br /><br />As always I am happy that things don't happen easily. Looking fwd to a different kind of two years finally.<br /><br />Destiny..What a pile of crap!!<br /><br /><br /><br /></span>Prahlad(Peggy) Krishnamurthihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03133050620846681414noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19374944.post-1146028487723515172006-04-26T09:27:00.000+05:302006-04-26T10:44:47.800+05:30Bangalore and Kumbakonam<span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: verdana;font-size:130%;" >This last week had been really eventful, Thursday and Friday at Bengaluru; Sunday and Monday in and around Kumbakonam with my family.</span><br /><p style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:12;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Missed the first leg of our first ever Semifinal; me being a faithful Gooner. But Arsenal as always comes second in my life, because they perform so much better when I'm with my first choice. [:D]</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">So met her on Thursday and suthyified like never before. Bengaluru didn't have a hip place that wasn't not touched by us; a lil exaggeration here, but what the hell!!</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:130%;">She showed me her Summers stuff, the Pantaloon biggies. Made me wait too, a full 3 hrs at Big Bazaar; to think that I cannot make her wait even for 5 minutes. If I do, it would turn out into a major fight and I would have to win my girl back for the nth time. No complains there though, winning Lavi back is a pleasure.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">Thursday night was at taika, (wish Chennai had a place like this) the place had everything one can want, warm cushioned seats, good music, an excellent menu, a good ‘empty’ dance floor (even blore isn’t hip enough for a Thursday I guess) and the list goes on.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">But surprise surprise the place like emptied out completely at 11, except for a few firaangiis. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">Friday was a load of shopping along with a movie at PVR. Lavi wanted to see only one of two movies; Ice Age 2 or Zathura. Our last movie was ‘Narnia’, so you can kinda know her tastes in movies. Any movie has to contain cartoon characters that speak and do all other kinds of supposedly “cute” stuff. I can’t complain because I enjoyed every bit of Ice Age 2 myself. A hilarious movie and worth the 300 bucks for two (300 sounds like robbery compared to Satyam here).<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">I’m leaving a lot of details untold here, but I feel its better that way, a few things should be private yaar.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">So came back to Chennai in Satabdi on Saturday morning. Slept through the whole journey and the service man had to wake me up each time for food.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Back in Chennai and was getting ready to leave for Kumbakonam that night; but another appointment came up before that.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">An XIMB informal meet at Amethyst. A senior doing his Summers at TCS was present too and there was good insight about the institute. So if I do land up there (which seems highly probable) it won’t be all that bad.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">Saturday night from Tambaram reached us early Sunday morning at Mayiladudurai. Kumbakonam was reached by bus from there, it took an hour.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">Our plan was the Nine main Navagraha temples. It had been a long time since my family took a trip together. We’ve always had trouble finding time to get away from Chennai for a while. And I too had grown out of my not too mature “don’t wanna be seen with parents-embarrassment” from college (yea it had been around 2 years since we have gone out on a proper vacation). Now I’m cool enough with them. [:P]<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">So here are the snaps. There are too many details, so I’ll let the snaps speak for themselves. We visited 5 of the nine on the first day and completed the remaining on Monday. We also saw around five extra temples. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">Kumbakonam and around is literally filled with temples. Every street has a temple, and not just a small one; each one is humongous.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3633/1916/1600/DSCN0862.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3633/1916/320/DSCN0862.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3633/1916/1600/DSCN0901.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3633/1916/320/DSCN0901.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3633/1916/1600/DSCN0899.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3633/1916/320/DSCN0899.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3633/1916/1600/DSCN0897.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3633/1916/320/DSCN0897.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3633/1916/1600/DSCN0895.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3633/1916/320/DSCN0895.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3633/1916/1600/DSCN0894.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3633/1916/320/DSCN0894.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3633/1916/1600/DSCN0893.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3633/1916/320/DSCN0893.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3633/1916/1600/DSCN0885.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3633/1916/320/DSCN0885.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3633/1916/1600/DSCN0884.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3633/1916/320/DSCN0884.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3633/1916/1600/DSCN0881.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3633/1916/320/DSCN0881.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3633/1916/1600/DSCN0880.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3633/1916/320/DSCN0880.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3633/1916/1600/DSCN0879.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3633/1916/320/DSCN0879.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3633/1916/1600/DSCN0877.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3633/1916/320/DSCN0877.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3633/1916/1600/DSCN0874.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3633/1916/320/DSCN0874.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3633/1916/1600/DSCN0873.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3633/1916/320/DSCN0873.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3633/1916/1600/DSCN0869.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3633/1916/320/DSCN0869.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3633/1916/1600/DSCN0867.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3633/1916/320/DSCN0867.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3633/1916/1600/DSCN0864.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3633/1916/320/DSCN0864.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3633/1916/1600/DSCN0863.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3633/1916/320/DSCN0863.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Prahlad(Peggy) Krishnamurthihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03133050620846681414noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19374944.post-1144665763373721632006-04-10T16:08:00.000+05:302006-04-10T16:12:43.416+05:30What drove me this past year?<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style=""><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:Arial;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Chapter 1: The Training</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;">When I arrived at Infosys, at first I actually really enjoyed myself. A beautiful campus with awesome infrastructure lay in front of me. There was a bit of pride in landing myself here, maybe it was arrogance (A little arrogance is needed in everything I feel). <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;">So many new people, my peers, in the same boat. I had never ever met so many diverse people from so many different states under a single roof. Things started off really well, I had loads of fun. So many firsts’ in my life that week when I joined. My first job, my first search for house to stay in, my first peer competition (engeneering was never about being first, it was just survival), my first rent payment; the list goes on. (Actually I have run out of things here: D)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;">Training was awesome, I became an instant back bencher, a fully air conditioned classroom with projectors and stuff. My batch was entirely non-Comp sci. So everyone (except few psychos) was new to IT. First week were entirely filled with soft skill trainings. I just love these sessions even though I crib about them along with everyone else</span></span><span style=";font-family:Wingdings;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="">J</span></span></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;">Our soft skills facilitator was a Mrs. Sushmita Sen (you wish). In such class rooms sessions I completely tranform, and become this highly extroverted character; the very kind of quality I detest in others during technical sessions. The full day sessions filled with interactive small projects and assignments really kept me going. The initial days were great in office, but the evenings became boring and lonely. My parents and Lavi were the only people on my mind. I just couldn’t take anymore of it. I obviously had not made any close enough friends to hangout with yet. And when I start missing people I tend to get into this shell and shun attention towards myself. (A trait I’m hoping to correct this year)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;">To my luck 2 guys automatically approached me to be their roommates. We in turn got another 3. I was very apprehensive about one character though, he seemed cunning, clever and not to my liking at all. I was again proven that my first instinct about people sucks; this guy is one of my best friends today. So the roomies; Kalyan, Swithin, Sarath, Saurabh, Sajay and I got together in a “great” place called ToliChowki. A three bedroom apartment with two small balconies; the place was great except for the location. Getting food during the initial weeks were a nightmare. There were only fruits and a few small eats from a bakery nearby. Aaahh, the famous dilkush. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;">If I was suffering, some my non-vegetarian friends were appalled by the lack of “everything” they called food. The only choices were lamb, mutton or beef; all raw. (Listed all 3, as I’m not exactly an expert here, one of these for sure though)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;">So the group gelled well together. Evenings became much better and my loneliness vanished quickly. Technical training started; and my master plan for CAT 2004 began. Classes, heaps of books, normal study, thirutu study etc. were all doing rounds in my mind. Classes in Infy were from 9 to 12 AM in the mornings. After a “sumptuous” lunch we used to head back to our cubicles to supposedly work on our assignments. I had meanwhile joined IMS Hyderabad, since I had joined IMS back in Chennai just before arriving. Fate it is, that TIME was No: 1, No: 2.etc till infinity in <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Hyderabad</st1:city></st1:place>. IMS was virtually non-existent. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;">The CAT classes were during the weekend, but I was the only one in my batch attending anything close to such coaching. “<b style=""><span style="font-weight: bold;">Believe in yourself even if alone, you can achieve anything</span></b>”.<span style=""> </span>This is what I had faith in. Considering the mess I made in 2004, I should do some serious re thinking </span></span><span style=";font-family:Wingdings;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="">J</span></span></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;"> on this quote.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;">So I forgo all the wonderful pubs and antiquated locations in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Hyderabad</st1:place></st1:city> for my IMS classes. The instructor was in fact pretty good, but he was deeply pissed in general, as he had been transferred as director <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Hyderabad</st1:place></st1:city> from Mumbai as had some trouble with the management there. <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Hyderabad</st1:place></st1:city> was like village to him, since TIME had all the numbers.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;">I incidentally meet another two brilliant minds at IMS, one of them was a Prahlad too. I guess this name sticks to all the right people </span></span><span style=";font-family:Wingdings;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="">J</span></span></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;">. So our classes kept moving on. Exams and tests were a part of the CAT classes as well as in office during training. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;">Infy exams/tests were objective based. After undergoing the extremely superb training in eliminating choices right from DOTE for Engineering to the various CAT tests, objective tests have always been a breeze. So without much preparation tests in Infy went pretty well.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;">I cared little about competition at Infy anymore; it was all about the 1.5 Lac people writing on D-day. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style=""><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:Arial;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Chapter 2: During and after October/November ‘04</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></span></p><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;">So soon it was October and I had got my posting at Chennai; a huge sigh of relief for that again. Apparently they thought that my ECE background with IT was perfect for a Practice Unit in Infy called Product Engineering. Thanks to SVCE for that.<o:p></o:p></span></span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p><br />So soon, I was in Chennai; the major blunder I made here were that the months of October and November undid all the CAT preparation from May that year. I got excited easily that I was back home so soon; <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Hyderabad</st1:city></st1:place> just felt like a really long field trip. Lacked maturity I guess, I still lack some and I intend to keep it that way. People equate maturity and seriousness these days, and taking too many things too seriously is never going to happen with me. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p><br />So this cost me, CAT was a disaster and I the worse part was that I didn’t feel too bad about the whole thing. Soon it started to sink in, that a whole year had gone by. Did I really want to get into a B-school that year, or was I just doing what my friends had done. This was question I had to ask and answer myself. I knew I could be strong in areas of management, as I realized that year during my training in Infy and that I had to get into a job with a profile where strategic decisions needed to be made regularly. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p><br />So the introspection started on “why an MBA?” I was 21 and I had done nothing, nothing of what I had dreamt of when in School. I had literally thrown away 4 years of engineering just having fun. My friends had moved on and I was stuck in Infosys doing stuff that I was just interested in as a hobby. I liked IT primarily because of the brainstorming sessions where challenges needed to be addressed regularly. I slowly realized that it was these challenges that I yearned for, and since brainstorming was the only avenue for lateral thinking in IT, I was excited only about it. Getting stuck in a logical problem during coding also intrigued me. I just needed real challenges I felt, where I am accountable for various decisions taken by my team and I. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><b style=""><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:Arial;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Chapter 3: The Start for 2005</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p></o:p>Meanwhile the MBA hype was going beyond control in the media. I needed to get out of one rat race first; one at a time. So my focus for D-day ’05 stared. Met few people and got some guidance on my future plans, to put in a structure which will be practical yet flexible. So the next goal had been set, I thought. Just get into the top few thousands on Nov 20<sup>th</sup> ‘05. It wasn’t that bad, I kept telling myself. Out of 1.5 lacs, a good 50% were just for the heck of it. Another 20% would be like how I was during CAT 2004. So to compete with the top 30%. All these numbers were totally subjective and it was to keep me going, since confidence was at a low during January. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;">Then, the next big bang. Please report to <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Bangalore</st1:city></st1:place> from tomorrow my PM said. “Tomorrow?.. Aarrghh”. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p></o:p>You’ll throw hurdles in my way, ok, ok; do so, let me see how I high I can jump and clear every one of them suckers. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;">But as usual my excitement almost got the better of me; I was in a way looking forward to <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Bangalore</st1:city></st1:place>. I had money and a few friends there. But I didn’t have Lavi with me. Let’s make the maximum use of this even then I thought (fun wise</span></span><span style=";font-family:Wingdings;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="">J</span></span></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;">). The first few days showed me to myself, a complete lack of focus while studying. I just couldn’t put myself to the books. The TV, the comp etc. everything won and came first. The month of January ran quickly and I had achieved little. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;">Soon I was back in Chennai and leading a team of 3. It was good fun, and this was the period I learnt a lot. I completely made a mess of the project, but there were innumerable invaluable lessons. The project was for Finacle and my team was totally out of sync with each other. They had given us 15 days to complete the project, and guess how long it took..just guess..cmon.. May. It took from Feb to May. Hooray to the estimation. I was of course the scapegoat; hell if I were higher up above me I would have too slaughtered the same goat. But I was too young to understand and suffered more. Believe me slogging for something you don’t like makes a person feel really miserable. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style=""><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:Arial;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Chapter 4: The middle</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;">May suddenly dawned on me. 6 months were gone since I had set my goal; and where was I? I could give myself a big zilch. It was guidance time again, so this time it was TIME (when you keep trying year after year, you would have tried all the coaching institutes). The advice was strong and inspirational and got me going again. I started my classes with renewed vigor. Slowly I made some solid friends. Actually I was helped in forming a study gang with my good old friend from SVCE. Every one of them was performing better in the Aimcats during the period of Jun-July-Aug. This was in a way good for me, I knew by November the “Dark Knight” [:P] would pounce on the cat. Some good motivation from a guy in Mumbai also kept me going. He said the day would come when you would beat one of them, even in verbal. I remember laughing that day about his prediction. Well not anymore </span></span><span style=";font-family:Wingdings;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="">J</span></span></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;"> and I’m happy to say that. I did beat them one by one and it gave me that extra surge I needed. (I should also mention here that they still kept beating me regularly, though not too often :D). It was September and all of us were almost in top gear. The pressure was high and good and the tests week in and week out kept us focused.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style=""><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:Arial;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Chapter 5: Towards D-day and the disaster</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style=""><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:Arial;" ><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;">Meanwhile the next project had started in office, and it was catching speed. As things always happen, the deadline was November 7<sup>th</sup> for my first module and Dec 1<sup>st</sup> for the next. The troubles and complexities in the project had just started and we were already in October. The deadline was going to be missed as in every other Finacle project as usual because of the horrifying estimations. My first module got completed just in time and I was saved. But unfortunately or fortunately I had to take leave till the 22<sup>nd</sup> of Nov. Let me now come to the 20<sup>th</sup> of November. I was all set, the usual pressure was there but I was ready. I have never ever been ready for examination; hence it did feel a little weird. My centre was the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Meenakshi</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">College</st1:placetype></st1:place>. My Dad dropped me off in the lackluster traffic on a pleasant overcast Sunday morning. Immediately there were plenty of familiar faces. After a little socializing, I was left with my thoughts as I settled in a corner of the college. Soon I was going in full speed from 10 to 12 AM. The paper was different from ’04, but everyone had expected that. So no excuses there. I was indeed confident in the Quant and DI section, but Verbal had totally left me frustrated. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;">Soon I was out and walking on the Kodambakkam main bridge towards home. A flurry of phone calls poured in from friends and family. I was positive throughout and hoped for the best. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;">The key was out by evening. It was a disaster, my whole world seemed over. I was felt finished. Verbal had gone entirely negative, and DI was plain slaughter. Quant was pretty good. My friends too had suffered pretty bad blows except a couple of them. I was consoled by my family and Lavi who offered good support from <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Coimbatore</st1:place></st1:city>. I was shattered and poured out on the beach in the night alone.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style=""><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:Arial;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Chapter 6: The others</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;">The next morning I felt like a disappointed child and refused to go to work. Sat at home the whole day, and cribbed. But in the end, I did feel a little better having cried it out. Everyone at home immediately asked “what’s next?” and their attitudes made me feel positive. I started thinking about GMAT and ISB/US (this is the usual shit a person feels after messing up an exam). <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;">I immediately applied to sibm to widen my options. The week then moved on pretty fast with me totally getting involved in work. My new module had started and I had loads to code. Nov 27<sup>th</sup> was the entrance to IIFT, and I had lost all hope and seriousness. It was just another exam. So all of us met up at Anna Adarsh and had good fun before, after and of course during the exam.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;">Exams then kept coming almost every week. I had JMET-for all the IIT’s, SNAP-for sibm. This finished off the year. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;">New Year was a blast in my friend’s beach house and Lavi had come down to cheer me up. So after some heavy partying it was back to the exams. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;">I continued working hard with my module throwing all kinds of challenges at me. It was a difficult period and slogging was understood and not questioned. There was no choice. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;">I was browsing through the time website sometime during the first week of the New Year, when I saw a link for IIFT come up. I was initially a little confused. But it was the result for the exam held in November. I checked it first, and got the expected answer from the server. “Sorry, but you have not been selected”. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;">I called up Satheesh and told him to check. He called back soon to inform me of bad news from his side too. This was pretty shattering even if we weren’t expecting a call. Satheesh then called me again after a few minutes to tell me that maybe we got our roll numbers wrong. We had initially checked the result with our log-in ID’s not the hall ticket roll number. So I got the number asap and checked it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;">The emotions that ran through me were indescribable. I had gotten through the first stage. So had Satheesh. This roller coaster of emotions in 10 mins is something that I would never ever forget my entire life. It was failure at first, and then suddenly success smiling right at me. There were no words. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;">At least now I could forgive myself for the debacle on Nov 20<sup>th</sup>. I had no reason to crib anymore, I had gotten a call, and even if were to remain only one, that would have be enough. A year’s effort at least didn’t go in vain.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;">It all started happening. The IIT’s released their ranking. I was 213 and was sure to get a call from IIT B, D and Kgp. Four calls, it felt like heaven compared to the shit I went through only months ago.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;">Meanwhile XAT came along with two exams for FMS. After a year of studies along with incessant talk about CAT I was free from the exam. A new test lay ahead; my strong point-Communication. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style=""><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:Arial;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Contd: </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;">This is till all my written exams neared completion. The roller coaster ride continues. This is as much as I can write in a day, so the second part will continue soon.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span>Prahlad(Peggy) Krishnamurthihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03133050620846681414noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19374944.post-1144239095110369782006-04-05T17:41:00.000+05:302006-04-05T17:41:35.123+05:30To Kill a Mocking Bird - Part I<span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-size:130%;" >100 pages of the e book over. It's killing me, slow and dragging. Was fun for a while, me along the countryside, shooting birds and tin cans. But let me see wher it takes me; hope it doesn't end up killing something else. [:D]</span>Prahlad(Peggy) Krishnamurthihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03133050620846681414noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19374944.post-1144147915553307702006-04-04T16:05:00.000+05:302006-04-09T07:57:12.970+05:30Light<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Typing away to glory,<br />killing time like no other;<br />When will the monitor burn out,<br />bringing in a new lease of shout.<br /><br />A chance to move on forward,<br />the once in a lifetime;<br />Will it bring new avenues and hope,<br />if within my scope.<br /><br />But what is, is it money,<br />is it power or just plain love?<br />Maybe I don't know yet,<br />deep inside everything's still a sweat.<br /><br />Lets hope the fire burns forever,<br />I have good support now for long;<br />Its all again a perception,<br />but alas may it not be a deception.<br /><br />Its ultimately in one's thought,<br />one's destiny, but let me twist it;<br />Structure it I will,<br />till a pill golden stands still. </span>Prahlad(Peggy) Krishnamurthihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03133050620846681414noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19374944.post-1143519346064010332006-03-28T09:39:00.000+05:302006-03-28T11:08:16.146+05:30Starting something New<span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">So here I am on sitting on a eventful and a joyful 23 years. Time to move on finally. It is an irony that my resignation has got postponed to the exact same date as my birthday; but I can live with that. Lavi kept telling me that people start new journeys on their birthdays. I convinced her that my new venture into the world is starting and it's starting because my "era" at Infy is coming to an end. The end is starting on this very day officially. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I have finally sent the letter, it looks smooth and crisp with lotsa professionalism in it; well I atleast I feel so. Till I sent that mail to my PM I had been restless. Let me see how I feel in the coming days. I am going to leave some good friends back here; but I glad this change is coming along. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">There will a few things I would miss at Infy; the luxury of having 5 different newspapers to read, reading rooms, super fast computers, the very good Amul food parlor, the coding of course, brainstorming sessions and many many more. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">There are also a lot of things I wont miss and I'm damn happy about that. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I am a little nervous now as usual (though as usual I don't show it to anyone). Let the negotiation of my relieving date at Infosys begin. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">As usual people here are trying to make it hard for me, but the harder they push the stronger I'm sure I'll become. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I hope I wont be a fucked up manager; I'll make things tough for people for sure but in best interests. I'm glad my work ex has made me interact with some pretty </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">crazy managers; I'll handle people better for sure.<br /></span></span><img style="cursor: -moz-zoom-out; width: 506px; height: 337px;" alt="http://itp.nyu.edu/~jwl283/ca/job.jpg" src="http://itp.nyu.edu/%7Ejwl283/ca/job.jpg" /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:130%;" ><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Yeaaaaa!!!! </span><br /><br /></span>Prahlad(Peggy) Krishnamurthihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03133050620846681414noreply@blogger.com1