Monday, December 23, 2013

Reunions

For all those who considered me an ass - and an exemplary one at that - I need to say that you were all wrong. I have reason to know that donkeys the world over are marching to the UN with a petition to take strict action against the slur of being compared to me thereby bringing their entire species into disrepute. At least, they may, unless they feel that eating the petition would be a more productive use of the paper it is written on.

I am sure you must be wondering what, other than looking at myself in the mirror, set me off on wondering about my worldwide repute for asininity. For one, I went off the Chennai without issuing my preliminary warning that I would be back - and, probably, lead to a great deal of people celebrating, prematurely, their liberation from reading my posts. To cause so many people so much unhappiness today - and just a day before Christmas - is absolutely sadistic, I know, but I am sure you would rather have it done now and digest the bad news before the New Year celebrations start.

For another I am fresh from the reunion of my batch at IIM-Bangalore. To find myself in the company of scintillating stars - CXOs in all sorts of hifalutin organizations and entrepreneurs brought home to me the fact that I, above all, was the one student that IIMB would wish to quietly expunge from the rolls. Nevertheless, it was a couple of days of fun and to mingle with people without having to measure out every word (and quietly check up on Linked-in to see if they were worth the time) was a refreshing change.

The current lot of students must have had a great deal more fun watching fifty plus people wandering around moony-eyed all over the campus and indulging in activities that creaking bones had hitherto not permitted. IIMB has changed rather drastically in the last twenty-five years but so had we - and yet the connect with both the Institute and fellow batch-mates was almost instant and as live as it used to be a quarter century ago.

To give you one sample of how kind my classmates could be, I must mention the fact that none of them felt I was as bad an ass as I could be. Almost all of them agreed that, no matter how bad I was today, I could not match up to what I was when I was a student at the campus. I am grateful, guys, for that indulgence. The surprising thing was I was also alive in the memories of some of the professors. Why, they even told me in sympathetic tones that I must be finding difficulty sleeping, now that I had no lectures to attend. THAT sort of personal attention and sympathy is something one can only get from one's Alma Mater and co-students.

Thirdly - ah, that piece of asininity shall come in the next post. 

28 comments:

  1. Twenty Five years since you passed out of the 'hallowed portals' at Bannerghatta Road, huh. Am sure back in the days it used to take you a good hour and a half to reach IIMB from MG Road, and not because of the traffic, but because of the fact that the roads were almost non existent and even if they did exist, they were not tarred at all. In any case, it takes you more time nowadays with good tarred roads because of all the traffic :D

    In any case, am well and truly looking forward to your asinine post now :D

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    1. No roads, few buses, no other means of transport. It was, indeed, a totally different place then Jairam

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  2. Seriously Suresh do you miss lectures? Ahh now I know why on every meet you are the one giving lectures ;) !

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    1. Yes - Lectures are one of those things that it is more blessed to give than to receive :)

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  3. How lovely! I am sure that this must be one helluva time travel for you, no?

    Richa

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  4. Haha refreshing as usual.It must have been an unforgettable experience-your reunion.

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  5. The incorrigible, Suresh! What you highfalutin friends don't realise they are rubbing shoulders with an icon and a visionary! Welcome back to your Chennai Express.

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    1. Icon? Visionary? Uma - you sure you are talking about me? :)

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  6. Hah! You make me laf. Nothing like a reunion to bring you down to earth. :)

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  7. Everyone found you badass, eh? Good to know you enjoyed your meet.

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  8. Reunion brings to mind the really smart ads on TV recently- 1)The Google Reunion 2)Samsung Note
    Reunions with friends reminds me of the 3idiots movie in which Chatur calls his friends 'Idiots' & shows them pics on his smartphone to prove how well-off he his! :)
    Hope you didn't have to see any such presentation! Meeting CXOs is really one thing :)
    Best wishes to everyone to attend and face reunions :)

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    1. Not at all, Anita! My friends did not make presentations of that sort. They just presented themselves :)

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  9. Hi Suresh I remember the reunions that used to happen at BITS while I was a student there. My friends and I used to wonder and discuss what leaps and bounds life would have taken by the time our own reunion happened. It's been only ten years since we exited from the campus and life already is a way lot different and we a way lot different and more (Im)mature :) I am sure you would have had an awesome time

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  10. I missed your posts. Glad to have you back. :) Brings a well needed cheer during the holiday season.

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    1. Music to my ears, Pooja! That my posts are even missed :)

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  11. I always thought the exact opposite of you, Sir. This post came as a surprise. :)

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    1. Ah! You mean you did not consider me an ass, Saru? :) Then this post was not for you :)

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  12. I challenge you to write a post where you do not make anyone even smile. I started laughing from the first line itself :D

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    1. Haha! Puru I have already written quite a few :) Try "Gates of Hell", "Yesterdays and Tomorrows" :) If I remember right, you have read and commented on "Gates of Hell" - and I am sure that could not have made you smile - unless in derision :)

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    2. Let me read that again and see if I can overrule my earlier verdict :)

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    3. Hahaha! Please do Puru :) Or you have a whole host of serious pieces in http://jambudweepam.blogspot.in/p/philosophy.html most of which are unlikely to tickle you :)

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  13. hahahahahaah you dont even try..and you crack me up :)
    REUNIONS give me mixed feelings.

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