Finally got around to writing this stuff :)

well, the time for arrival was 2.00pm, though i turned up by 1.00pm. saw acoupla guys sittin there havin a chat. werent many chairs around, so just stuck around to pass the time. anyways, after some idle chit-chat and a couple of visits to the loo later, our process started.

GD topic was a case study about a truck company launching a new truck in india. its axle is supposed to take upto 18 tons dead weight while it has been alleged that indian truck drivers usually overload their trucks by atleast 3 more tons; a possible loss of face for the company and safety concerns for the drivers.

it went well, with some good suggestions from my side. infact my first entry was the smoothest ever that i have made; at my proverbial clearing of the throat, the whole group fell silent. wow, thats something :) :) :)

next of, the interviews. had a long wait and had a long one too, around 30-35 minutes.

the panel had two profs; lemme call them L(left) and R(right). i am A.

R: (looks at my certis) ok, so u r still studying ?
A: (surprised) no sir, i passed out in 2004.
R: so what were u doin ater that.
A: (i spin my yarn about being a faculty at two different CAT prep insti's..surprisingly, they weren't impresed, or mebbe dint show it)
L: laughs n says why did u do it?
R: interrupts him n says that we would take it as a negative mark on ur application.
A: (in my most curious tone) why do u consider it so ?
R: we think coaching makes students robotic..we want natural guys.
A: ok. but i think there is more to it than just teaching or solving english and uant questions. i could always do that, but i learnt a lot more. being a teacher, a guide, making them comfortable in my presence, letting them come up with their real doubts and aspirations. all this is inherent part of being a teacher.
R: (he has kept on nodding during the answer) ok then.
L: what about ur students. anyone outside?
A: (smiling) no sir
L: ok, if u had a choice between ur students and u, what will u do ?
A: (thats the question d00d, been waiting for it for long :) ) sir, i believe that IIM B has plenty of space for both me and my students.
L: (happy after being thwarted) tell me about ur certificate here.
A: a national level first position for a paper on aerodynamics of F1 cars. i got a first prize for it. infact even did my final year project in this
R: (taking the cue and smoothly asking) ok..tell us about ur project.
A: start off with a bang, missile range augmentation. talk about the international conference, work at IIT kanpur, supersonic work benches, its use by DRDO, multi-barrel rocket launching system (MBRLS), the basic philosophy behind it.
R: ok..(then some simple question..i forget)
A: letme draw it for u. (take a pen, start expalining about wake of a boat and how the wake of a missle affects it. then talk about missile drag-the three types. tell, how base drag is important, loss of energy and some other stuff. very beautifully explained IMHO )
L: ok..any theory which explains it
A: just broad equations. most work is experimental in nature. we have some models but nothing concrete.
R: thats very good (comment of the day for me )
R: ok..tell us about alfred Sloan
A: my weakest answer..forgot..said something about assembly lines
R: cuts me off..says that was by ford
A: apologise. say that must be confused then. then talk about toyota
L: why toyota (lord, i love this question)
A: redefined manufacturing, TQM, flexible manufacturing, competing with GM in US, all our indutrial engineering is based on toyota
R: (nods during answers) some gyaan about toyota
A: talk about the difference between american and japanese work culture
R: (surprised) u know about it ?
A: yessiree. have read loads of books (another clue)
L: ok..tell us what r ur interests.
A: books and rock music
L: books ??
A: science fiction to quantum physics. conflicts to detective stories. lots of genres
L: talk about SF
A: asimov is god. DA is almost there. robert heinlein, lewis padgett, hp lovecraft et al
L: quantum physics?
A: (pleasure) start with pauli's exclusion principle. then start about the apparent unmatch between quantum physics and theory of gravity. why these two arent meshing with each other. fundamental forces etc.
L: some questions..clarifications on event horizon
R: name some writers
A: give answers..talk shifts to black holes. correct R (my turn now :) ) by naming the book he was talking about.
L: quantum theory wasnt accepted by einstein.
A: what u r talking about is the famous quote, "god does not play dice with the universe" .. einstein might be the greatest scientist of our time , but it doesnt mean that every statement of his is a scientific fact (R is nodding very vigorously at this)
L: ok.
R: music??
A: springsteen and dylan
R: (surprised) bob dylan ?? u listen to him ??
A: (flush with pleasure after scoring a direct hit) an institution in rock, stream-of-consciousness narratives, powerful story teller. working for over 40 years now
R: fine..close all the papers in front of him. talk about the kashmir issue
A: (god, this is unbelievable..all sitters) sir..complex problem. ethnic issues i.e kashmiri vs non-kashmiri mixed with religious issues (hindu vs muslim). not a very good combo. draw a comparision to israel-palestine conflict. talk about the kashmiri pandits, laddakh and the dogra issue. a good discussion to end the interview.
R: thank you
A: thanks a ton !!

so finally @ 5.35 pm on 24th March 2005, i am free. loads of relief. games ahoy !