My Batchmates Jose Bhima

JOSE G. VARAVUKALA (JOSAY / HOSE / YOSAPPAN)
"Fair and Lovely"  d.o.b. 9-4-1958

The man with the rich, b(h)aritone voice. Became better known as Father Jose after his Eff.
Comm. presentation on The Bible. He reached the heights of spirit-uality in the Jog Falls 'trip’.
He looked with a jaundiced eye upon anyone musically inclined intruding upon his privacy.
His favorite pastime: Singing, which Banny and even braver souls found hard to contain.

H. BHIMASENA RAU
(BHIMA / ASKY) d.o.b. 17-4-1959

His Tamil was painful - to non-Tamil ears. However, beneath the Tamil exterior, he hid hazaar
hospitality, warmth, hard work and a general inclination to excel. His gesticulations reminded
one of a puppet with strings detached. An enthusiastic placement rep., he discharged his duties
(?) with rare aplomb.

Creating Nicknames

Nicknames are always interesting. Chhotu and Motu are the garden variety ones, but if we exercise the grey cells, we could come up with newer, gooder- err, better-ones.

Example- Bhatinde ka tinda.

Here are a few names that my batchmates were called. (It seems as if there were many people fully occupied in coining nicknames rather than doing their MBA!)

R2D2 (Star Wars character), Tintin, UFO, Dangler, Gadfly (real name Gadkari),

Dede (inspired by a prof whose last name was Lele), Bond 003(this was a girl),

Shah of Kiraan (Kiran was his first name), Jerome K. Jerome (Jayram), Toddler, Bhau,

Mandrake (for Manglik), Gothix, Fu Manchu, Marcus Gundolius (guess who?)

Bishop, Thalaivar, Henry Fayol (for Srikant Payal), Dancing Queen (for a guy who danced his way into our hearts), Captain Haddock,

POM I, POM II and POM III (after a course called Production and Operations Management, which was not exactly the most liked. The OM stands for Old Man.

Reunion at IIM Bangalore

This was a much-awaited event we waited five years for. The last one was the 25th, and this, the 30th. Gives you a fantastic feeling of nostalgia, with all the 'masks' you wear falling off, and leg-pulling and joke-telling taking centrestage. We also had a couple of genuine articles that were new this time, thanks to the team at the alum office and student volunteers.

One was a good stand-up comedy act from a student who is a budding stand-up, and a big surprise, a sports tournament in various games with us versus current students. I played a bit of Badminton partnering Venky, our batchmate who is actually nicknamed Baddy after his love for the game, and won a game against the youngsters, most born in 1982 or later! I was never in any kind of doubt about the talent we have in our batch, and it manifested itself in myriad ways in these two days.

You name any kind of achievement, interest or talent, and we seem to have someone in our group who is very good at it. Music, sports, NGO type activity, teaching, entrepreneurship, corporate achievement, and so on..but more than all of that, a certain goodness of the heart, or a generous sharing of laughter, and an ability to switch careers and take risks, like retiring from regular work when it felt like a burden.

We interacted with faculty and tried to provide our perspectives on getting IIMB more global, diverse and socially relevant. One suggestion we made was that an IIMB manager must stand up for what is right and not buckle down under wrong kinds of pressure. Another was to improve the EQ through interventions in the two-year program. Challenging, but doable.

Since I also teach, I got a few questions about IIM Indore's Industry FPM (part time doctoral program) and encouraged a few colleagues to join it. They just might. Giving back in some way seemed on the minds of many people.

Naturally, I went back to see my room, and a few other things in campus. Many things have changed for the better, and the water tank from the film '3 Idiots' was now hidden from view by trees that have grown up tall around it. But we did go around and click it.

Outside the campus, we met former students- mine from KIAMS, who now works for Ogilvy New York, and my wife's, one who works in Bangalore, and another studying at Clemson, where I got my PhD in 1989. All in all, a full and fulfilling week!

My Batchmates

Entries from my year-book of IIM Bangalore, 1982-84 batch.

S. RAVIKUMAR (JACKET RAVI / IAS / IN TOTO)

He was thrilled at the bureaucratic prospect of being nicknamed I.A.S. until he was given the full form-it stands for "Invisible After Sunset". He claims his moustache has never been shaved ever since conception. So we are not in a position to comment on what lies behind it.

NARAYAN L. KULKARNI (KULKS/ DE FACTO/IPSO FACTO)

Affectionately called Kulks, a friend, philosopher & spiritual guide of that man Ambade. He would mysteriously disappear evenings, days and weeks. An immaculately dressed and highly qualified engineer, political thinker, de-facto intellectual- makes his presence felt in GBMs (General Body Meetings of all students). Believes the Indian Social System will undergo a revolution through communism, socialism, democracy, dictatorship or the ipso facto current one.

HIMANSHU MANGLIK (MANDRAKE/ RIGOR MORTIS/ CORPORATE MAN)

He was the original Pied Piper. Wherever he went, the pipe preceded and the girls followed. The fact that he was the best-dressed person, the fact that he had a grand physique and matching looks (fair enough!), that he spoke with a perfect. clipped, well-modulated accent, definitely helped. Was alternately mistaken tor the Director of IIM and the MD of a multinational all through the placement scene. A less-known fact about him was his genuine interest in cricket and theatre.

“In a world of corporate Mediocrity, some Things stand apart”

Inauguration at IMT Ghaziabad

It was the inauguration of the IMT Ghaziabad PGDM (MBA) batch today, and a large crowd of expectant students filled the hall up. It was their first day in class at IMTG, and they had a lot to listen to. The guest for the occasion was Mr. Ramana Murthy, Vice President HR at Coca Cola in India, who incidentally is from A.P.

He shared his life story briefly, drawing lessons for a typical student to transform into a leader over his career, with some sage advice. He also outlined pitfalls that come in the way, and suggested means to tackle them. He also asked them to identify their passion and select a career related to it. Of course, some of this advice gets clearer in hindsight, or as one progresses in one's career. For instance, my migration to teaching- and many others from my MBA batch did something similar, either becoming professors or entrepreneurs. Two of them are also into spiritual pursuits full-time (not the United Breweries kind). He also tackled well some tricky questions from the young minds.

All in all, a good beginning for all the youngsters, and my debut at Ghaziabad. The campus seems a bit small after Nagpur, but it's vibrant with 1000 plus hearts beating on it.

My IIMB Batchmates- 3

VALIVATI PRABHAKAR (MAASA / DADA)

His was the most purr-fect English accent earning him unbounded laurels in all marketing
courses. At the end of his presentation on OPEC, he was asked about the future of the
organisation. He replied coolly "I give it another six years". Deccan Herald lapped him up when he performed some anti-MBA stunts on their editorial page.

S. SIVARAM (BAAS / R2D2)

His love-life began and ended with the ORG-80. No wonder he was asking for a more
interactive computer to have a proper ORG-Y. George Lucas is reportedly on the lookout for him to star in "The Boss Strikes Again" - the role is the Bass who spoke with a high treble. His addiction : MAD magazine.

Tagline: “The boss is always right”

S. RAVIKUMAR (JACKET RAVI / IAS / IN TOTO)

He was thrilled at the bureaucratic prospect of being nicknamed I.A.S. until he was given the full form-it stands for "Invisible After Sunset". He claims his moustache has never been shaved ever since conception. So we are not in a position to comment on what lies behind it.

“A guide to the well-dressed male”.

NARAYAN L. KULKARNI (KULKS/ DE FACTO/IPSO FACTO)

Affectionately called Kulu, a friend, philosopher & spiritual guide of that man Ambade. He
would mysteriously disappear evenings, days and weeks. An immaculately dressed and highly qualified engineer, political thinker, de facto intellectual- makes his presence felt in GBMs (General Body Meetings).

Believes the Indian Social System will undergo a revolution through communism, socialism, democracy, dictatorship or the ipso facto current one.

“All history is a history of class struggles”