Life at ISB begins

After 2 years of thinking and deliberating on a MBA, after giving part-time MBA a quick try, I finally settled in @ ISB.

The O week has been more than an experience.

- Facing the 'The culture shock'
- My age factor finally getting 'revealed' - Talking to a 25 yr old and actually feeling old
- Late night parties - what, me? Yeah! It is so ironical that I have lived 8 years in US, and had not been to a single party and stayed over 12am. But here at ISB - on the very first day!
- Hearing to the most abused words on campus 'Network', 'Gyaan' and 'CP or arbit CP'
- Meeting or I should say 'Networking' with a lot of people
- Sleeping for 4 hrs everyday over the week
- Not stepping a single time out of the campus


My life at ISB, is going to rock, just as we at ISB like to say, ISB Rocks! Here we go...

I can't escape the thought -

oSama Bin laDen
&
oBama BiDen

Madras Day!

Madras Day Wishes to everyone - life changes but my love for Madras never does. It's been 3 years since I wrote the original post, but none of it has changed. Reposting as a tribute on Madras day!

Madras, recently known as Chennai, is integral part of my growth...If some one from north india, refers to the term "Madrasi", that would be me... Born and brought up in Singara Chennai, me knows nothing other than Tam and life circling Madras. I have not lived there for the last 7 years and my heart is heavy longing to be back.. Having met a lot other indians from various parts of the country, I believe the birth place, and the place where you grew up is such a integral part of your character. Bombay folks for example, just say, they cannot imagine a better city than Bombay. In the various comparisons they make, they make you believe it is true. This is not just true to Madras, Bombay or any other city/country. As Joey from Friends would sing "I miss New York, thats the only place that knows me, thats where home is, and thats where I feel I am myself".I strongly believe, that is true with me and Madras. I am myself, probably only there. I consider any other place alien to me. Sometimes I wonder, why I am, in a hugely different vast country, varied culture, and lifestyle. Money is it? Or career? Or just coming out of the box? I am not sure.Miss Madras much

-miss first day first show Thalaivar movies
-miss eating pani poori on the roadside
-miss Saravana Bhavan
-miss my yamaha bike
-miss Hanumar koil prasadam
-miss traffic
-miss Pollution
-miss Chaos
-miss Marina
-miss Cricket
-miss Tamil Cinema
-miss Tam Politics
-miss Cable TV
-miss Sun Music
-miss Friends
-miss Relatives
-miss Family
-miss Home

I know I will be back, but how soon?

Nadal - The King!!! What, you kiddin?

Congratulations to Nadal on becoming the new World Number 1, deservedly so. Fitting No. 1 to say the least. 4 French open titles, a French & Wimbledon in the same year and an Olympic Gold - incredible. But then, let’s drill down a speck further.

Looking at the last 14 world number players to have reached No. 1, my eyes cannot escape the fact that 7 of them are named: Jim Courier, Thomas Muster, Marcelo Rios, Carlos Moya, Yevgeny Kafelnikov, Gustavo Kuerten, Juan Carlos Ferrero. Wow - a striking similarity between them all. What's that? Oh yes, clay! All of them are former French open champions and stalwarts on clay. What other grand slams have they won? Zuk... You must be kidding.... I wish, but nope. Some of them have not even won French twice.

Does anyone remember Michael Stich, Richard Krajicek, and Goran Ivanisevic - former Wimbledon champs? They did not win any other grand slams, and neither did they reach world number 1.

Why this discrepancy? Simply because the clay court season is longer and have way too many tournaments to play for (More you play, more ATP points you get! Sadly so) With more hard court tournaments sprawling up and given the two hard court slams, better hard court players are getting close to the sights of No. 1. Players like Hewitt, Safin and Roddick have been world number 1s, courtesy hard courts.

The point is that the term "World number 1" is relative. All above mentioned players are champions and deserved No. 1 players in their times, but to call them "King" would be foolish. A King should be here to stay. Federer, unimaginably, has held on to the top spot for 237 weeks with not having won the French and many of its clay counterparts. Apart from this 12 titles, he has also proved to the world that he is the second best clay court player, reaching the finals thrice. Now, that is an achievement! Now that is what we call a King.

Coming back to Nadal, what has he achieved actually? Is it the 4 Frech open titles. Right, so? Never reached the semis of a hard court slam. Hmm, is it? Then why is he the champ?
What stands between "Just a clay court pig" and "a becoming a legend" is the Wimbledon title!! He might have become the top player nevertheless, given his clay run. Without the Wimbledon title, Nadal would be listed alongside the 7 names mentioned above.

Nadal, a king? Well, hold on! Nadal is the conqueror! King of Clay! Time will answer if he really becomes the King of the world. The race begins now.