The Bitter Truth

There is an old adage which goes something like this "What you most wish for and what you most fear of , both will come TRUE ". You may doubt the first part but certainly would agree with the second . I believe in most the cases it holds good but some souls may disagree .So leave them aside and let's face the truth. In this period of recession one activity is quite common . Every other person is coming with their own set of predictions about the growth of economy during the next one year . Some people even dared to say that India won't be effected much by this downturn and would register a growth of over 7% . I don't know the basis of their audacious claims but found one thing common between them and that was UPA . I can understand the obvious as the lok sabha elections are round the corner and they don't want to disappoint the "aam aadmi" . But how long can you fool people in this world ? Surely not long enough . The results for the last fiscal Oct-DEC were announced some days back and the truth was unfortunately out before the public . India had clocked a growth rate of 5.3% amid this slowdown . Now the figure is not too bad but definitely way below claimed predictions . If the last result is anything to go by ,one can only expect whatwill be the results for the current fiscal when it would be announced . Definitely this slowdown has taken it's toll on the booming growth .

The crashing sensex reflects the mindset of the investors and depicts how sceptic have they become . Rupee depreciation is another cause of concern which is currently trading at 52 against dollar .Three stimulus packages have already been announced by the UPA government since December 2008 to give some boost to this sagging economy . Lately excise duty and service tax were cut by 2% each . This would certainly leave more in the hands of the consumers and would help in increasing the demand . Now since the election dates have come out no more such packages can be announced by the UPA government as per the restrictions laid down by the EC . So the only body which can act now is the RBI and it didn't disappoint either . It reduced the repo and reverse repo rate - both by 50 basis points . Now this would certainly help in retaining more money with the banks itself . This has been done so that banks lend more and help in spurring the demand . But of late banks have been accused of hoarding as this is not going to serve the purpose .The forex reserve has too come down by more than $50 bn in fighting this downturn . The only positive thing is the constant decreasing inflation . The placements of top B-schools of India like IIM-A,XLRI, IIFT have been hit by this slowdown . Earlier placing all it's students used to be a matter of 4-5 days but this year the case is quite different with extended placement season .The students are not in demanding position anymore and are settling for a low salary packages than last year . The kind of profiles offered are also missing this year . And the people from finance department are finding it too tough .

Don't know when this world would come out of this gloomy situation .Everybody is facing the heat and are doing everything to save their job be it Citibank CEO Vikram Pandit or a common man . So the common solution for this common problem is that everybody has to work hard . We need to put in the combined effort and then only this situation will improve or can hope to improve .

Lifestyle takes a HIT

Global recession ,slowingdown of economy , financial meltdown are the few terms discussed at length these days .Everyday each and every newspaper brings out an editorial on such hot topics explaining the causes and the effects of the above dreaded words .The countries all around the globe are making every effort to deal with the slowdown .Unemloyment is at it's peak and the fear of losing the job in these trying times is creating a havoc in the minds of the people .Companies after companies are reporting huge losses and are fiercly shuting down many production sites to cut down losses . Despite global scenario and IMF 's prediction of India's GDP growing around 5.2% , India is crusing along fine . Afterall it will be the second largest growing economy after China . But certain economists are of the view that India will be less affected by the gloomy scenario and will register a growth of around 7% in the nest fiscal .I pray they are right but we will have to wait for a certain time to celebrate .

So what are the causes for this recession , slowdown and all these stuffs?? May be I am not learned enough to cite the reasons .But I have a certain philosophical point of view .Sorry if I sound funny ,and if, ignore this . Like in a lifetime there are happy moments ,there is a boom in the economy .There are difficult,unhappy times in a life and likewise it is the slowdown ,gloomy times . The sensex last year was climbing dizzy heights and there were claims floating that it might reach 25000 points , Alongside India was recording a healthy growth rate and reaping the benefits of good times .But with sensex crashing for the past few months depict the uncertainities of the current time . On an optimistic note we know that every bad periods end with the beginning of good times .The past is the proof of the above statement. The growth of a counrty is something like a Sine curve .There will be crests and troughs for sure .But what will remain undetermined is it's time period that is for how long will there be healthy growth and for how much time will this slowdown lasts. The second thing which cannot be calculated is by how the economy would grow or contract but surely can be speculated . It is the time to search for the mistakes and rectify them .To revisit the basics , to enhance your skills , and thus remaining competitive .When will these times vanish remains unknown till then be optimistic .

So how am I surviving in this period of financial meltdown ? Certainly the credit crunch has taken a heavy toll on my lifestyle but then I never was a spendthrift .To deal with the situation I had to adopt various cost cutting methods and ofcourse in almost all the cases my poor stomach had to bear the consequences . For the past four months I had been wearing a pair of slippers with a large hole in one of it .It could have created a problem for me ,of much larger magnitude , if only a nail or something would have got into my feet . But now I am safe as I purchased a new pair after a lot of deliberation. Weekly I used eat out twice on tuesday and saturday ( thanks to the mess food ) but now I have scrapped the whole idea fo eating out. I have given up drinking (read juice ) . Now the only expense remains is the evening nasta which I will try to cut to minimum level . I cannot afford to go to a movie hall ( thank god no srk movie in near future) . I didn't pay for the hostel function as well as Kritansh but savoured the dinner on both the occasions ( thanks to Anand & Amrit ) . I hope to employ such measures in many more cases as long as it reduces the financial burden . As of now I just hope that my financial conditions would improve and start an upward movement ....boom time.

DFS: Only Hope

OK! I am here after a long break with all my MBA exams over . Actually it got over on 18th Jan itself but then I had other things to worry (like TCS and mid sem ) . So it was very difficult for me to continue scribbling on my bolgs . I hope you people would have understood the situation or shall I give more excuses incase you are not convinced . Anyways I shall stop myself now. By now one thing which would have been quite obvious is that I don't love writing blogs or rather I should say that I don't enjoy it much . So I can't say it's my hobby just to show that I am a person of bit diverse hobbies . But the other part which is important in this context is that neither do I hate writting blogs . May be later on when I find something intersting to write about then I may find it enjoyable . But for time being let's go along with the flow.



January 28 2009 will always hold a special place in my heart . It was on this day that I was short listed for GD-PI by DFS. When I saw the result I couldn't believe my eyes because I wasn't expecting a call . This was not because I had performed badly but rather it was due the less number of seats in DFS which made it a cut throat competition . I guess I was lucky enough . After I had failed to deliver the goods in all the exams starting from CAT ,I had completely lost faith in myself and my abilities . I was already thinking about the next year when the good news arrived . DFS was the last exam written by me with all my hope already evaporated by then . But then too I gave it and lastly GOD heard my call and rewarded the hard work I had put in throughout my preparation . The devotion finally paid off . It was an institute which I always wanted to join because of my affinity towards finance . But then the journey ahead is tough too .GD-PI is a hard nut to crack for a person like me . But I am leaving no stone unturn to come out with flying colours . Whatever needs to be done I am doing that and the rest GOD himself will see. Signing off an optimistic note ....

TIME has come

Somehow it seemed that I had forgotten this all important tool to reflect upon myself.In fact I desired to isolate it for quite sometime. But thanks to a very dear of mine for asking me why had I stopped this process.I was ecstatic !!! And why not.At last I found one soul who has enough time to read my blogs .Suddenly he made me realize that I belong to a particular league of AAmir khan and Amitabh bachhan who were famous bloggers. But the similarity ends here only as I am not a part of any advertising media as these icons are. And when they scribble something on their blog the whole of india reads the crap . To add to a similarity one more aspect is that He waits for my blog with the same enthusiasm as for his icons .At least now I can be content with that feeling .

Phew!! I have already scribbled a lot of crap today and that too in no time .Surely when it comes to speaking or writing nonsense no one does better than me .You can ask my friends or read the above lines to be sure about my abilities.Please forgive me if I took you fall or granted.

The days are passing by swiftly without me realizing it and the D-day is approaching apace.TIME mock tests are going on with each results mocking at my abilities and leaving me completely crestfallen.Something is seriously wrong with my approach and needs urgent attention before it is too late.Nothing to write about results as they are turning out to be pathetic and more pathetic.Trying hard to come to terms but I'm failing at each juncture. Seriously It has shook me belief in my abilities and compelled me to question myself incessantly .But the answers are a few only and more is needed at this hour to resurrect myself before the hour passes by. God help me out!!!

Missing Out during Holidayz

After a good one and a half month of holidays or more appropriately a long layoff I got back which has been my habitat for the last three years. All the plans which I had made for summer vacations were blown away by an unfortunate incident .A brawl which broke among some boys of our hostel and could have turned into a more uglier scene before which the authorities acted .And as a result SINE-DIE was declared and we had to vacate our hostels within few hours .Had no choice but to go home cursing everybody involved especially the hostel authorities who made hell out of nothing. Going back home was surely to my delight as home made food tempts each of us .But my study was going to be hampered a lot and this was hurting like anything .Already all my plans had ended in smoke and then spending a long vacation at home at this juncture wasn't a great idea .However I made up mind to maximize my efforts but at the end of the day it's your home .Did as far as I could but the constant disturbances always kept me behind my target which I finally couldn't achieve .However hard I tried but couldn't turn a deaf ear to homely talks . But I would rather blame my self as the intensity lessened and the fire within began extinguishing for some reasons .I know what I have lost within these days but that cannot deter me from gaining in coming months .What's gone is gone forever . I know I'm the person responsible . I have done "something" obviously far below my own expectations . It's time to remain focussed for the next six months and do not let any other thoughts creep into your mind . It's all about controlling your mind .

You Need Luck Too !!!

Going by the placements in my college a serious question which has come to the surface is "Which is more important ,Intellect or luck?" If I hereby quote that intellect outweighs everything else then some of you would argue endlessly which I will not able to cope up with.But if I take the other stance I 'm not safe either .It's placement season and therefore companies have thronged our college. This has brought about a sea change in the attitude of all kinds of students, be it the knowledgeable one or the ones who are clinging to their luck .But the placements results has left a lot to be desired in terms to be known to them who are still not recruited .The unpredictable results has shook the confidence level of many a students.It has made them to doubt their own abilities and question their knowledge.Some are responsible for their own falls and but some are not "responsible" for their "highs".Yes i'm talking about such people who have ended with different companies just on sheer luck .I won't doubt their knowledge as they have nothing of that "sort" to doubt about.So it's quite simple If your luck accompanies you on a day you may not require the services of your brain .I can give numerous examples of such people who have landed with a job and are not deserving .Rather I should say not deserving enough to study the B.tech course .I know I'm harsh because in India poor children are unable to get a proper education leave aside getting a job .I won't get into this matter because it's useless. for me to talk as the plight of the poor won't change .


So i was speaking about the "lucky" ones .I would add to it further that their luck won't last forever as they will be ones who will be thrown out of the company first and then only they would realize.But then students who actually have a fair amount of knowledge and those who didn't have the luck with them on that particular day are not useless. It's just that one day their luck would too click and they would too land up with a job .Here I must say that some people are only themselves to blame and it would be better if they realize this as soon as possible.Be confident but not overconfident that it leads you to your downfall.It's a day which sees how better you apply your resources and how cool you are about things .And blah blah.....We all know such stuffs but why we all falter at the important moment will be a mystery .May be because we are humans and have variable amount of luck on a particular day.As a famous man says "Your hard work comprises 99% and luck just a meagre 1% but sometimes that 1% luck outweighs the 99% hard work and thus determines your success ."So better pray for good luck if you desire success at any level.I was lucky enough to get into TCS on the very first day of the campus.Come on !! Don't start doubting my "knowledge" .I know I have enough ( only scant).

Now I AM A TCS ASSOCIATE

A week has passed out since my (stupendous ) success(I can say now or may be I'm not sure).But the truth is that I'm one of the guy to be recruited by TCS(obviously a software giant) on a campus drive a week ago.So this blog is dedicated to my hardwork and success and above all god who was with me right through the two day process. And when I say I was one the lucky lads I really mean it.Because many people who were excellent in tech (obviously I don't doubt mine) didn't get through and some with poor skills(read tech) sailed through.This is perhaps the irony of these placement drives.You need to have a great amount of technical knowledge or great luck or sometimes both.I personally believe that luck determines only 1% in success but sometimes this 1% luck outweighs 99% labour.And I had my share of luck on that day for two reasons .First I was interviewed by a Lady(don't take her for granted) who was kind enough not to ask absurd questions .And second I was at peace with my self(lucky enough because many of my dear friends got frustrated by the kind of "unkind" questions hurled at them without any mercy).The interview was a cool breeze with only some minor faults but she seemed impressed though I believe I could have spoken a bit slower.Need to take this fault seriously .Well I would not go into the actual questions and make this space a boring to read .As soon as I was out of the interview room I knew I had made a mark and was somewhat sure of my selection unless something wrong happened.But in the end after a lot of speculation ,the results were announced and my name was called(thank god) among those 310 lucky people.TCS has the largest workforce and is known to pick people in bulk(but that is not the reason why I was selected).And because of such a process some enter who are not supposed to be there(read misplaced).Therefore TCS throws out it's employees( sorry Associates) in order to weed out such "misplaced people"( I'm not fearing about it).


But is the battle won ? Nope!! The job is only half done or rather I would say it has just begun.I say this because now I can prepare for CAT where I long to belong(read: IIM) without any thoughts about placements creeping into my mind.Having secured a job in the very first company ,I have no tensions as of now.But my task ahead is cut out as i have only 7 months to go for the D day .If I 'm able to crack it that will be my biggest achievement till date and I'm quite capable of doing the same.And determined too.I have begun the same process which I had left before the placements and zeal remains the same or may be enhanced .This I have to achieve for my self .And I 'm quite contended or rather adamant to do it.Ahead is a long battle and only if I 'm quite focussed to bell it I see no reasons why I can't do it.So let's hope for the best not better and pray to GOD.