Cognizant Makes it to Fortune 1000

Based on 2007 revenues, Cognizant enters Fortune list at 859 - in the 14th year of operation. Way to go..!!!

Yem Bee Yay !!!

Its D-day. H has realized his MBA dream.. and I, have conveniently pushed GMAT and the official guide to the back burner. For now, I'll bask in the reflected glory of an ISB alumni and stake my claim to fame on a pseudo-MBA.

Tomorrow, we say good-bye to this beautiful campus that was our home for a year, and to the wonderful city of Hyderabad. I am going to miss ISB, my "small" gang of friends, my team, midnight dunking, sizzlers at City Centre, movies at INOX and IMAX, haleem during Ramadan and a myriad other things which may seem trivial but contributed to making the past year the most wonderful and happening period in my life.

It was a steep learning curve, both professionally and personally, and I look forward to returning to Hyderabad, in pursuit of yet another dream... hmmm.. Co2010, maybe?

Happy B'day to Me !!!

Celebrated my birthday today - with 3 cakes !!! One from H, one from SFA and one at office. Getting dunked first is a privilege reserved for the birthday boy/girl, but I managed to get H dunked first.. It was fun, but I would still rate one of my previous birthdays as the best so far. Simply because I missed having a few of my very close friends with me, this time around.

The day also acted as a much needed "flight of time" check. Its been 10 years since I wrote my Class X board exams. Boy, you sure feel old when you look at it that way! At 25, one would have believed the colorful days of lollipops and balloons are past. Well, I beg to differ.. I am not convinced about the whole idea of growing up. I am not there. No, not yet.

Mushroom Cloud

The embers wake up

and drink the earth dry
As I lay here
watching time waft by

The silence is deafening
so is the gloom
Death is growing
is there enough room ?

Is it dawn yet ?
Has the Sun arrived ?
Is it time to wake up ?
Have I survived ?

In Fond Memory Of - CSI

Cognizant has decided to close its CSI facility. Located in the heart of the city, next to the US Consulate and overlooking the Gemini Flyover, CSI "Karunai Kudil" was where Cognizant began its operations. I have fond memories of working out of CSI - inspite of the shoebox lift, the rooftop canteen and the unbearable commute in the city traffic. Close proximity to Landmark, Khader Nawaz Khan Road, Satyam, Ispahani Centre and Spencers more than made up for the sad state of affairs in the office building. I could also meet a number of my friends who came to Chennai for their PAIs and take them to Kumarakom for lunch.

However, the highlight of our tenure in CSI was definitely the cathedral. Many an evening was spent in the sprawling church grounds, watching squirrels chase parrots. The cemetry in the sprawling church grounds made philosophers and poets out of unassuming team-mates. We would then spend a few minutes in prayer and get back to the mundane. And you wonder when work gets done. Must say there were some divine interventions!

As old leaves make way for the new ones, here's in fond memory of CSI...

A red letter day in the history of ISB

ISB 20th in Global MBA Rankings !!!
http://rankings.ft.com/global-mba-rankings

In Fond Memory Of - Mambu

Every family has their pet story. Some have more than one.Mine have loads. These have been told and re-told at all those family re-unions, where extended family get together to have biriyani and wash it down with Kawa. This is one of the all-time favs..

The Venue: "Mambu", Mamma's mayka
The cast:
Ikka @ 6 yrs - My brother, 9 years elder to me and the proud father of my 3 year old niece Ammu
Shameer Kaka @ 2 yrs- My most lovable cousin, who got engaged recently to an equally lovable girl
Baappa - My late grandfather, extremely loving but with a very short temper and a voice with a built-in amplifier.
Props - A dark green rotary dial telephone, on a wooden wall-mounted telephone stand

This story is set in the early 1980's when the family was still "joint". Long before cordless phones became a necessity, and phone numbers in Calicut were still in 5 digits, the single phone in Mambu was an object accorded great reverence by the residents. It was placed on a wooden wall-mounted telephone stand, high above the reach of mortals below 5 ft in height. It was a relatively calm evening, everyone was busy - Baappa in his office room, the ladies in the kitchen and the kids in the front yard. "CRASH"..!!

Time stood still, two tiny little hearts forgot their need of oxygen for a second and the entire family converged within seconds, to investigate the racket. Ikka, all of 6 yrs, was expecting a very important call from his friend Vijay at 5.00 pm sharp. In an effort to reach the phone, he had enlisted the services of Shameer kaka and the duo had dragged a chair in from the dining room. The phone being at a considerable height, they could not reach it and they ended up clinging to the stand. Out came the nails and thus the crash. Many a man has been surprised by the ingenuity shown by his offspring. So was Baappa, when he discovered his pet "potas" cowering in front of him, wishing the floor would split open and gobble them up.

Before Baappa could choose expletives suitable to their ages, tiny rivulets appreared on the floor. "Story" has it that no-one has heard Baappa laugh as loud and clear as he did that day. We still hear his laughter ring, whenever we recount stories, inspiring and challenging us to live life to its full, the way he did.

P.S: "Mambu" was sold and dismantled a few years ago, but the wooden telephone stand occupies place of honor in the prayer room of Ikka's new house, holding the Holy Quran.