Thought Crimes

Before I begin, a big thank you to everyone, who in the course of the past month, has wished me luck on the phone, through sms's, in person, or on this blog. It's wonderful to think, that even if for an infinitesimal second, a wish is made for one. So now that I've thanked you for your kindness, and you've thanked me for the brilliant title, let's get down to the GD/PI.

The GD: Topic was 'Ethics should be taught'. Usual kind of GD. Everyone speaking at the same time, and very few sensible things being actually said. Very predictably, both Ramalinga Raju and Maddoff were mentioned. Obama missed the bus here. The only sensible thing that I thought I had to say was that ethics are often subjective. People misappropraitng funds might be doing so believing themselves to be in the right- for their families' sake for instance.

The interview: 4 panelists this time (1,2,3,4). The fourth was the strong and silent type- didn't utter a word throughout. 1 was painfully verbose- I could never make out what I was asked.

1: Final year Meta? See metallurgy is specialized. Management is general. Won't there be dilution of skills? Creative destruction?
Me: Some gyaan on acquiring new skills, more job options etc. Talked about Meta not being that specialized. We're trained not just to be good metallurgists but to be good engineers, were the operative words.
1: No, but you have no work ex, you don't know anything about a job. You're talking about satisfaction. I'm looking for concrete answers... blah blah.
Me: Some nonsensical blah blah. I could never figure out what he wanted me to say.

2: Can you name some metallurgists from the industry?
Me: (Like an idiot) I don't think so sir.
2: What about the head of TISCO?
Me: (Like a bigger idiot) I know about TATA Steel. I don't know if it's the same as TISCO. Althought TISCO is TATA Iron and Steel Company so it should be the same (was told it was the same). The CEO of TATA Steel is B. Muthuraman. He's from IIT Madras. I never knew he was from Metallurgy, but yes, it makes sense for him to be.

3: See, you know that 2.5 lakh people apply to the IIMs. Only a couple of hundred make it to IIMC. So you have to be among the top 1%. You're not even in the top 10% in your batch (I'd mentioned my lamentable DR earlier), so how can you be amongst the top here?
Me: I've proved myself in CAT sir. I'm in the top 0.5% there.
3: Ok, so that cancels out your college performance. Otherwise?
Me: Sir, I've been a consistent academic performer. Cleared JEE and CAT on first attempt. Always done well in school. Not 96% perhaps, but you don't just want toppers, there are so few of them.
3: What are you top at then?
Me: Sir, the skills that are tested in CAT for instance- DI, Quant, Verbal...
3: No, no. I mean wholistic etc...
Me: You mean my strenghts sir. Rattled off.
3: So, can you say that you're among the top 1% most creative people in the world?
Me: In my opinion, yes sir. But my opinion counts for nought.
3: On what do you base your opinion?
Me: Mentioned the Mag. Was asked for more extra-curricular details. Mentioned quizzing and debating.

3: So, do you think IIT should be at R? Do you like the place?
Me: Yes sir. It's in its own little world. University town etc.
3: Outside of campus?
Me: Very calm sir. Scenic beauty. Depends of perception of course. Hardly any academic distractions?
3: No what do you think? Good or bad?
Me: (Like a further idiot) Bad sir. No cinema theatre. Not too many colleges outside so fewer events to take part in. Placements get screwed. (Translated to- I don't care if there are no academic distractions- the lack of a cinema hall irks me. Is my DR that surprising to you?)

There were some questions on placements in general. And reagarding the spelling of my name. Otherwise, that was it. 8-10 minutes. Short, and very confusing.

And that, dear readers, is it. Regarding the title, after 90 of the most miserable minutes of my life, I daresay I'm feeling like one.