Monday, May 15, 2006

\chapter{Bangalore Again}

What does the title mean, you ask? Well, It means that I have finished my course in IGIDR, Mumbai and have come home to Bangalore and will be working here. It also means that I had been writing my thesis in LaTeX and sitting long hours in front of the computer has done some damage to my already modest literary skills and that explains the unimaginative title.

But this post is more about leaving Mumbai than about coming to Bangalore. That is not to say that I am not excited about being back in Bangy! I am absolutely delighted to be here! However, it is only now that I have begun to realise how much I will miss IGIDR and Mumbai.

Two years ago, around this time, I was wrtiting the IGIDR entrance exam and was very anxious to clear it. After attending the interview a little more than a month later (7th of July, 2004), I fell in love with the institute and would have given anything to be given a chance to study in IGIDR. Looking back now, at all that I have learnt in the two years that I was in the institute, I feel extremely fortunate for the opportunity I was granted. In terms of academics, all the Economics that I know (which isn't very much) is what I have learnt here. I owe a lot to my professors but shall not attempt to express my gratitude towards them on this blog- I will not be able to convey all that I feel. There is more that I have gained from this experience apart from some knowledge of Economics, a degree and a job. To be honest, I did not feel this way about the place from the beginning. I was depressed, lonely and cynical for nearly three out of four semesters. The fourth semester has proved to be an eye-opener.

I realised how much I enjoy the company of my friends here and how important they are to me. There was the usual pressure of assignments and tests this time too but somehow, it did not seem half as taxing as it did in the earlier semesters. If I have to sum it all up, it began to seem like this was just the right thing to happen. It is as if I had to go though it all - the pressure, the loneliness, the frustration, the thrills, the highs, the laughter, the feeling of belonging...since I got to learn a hell of a lot from all these experiences. Two years in IGIDR has proved to be enriching in many ways and for that, I have to thank my friends! Thank you for being the wonderful people you are! I shall treasure the memories of the time we spent together!

P.S: A thousand apologies for the hackneyed cliché but I really do mean it!

6 comments:

Padma said...

Thanks Imran, for the clarification! Silly me!! ALl the best!

Kaavya said...

:) back home is a nice place to be , i guess !
Glad you are looking back at it with so much satisfaction.

Gaurav said...

After spending 10 days outside IGIDR to me it seems that I have lost my home.

Though I got old relatives...

Now will have to start from the word go in this world.

Can't say more than that.

Anonymous said...

i will miss you too, padma.
i just hope the slopes were not too bad, and the odd growth of vegetation here and there. actually right now i m not in a state to reply coz the RBI guys are operating on me for some hostel or something...i dont know...anyway , i m glad you had a good time with me here and though i wud like to see more people like you here, i doubt there will ever be one like you
all the best with your endeavours, endevaours, endaverous, (you get it right?)

Padma said...

Many many thanks!! I think I get who this is...and it is really sweet of you to write that!
About the RBI guys operating on IGIDR to build a hostel, I must say that it hurt really bad to see the institute sans all the trees I loved so much!
Thanks again! Thou art kind... and generous with praise! :-)

KM said...

hey, thanks for commenting!
:)