Mumbai Marathon - Day1 (IMT Ghaziabad)

Mumbai marathon lasted for 2 days, it started when i landed on 14th Feb in Mumbai. The date should have already rung some bells for sure..
So here I was in Mumbai the city of dreams to pursue my dreams on an auspicious day which has brought an opportunity for so many young boys and girls to share their feelings and also parties alike to do some moral policing and gain some political brownie points.
Well so it was the day of opportunities and i was their to grab mine ..
The next day i had to travel to Mahalakshmi - Institute of Engineers at 8.30 am.
So at 8.28 am (punctuality personified) I was roaming around on a street around a marriage hall with workers arduously putting up a Shamiayaana. I tried to locate my venue only to find that the Institute of Engineers also hosts weddings and that they would be our fellow occupants of the Hall.

So amused as i was proceeded towards the building and was directed towards an auditorium filled with scores of candidates/competitors with tinkle in their eyes.
We were divided into 4 panels of 15 each and asked to escorted to our respective rooms for the GD process.
So there we found two gentleman nearing 60 and a relatively young lady with waiting for us.
One of the gentleman (Mr A) rose and explained the rules. which were to discuss the topic for 10 minutes and then individually summarize(1 min) and then write a summary (5 min).

The topic was "Senior citizens need to be given special treatment in all walks of life".

So as soon as Mr A set us free to discuss one of us started of with "OLD is GOLD" and the need to love and care for our parents and senior citizens.
Well then I took over from him and tried to give a structure to the topic. the need to discuss the special treatment , its extent, its effectiveness, the pros and cons, and the discuss the perspective of the Govt. and the Senior Citizens.
the discussion they went on for the stipulated time with the tempo gearing up every few minutes.
I was able to pitch quite frequently and put my points.
then the summary was routine with more or less the same points being discussed by everyone.

Following it was the summary writing which for some reasons I was not able to complete -- may be the prof gave less time or may be my hands had too much inertia and resisted the thought of finishing in 5 minutes.

So with this the GD was over and we were asked to leave for the waiting area and then started the interviews.

I was 8th to be interviewed and the interviews were lasting for around 10-15 minutes.
So after a wait of 2 hours Mr A comes to invite me to the room.

I follow him and Mr B(the other 60 around prof) and Ms Y(Young Relatively) were there.
Greetings exchanged I take the seat and also Mr A gets seated.

Mr B) I saw you GD-- i got a feeling that you like to lead.. and looks at me expecting me to take over.
Me) (was not expecting to get a chance to hit a six of the first ball) yes Sir that is my natural inclination but then i understand the imp of team play also ..
Mr B) I think you must me taking initiatives in your team and stuff...
Me) (yes yes please Sir i like when people praise me) yes sir
Mr B) what will you do after an MBA
Me) Blah
Mr B) given an opportunity will u like to work in a corporate environment or the factory floor
Me) trying to be diplomatic --both are equally imp and an experience on the floor is valuable when u are in the corporate role ...labor issues .. blah blah
Mr B) I am from the industry .. so wanted to know
Me) (to myself-- that is good, I hope I gave u the answer) smiling
Now Mr B - turns towards the Ms Y who has been going through my profile... and preferences
Ms Y)I see that you have International Business as your preference
Me) (Can't believe my luck today-- had prepared this Q for IIFT but wasn't asked there, so time has come for karma) a good ans with instances from my work ex.
Ms Y) from what u said -- what is the biggest attribute that a manager in a global environ have
Me) Empathy for Cultural difference
Ms Y) I like your answer, I was looking for that -- full marks
Me) (wow -- did i give such a good answers, anyways) thanks Mam
now its turn of Mr A, who has been keenly watching ..
Mr A) so you play cricket -- and looking at u must be fast bowler
Me) yes sir, i am a pace bowler
Mr A)and what is ur shoes size
Me) laugh -- 12
Mr A) so do u get shoes
Me) 10 days head start -- and it is headache
Mr A) so ur headache is in ur foot-- (and then every one laughs)
MrA) what is normal swing
Me) explained
Mr A) reverse swing
Me) explained what -- but not why..
mr A) why does that happen
Me) Pakistanis know better
Mr A) so who started it-- with a smile
me) since i started seeing -- i have seen Waqar and wasim
Mr A) oh yes u wont have seen Safaraz nawaz ...(looks nostalgic)
ok, what is diff between junior management and middle management
Me) something...
Mr A) yes it is quite right but -- (then goes on to explain)
Me) hmmm
Mr A) do u want to ask us something
me) asked about their initiatives and role students play in that (just saw that moments b4 going for the interview :) , specially for this Q)
Mr A, Ms Y) explain well, market IMT, and give some fundas..
Me) (giving a look of extreme satisfaction .. IMT is so gr8 :)) nod, hmmm,

So the interview is done ...I rise wish them and turn to move out -- suddenly Ms Y interrupts and asks me to read Rudyard kiplying's IFs.. she remembered that from our interaction..(well read the poem since then, is an excellent poem- but couldn't relate it to the interview-- if anyone can do that please comment on that)

Was a satisfying experience...
came out of the room with a feeling that -- one gone and now get ready for teh one tomorrow -- which is NMIMS (Narsee Monjeee).. 16th Feb -9.00 am.