“Three months, just three months left!” I tell my friend in a serious tone. I can’t believe that two years in IIM Calcutta or ‘Joka’, as we fondly call it, are almost over. “Well, it’s just over two months actually”, he replies. In my head, I’m going “Damn it! No!” and drift into thoughts about how Joka has been one hell of an experience.
When a student enters IIM Calcutta, life suddenly shifts gears. You go from an easy cruise to full throttle. Lectures, club activities, and building a résumé take up most of your time during the day. In the time that’s left, there are assignments and group projects to do. What makes Joka stand out is that even in all this hustle and bustle, one always finds “time”. This time might be hanging out with wing mates and friends, playing a sport, or going for a jog around the beautiful campus (we have seven lakes on campus!). As you can expect, a good night’s sleep is almost impossible in the beginning. Then again, at 2 am, I’d personally rather discuss a new start-up idea with a bunch of friends over coffee and noodles that have been delivered to the room. Finally, 4 am signifies the end of the day. Some believe this is only because the night canteen shuts then.
A little over five months into campus, you have ‘summers’. This doesn’t refer to the weather, but to the mood on campus as things heat up during the summer placement process. This is the time when students are offered 8-10 week internships by the best of companies in finance, consulting, marketing and general management. But it also during this placement season when the true Joka spirit is visible in all its grandeur. Facchas or first years can be seen huddling in groups all over campus preparing for interviews with the senior batch heavily involved in mentoring and motivating them. At Joka, we leave no one behind, and the umpteen technical preparation sessions, midnight discussions and general gyaan sessions between juniors and seniors, right till the last person has a summer internship, is testimony to this adage.
Work hard, party harder
All work and no play is what students do in other B-schools. At Joka, we work hard but play even harder. The numerous campus parties throughout the year are definitely worth experiencing. They serve as brilliant short breaks from all the madness, and allow one to let loose for a while to reset the wiring and get back to work the next morning. Okay, maybe not the next day, but definitely the day after.
After summers, one truly gets to experience the numerous opportunities that Joka offers to pursue one’s interests; be it dance, drama, sports, music or case competitions. I was more inclined towards sports so my third term was speant upping my fitness levels to compete in Sangharsh, the IIM-ABCL Sports Fest and the IIMC-XLRI Sports Meet. The adrenaline rush while playing on the field wearing the Joka colours is something I will definitely cherish. This term also has both the cultural and the business festivals of IIM Calcutta which means more interesting events, more concerts and more fun. Wow, what a first year!
“Damn, there’s just one year left!” is the sentence on everyone’s lips after coming back to campus from the summer internships. Having experienced what work-life is like the feeling of being back on campus is definitely a relief. While the work during summer internships is usually pretty interesting, nothing really beats campus life. The facchas are seniors now, and there are 450 new faces on campus that are just getting into the groove of things. But by the end of the year, everyone will know everyone and it is brilliant how this process is so natural at Joka.
International Exchange Programme
Even with all the desperation to hold on to campus life, the fourth term passes by in a breeze. Sadly, the fifth one goes by even faster. This is the term that many students go on a student exchange programme to universities around the world. It’s a time many use to explore not just different countries and cultures, but also to introspect. For me, the last three months in Europe have been enthralling. IIM Calcutta has not only given me the opportunity to pursue the CEMS Master’s in International Management, a dual degree at the University of Cologne in Germany, but I also got a chance to travel around Europe. Working with students from around the world, and learning about other cultures has definitely been an eye-opening experience.
After doing six rigorous courses and exploring 22 cities, I feel pretty satisfied with my exchange term. Now, as I travel back to Joka for the last couple of months, there are mixed feelings. I’m excited to go back, but also sad that there are only three months left, okay two months.
Damn it! No!