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The Indian dreamz: Winner among rats

It’s the March of 2007, the results are out and Rat is extremely happy. He’s got admit in a prestigious MBA institute of the country. His parents are happier for their only son,and the only capable person on this planet, has lived up to their expectations and possibly image in the society. Now the mommy can cow the aunty next door for millennia at ends and possibly fish out few girls for the holy “arranged” matrimony of his Excellency. The dad has his moustache handlebar’ed’ or may be imperial’ed’ for the occasion. There are celebrations all around and congratulatory calls are all but stopping. Rat has resigned from the job and the position he held for the last two years after clearing the first milestone of his life, engineering. The job was well paying, but the B-school rankings published by various media houses were even more attractive. Grass is always greener on the other side of the fence they say and here it was absolutely true.

The Indian economy was booming, thanks to the ever burgeoning services sector, and the jobs were available by the tonne. Just walk in and join, and if you are an MBA, the truck loads of cash is just what the doctors ordered. The “average” salaries of B-schools were experiencing a tsunami and the “highest” was much in demand. Three months passed by and Rat arrived at the institute to rub shoulders with to be “who’s who” of the industry and make it big in this gold rush. The global economy has started to sway and the creaks could be heard but with our prime minister of Smt. Sonia Gandhi speaking differently who would trust his/her own inner voice.

The first day is when they make you feel like a king. They tell you that how coming to this training camp you will mine gold pretty soon. In the evening the beaming alumni in their Armani tuxes address the juniors on making it big and how to slog through these two years. Rat talks to the mouse sitting next to him asking what is he vying to specialise in, “Finance”, pat comes the reply, “that is what MBA is right ?”. Rat smiles on finding his “team member”, one of the many jargons he will learn to use in each and every conversation of his during his stay here. How his balance sheet is affected and the top line of his savings vanish only time will tell, for now, its efficient and optimised use of the resources to come out with the most feasible solution to all the problems of the universe that matters. Things are hectic and Rat runs the routine to keep up with the gruel and grind that he has chosen. Teachers/Preachers come in and address the class on various topics necessary for the business leaders of tomorrow. The pre-readings, quizzes, assignments, projects, presentations and submissions are what come following. Days pass and Rat takes all this in keeping with the final goal of his. Placement day and all the seniors are placed in a jiffy. Multiple offers for the confused, a job for everyone, and the promise of MBA well delivered. The average salary had to rise and the highest was to go up. The companies fought to keep the “best” talent and the talent, the “best” offers. A perfect example for supply demand mismatch. Rat sees all this and is happy. One year down the line this will be him refusing job offers.

The economic scenario is changing for the worse but some Oxford and Harvard educated economists still feel that the heavily dependent India is still insulated. Anyways, now the dark clouds of time cast their shadow and Rat starts to wonder what will happen. His juniors join and the same ceremonial welcome is accorded to them. Another happy lot has arrived.

Months pass by and “Summers” for his juniors arrive and, as they are, a precursor to the placement season, watched and analysed very carefully. The heat is felt and the best colleges reporting failure in securing good offers do no good to our Rat who suddenly feels cheated. Any ways there is still time for the final placements and Sonia ji’s secretary, oh sorry, the PM or FM, leave it, says things are grim but nothing to worry. The elections are far off and there is still enough room to mess up with the economy.

Placement season approaches, in a few months course will be completed and Rat will have to vacate the “cosy” hostel. Companies come and companies go. Some take one some take two. The always happy always playing Rat tries his athletic skills in the interviews but the offers refuse him. Days turn to weeks and weeks to months (further transformation not possible for only 2 months are left, so year is not an option), Rat finally gets an offer that he “willingly” accepts. Though not elated, he is happy for he will not starve and some day things will change.

As for the mouse, he was busy with certifications and calculations all through and, as last reported, was found buried in the ruins of Lehman Brothers and the Merrill Lynch. The secretary to the party president a.k.a PM a.k.a FM was last reported heading to some place for a heart surgery and the situation was none the less unreported.

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This literary masterpiece (so much for vanity) is a property of Mr. Anant Pratap Srivastava and no part of it, partly or completely, may be copied or circulated without his permission.

Copywritten and Protected by the Indian Penal Code Laws.

All matters subject to the Law of Land prevailing in India at the time of the case being filed.