AId India

I attended the Aid India conference from 23rd to 25th at Chennai last week. Many people ask me as to why I did that. I spent Rs. 6000 as air-fare from my own pocket when I could have simply given that money to Aid Delhi on one of its projects. The debate continued in my mind even during my stay there. I tell myself that I went there to see and learn, see what other like-minded people are doing and learn what other like-minded people are thinking.

I went to Chennai to be more sensitized to issues really affecting out country. No, I didn't go there to see the poor but what can be done to help those poor. I went there to to broaden my outlook, especially now that I am entering the corporate world, where I will have to take decisions which directly affects these people.

I know that I cannot stay with Aid India for long. I know that Mck and my subsequent professional life will make me so busy that there will be little time for volunteering. I know that his 'charade' as many of my friends call it will not last more than 6 months. What frightens me more is that the more I am getting involved with these ideas of community development, the less appreaciation I will have of the corporate world. I do not know what will I do if I am faced with a situation wherein my client is making a factory after robbing land from a number of poor villagers.

I know for sure that Mck is very professional and teaches you soon to work according to the company policies. I know that the work will be so addictive that there won't be any time for thinking about such issues and I will become a servant of my client like everybody else.

I only wish that I do not become my own servant as well.

Nil Best

What a day. After the minor slump in placement activity from our hostel, Nil finally made its mark yesterday with 10 jobs in a day, including 3 jobs with dullas. Finally, Kaks and Atta got placed in companies of their choice- Kaks in One.com in Dubai and Atta in Delloite Consulting in Hyderabad. It was a day of celebration, of booze, of laughter and of the forging of new friendships.

Atta, Butler, Kaks and me - along with a few others- went to Hukkah at Vasant Vihar and drank and ate to our heart's content. But the merrymaking was nothing compared to the 30 odd futchas who went to Delhi Devilz and came back drowned in liquor. And while Raghav Joshi tried to mimic Jackie Chan, a couple of guys lit a bonfire by the side of Nescafe and played loud FM music. I had never seen such a euphoria in my hostel before, not since the first year cheering sessions. And I enjoyed every pico-second of that "Sabse Aage ladke kaun...." yesterday night.

NIL BEST