IIM-A PGPX - At Last

IIM-A PGPX 6 , Class of 2012.

I have received an admit to IIM-A's 1 Year Full Time MBA program for Executives , Class of 2012.


For the uninitiated , IIM-A stands for Indian Institute of Management , Ahmedabad. For the acronymphiles , it also stands for WIMWI - A well known Institute of Management in Western India.

PGPX stands for Post Graduate Program for Executives leading to a Diploma in Management.

So why MBA ? Why PGPX ? How the heck did this happen ?

Most Indians are familiar with the status and reputation of the great schools of wisdom and learning that are the IIM's. And IIM-A represents the crowning glory of academic excellence.
Like most Indian Kids , I too dreamt of a day when a miracle might happen and I might walk the path hallowed by the Great thinkers , achievers , leaders and innovators of our times. Like every other kid , I too tried my hand at the CAT exam.Not once or twice , but four times.Miserable performance each time. I then realized that I wasnt cut out for this kind of examination. Maybe I wasnt good enough. Actually in hindsight , I was the laziest bum on this planet.It was a miracle that I made it to the exam hall each time.

I then forgot about the dream for a while and had a happy rollicking time at work , lazing around and doing exactly what I wanted and sleep walking through my job , work and career. In between , I kept moving around , taking on assignments in every part of the world , getting bored , returning back to India.At times , I found the verve and energy to finish projects or
assignments before my managers branded me as a happy-go-lucky vagabond.

Then I got married.And that was the turning point in my life. My wife , a very practical , focussed and determined individual , having to suffer a wierd drifter of a husband , decided to get down to pulling me back to Earth and ensuring that I landed back on my two feet.

From thinking to actually getting down to the nuts and bolts of applying for the PGPX course - Studying for the GMAT , applying to IIM-A , IIM-B , IIM-C and then writing the essays, giving the interviews etc , my wife gets all the credit for pushing me towards realizing my potential.

However for those who read this blog , the chronology of events that occured :

1. I had given GMAT twice , in 2004 and in 2006 - Scores 640 and 690.These scores were not valid for the 2010 application.

2. I then began preparation for the GMAT starting in April 2010. Studied in bits and pieces for about an hour every day , 4-5 hours on the weekends. Kaplan , Manhattan , Pearson etc as study material. Gave the GMAT on July 19th 2010. Got a 700. Wasnt too happy about it.

3. Applied to IIM-A PGPX , IIM-C PGPEX and IIM-B EPGP. Got interview calls from all 3 schools over a period of a month.

4. Gave the PGPX interview at Newark's Hotel Marriot on October 1st 2010. The interview lasted about 25 minutes. Two professors , including Professor Shailesh Gandhi , Chairperson of the program comprised the panel.I did not expect anything from the interview.To quote a previous PGPXian , I went in like a Sehwag.Back my timing , Get clean bowled or give the ball an almighty whack.It started out with an extempore topic "Pure science is a waste of time and money". Was given a few minutes to think....I stumbled and bumbled initially , but then gave a few good examples on how pure chemistry research forms the backbone of the pharma and biotech industries , how Oil and Gas exploration requires research in pure geophysics and geology etc.

Then they quickly shifted to replacing the word "Science" with "Arts" or "Sports". I gave example from TISS teaching social sciences(not sure whats that to do with arts) and how cottage industries require investment in arts and crafts from governments and corporate houses etc.How investment in sports education helps in sports medicine , professional fitness/training and so on.... I wasnt exactly fluent or suave or anything. Babbled a bit , but in hindsight , the
babble was backed with some decent examples.

Then the inevitable question on why PGPX ? Why MBA ? I spoke about my dreams here...nothing very practical , kind of philosophized about the education , what I want to do in life. In short , what saved me was that my answers were not rehearsed. In fact me and my wife had agreed that I would go into this interview fresh and think on my feet , rather than do
stage acting.Some questions were asked on my Japanese adventures some years back. That was the saving grace , I spoke about the culture , the difference in management views , way of life and work in Japan.The other professor asked me a few questions on Japanese history , literature and so on...I was able to answer that.That was it.I asked a few questions on the international immersion and size of the batch.Done ,and over with. Both profs kept smiling at me throughout the interview and I kept smiling and grinning back as if I was an comic actor in a Shakespearean play.

5. A few weeks later , on November 5th , Finally - I logged on to the website , and there it was , the acceptance offer. The Wandering Nomad without a clue in the world had finally found his Oasis of Learning in the vast desert.

6. Someone else asked me as to what kept me on track - it was the forum - pagalguy.com. Without sounding over-the-top , its the best forum for anyone who wants to understand the nitty-gritties of doing an MBA , with amazing , committed and enthusiastic contributors who strive to keep the spirit up and awake through the high and lows of the entire admission
process.

I look forward to ending my rather undistinguished stint in the US , a time spent in executing a project which did not mean anything much to me and my priorities in life , but one that gave me time to understand my work environment , think deeply , contemplate on my own shortcomings and failures. A time where I met some of the best people in my life at my workplace and
also made me appreciate my wife's determination, grit and commitment to success. They kept the candles lit in an otherwise dark period.

Its an exciting time as I interact and discover the great minds of today and the game changers of tomorrow - my fellow batch mates at PGPX 6. Though I am not a great fan of classical music , the ragas and verses of the great Tyagaraja Keertana "Endaro Mahanubhavulu" echo in the mind. In the state of achievement , dont forget - there are greater ones than you - "the Mahanubhavulu's" (Great minds).

I can only think that miracles can come true , Paolo Coelho's "when you want something badly , the world conspires to give it to you" is apt. My dream has come true , not early as it does for some of the luckier ones , but later , and for those it comes in late , the taste is much sweeter.

I cannot wait to return to my beloved India this month end , be back with family members and take off on a new journey through time , at IIM Ahmedabad. The farflungindian will finally find his roots.