Mass Recruitment

2004, 18th Oct

Mysore

This was my first day at Infosys. I had worked in Godrej and Boyce Mfg. Co. for about 4 months. No, I wasn't a lateral here at Infosys. Now that was because I was in sales and had no prior experience in software. Somehow the first day at Godrej and first day here, when juxtaposed, was a real contrast.

Godrej..

2004, 18^th June

Bangalore

I seemed to be the only guy joining Godrej on this day. I was standing in front of a door that held a “GODREJ & BOYCE MFG. CO.” embossed plate. I opened the door and walked through to be greeted by the receptionist. I told her my name and she immediately stood up and showed me the way to the branch manager’s cabin. It was just around the corner. I knocked once and opened the door. There was a thin man, with a gold rimmed spectacle, who seemed to be relieved to meet me. He shook my hands and posed me with a series of questions whose answers summed up my life. He introduced me to just about everybody in the office. He then showed me my cabin with a “WELCOME TO GODREJ” card on my desk.

Infosys…

I was standing in the E&R building of Infosys surrounded by 500 odd people (New recruits). Yeah, 500 odd people, that’s the number of people joining Infosys on that particular day. There was a lot of confusion on how to split the group for the induction program. I couldn’t make out who was already working for Infosys and the new recruits. We were given our ID cards and employee numbers. Induction was done by lots of biggies touching on various Dos and Don’ts. Just after lunch we were asked to proceed to the Labs that we were allotted to. We were also given coffee mugs. Just like the once Jail Kaidhi’s* get. Classes started and half way through a coffee mug broke shattering the silence. The lecturing staff immediately prompted us to clap our hands. Memories of my college came. All of my college days we were taught to behave like professionals. And here I was in one of the best companies with great encouragement for miserable behaviour.

I sometimes wonder if mass recruitment is the spoiler. Companies are made to look like an extension of college with the kind of recruitment going on. Thus suppressing the need to be professional.

PS: * Somebody serving a sentence in jail.

Theory Of Relativ(E)ity

29th May
Chennai

My tube of shaving cream was almost about to get over. It was sunday morning. The phone started to ring over the noise of the TV. NDTV was broadcasting an exclusive interview with Dravid. I saw my mom rushingfor the phone. From her conversation i could make out it was my uncle from the US. My mom went on updating him with the latest happenings in India. Realising that something was burning in kitchen, she pressed the receiver in my hand and dashed. He planned to visit India in mid June.

Following the age old tradition my Uncle asked me what I wanted from the US. What the heck! will he get me a Benz if i ask for one.

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Things people get from US for their relatives in INDIA.

1) Family Packs of Gillette Shaving Cream/Gel/Foam
2) Razors with blades
3) Tooth Paste
4) Soaps
a)Camay
b)Oil of Olay(U need some 4 buckets of water to wash off once u use this soap)
c)Lux
5) Moisturising cream(Nivea)
6) Choclates(Twix, Mars, some Dubakoor* chocs by Hershey's
7) Cashew, Badam and raisins(Left with the person to whose house the US chap is visiting. All other relatives make a mandatory visit to this person just to collect their share.)

The above list is a generic one. Other commodities like Pea Nut Butter can be imported on demand.

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Mid June....

So all set for my uncles visit i had to book for a cab and bring him from the Airport. The drive back home was seasoned with my aunt's(Born and brought up in Madurai maavatam) crib about traffic in India mainly and other issues in general. We reached home and i was asked to make train bookings for them; they had to visit my grandpa. First Class A/C, she stresses. Chennai is soo hot she exclaimed(Ever, visited Madurai people have baked arse for breakfast).

Days went past and finally my Uncle and Aunt went back to US after their vacation.


After few months...

We moved out of Chennai.


The following year...

My Uncle planned to visit again. This time the phone call went to my other aunt who now stays in Chennai.

And we visited them for our share of Badam, Cashew, pista,choclates.....