Attending a B-School is a life changing event. Anyone who has attended one will agree. So many things happen there which can’t be explained.
What can be shared though, are the characters we find there. So here they are:
Committee Wale
“In the meeting” is their favorite line. Call them at 10,12,2… The same answer is expected. No one really gets what they do in those meetings, but they seem to work really hard. (At least they pretend!) Someone count their cappuccinos during morning sessions. Their club-committee priorities supersede their academic ones. Seniors become Demi-Gods and their orders become ‘patthar ki lakeer’
No disrespect though. These committees keep the ball rolling and makes life easier in college.
Superheroes
A week-old stubble, tummy, ruffled up hairs, worn out jeans- that’s your guy. We are talking about the people who fight for top spot in the corporate competitions- Mahindra, HUL, Pepsico etc
Right from the beginning, these blue-eyed mavericks give their best to everything they do. Their efforts finally yield success and they get recognized for their efforts. Suddenly they start commanding respect from people around and often become victims of flattery and sycophancy.
Nothing other than winning another challenge excites them now. Hunger, Sleep, Socialising, Looking good are the necessities for the less mortal. They transcend these boundaries in pursuit of greater purpose, after all, like Superman, they are “made for better things”.
Toppers
These people like to keep it simple. They keep doing what they have been doing for years. Attend lectures, do the assignments, prepare notes, keep track of everything that is going around and mostly come to the class prepared and on time. The ideal people. Some of them even sleep before 12. (Who does that?!)
But they are the true saviors in the larger community of students. The blessed souls. They inform the laggards (like me) of what is scheduled for next day. It’s their notes that become our bible and photocopier’s treasure during exams. They are the ones who dutifully teach us concepts in the time of need. Most importantly they are the first one to do to assignments and share it on class groups. Respect!
Players
Quite literally! These are the Sachin, Lionel Messi, Saina Nehwal of the yesteryears. While a few of them are still fresh from their grad-school and still in touch, others are grown-ups who never let that kid die inside them. College re-ignites their passion for playing. They have found their childhood again and they don’t care about anything else. Everything about them, right from their jersey, to their shoes to their laptop cover, speaks of their love for their favorite sport. Can’t find them? Did you check the TT room? Or must be watching EPL in mess.
Intellectuals/Laggards
Some of us are just too cool to be drawn by the insanity that goes around in college. We are now talking about those enlightened minds who find peace in books, music, movies and alcohol. They mock at the naivety of strugglers who slog their asses to get things. Isn’t it’s all in the mind? – “The ultimate aim of life is to be happy. And whatever you do has to come naturally. If you are making effort, it’s not worth trying”. The best kind of people. The most peaceful ones.
These are the people who are always ready for chai, sutta and sasta nasha. The people with whom you can whine about any senseless topic and they won’t make you feel like a loser. They are the original thinkers behind “ sab moh maya hai”
The Grass-Hoggers
Then there is another level- Basically the extension of laggards. They exist in another world. Literally! They are not bound by the worldly trivialities of lectures, competitions, projects etc. They have a vision in which all things are stable and the world is devoid of the pace. It’s a space where only they belong and they like it there. Manali Trance is their favorite song!
The Artists
Often found in the corridor with guitar and BP, these are the people who keep the hostel alive. Drunk, sober, happy or sad,, these people are always there to entertain you with their music. Heeding to the demands coming from different corners, they often dumb down the artists within them. Their versatility is directly proportional to the alcohol around them!
Apart from these creatures we have Gym-freaks, Library-leech, Party-Hoppers, Global-Speakers, Dog-Lovers, Stalkers, White Walkers, and the list goes on.
The characters described here are not necessarily mutually exclusive. Most of us can identify with at least 2-3 of these. We keep becoming a different character in different phases of our B-School journey.
We come as one thing and leave as so many things..
( Originally published on Insideiim in 2015 )