Campus tales....

Like life & B-schools, SIMC has its fair share of ordeals that leaves you in splits every time you think about it. Last week we chanced to encounter it.

What might it be, you will wonder. Nothing very big or consequential actually – just that the first year MBA students were to be photographed in all their glory. Knights-in-shining-armors were to be captured forever in a photographic frame.

Seriously, you ask, what is so hilarious about it? If you did, then I guess you have never encountered a bunch of 21-to-25 somethings whose hormones tend to go on frenzy as soon as you even so much utter the word p-h-o-t-o-g-r-a-p-h.

Since these photographs are to be displayed on our portfolios, which will be “seen” by prospective employers, needless to say, everyone wants to look awesome. And awesome here can mean anything between looking totally “coolly” professional to “casually” business like. If you still think all you need to do was wear your uniform, straighten your hair and smile at the camera, you could not be more wrong! Photographs are so much more than that.

Suddenly, you tend to notice all the warts, moles, zits on you face – they seem to have appeared out of nowhere last night and invaded your face with the ferocity of Spartans. Hair is another problem all together! Everyone seems to have a bad hair day just then! While girls wanted that perfect looking hair, our men had to choose between the clean shaven look and the 5 o’ clock shadow.

Looking for parts of the uniform seemed like an interesting treasure hunting round – shirts, blazers & ties – everything was in demand. And if you could deliver the perfect fit, nothing quite like it – it was like discovering the secret of Bermuda triangle itself.

Borkhedkar Sir truly has the patience of a sage. I guess that comes from his years of experience. He patiently clicked us, clicked us again, and again, and yet again – until we were satisfied. Retakes for tiniest of things like a extra-large-colgate-smile, no smile, wicked smile, tilted head, closed eyes, half open eyes, hair standing exactly like a devils, and the list is endless. Trust me.

But after all, all’s well that ends well. And I must say this was too good to be true.

Most things in life are moments of pleasure and a lifetime of embarrassment; photography is a moment of embarrassment and a lifetime of pleasure. – Tony Benn

Rashida Kachwala

SIMC

MBA (2010-12)