I couldn't agree more! Of course, I have my own reasons... Its been just over a month since it was 'Tadaa' to the village... and life's changed. Totally. I knew it would. Everyone told me it would. I didn't even realise it when it started changing... But that statement above just made me realise it.
Over 20 days in 'Corporate induction'. A desperate attempt by Mssrs Godrej Inc. to mold 40 individuals using their dies. Various terms flying thick in the air ... 'Economic Value Added' ... 'Total Quality Management' ... 'Theory of Constraints'... etcetra etcetra... There was this Outbound programme. Simple funda. Take 40 odd achievers and take them too a secluded place (pun not intended) where there is no mobile or net or any such communication mode. And then divide them into teams, make them play neanderthal games which require different aspects of teamwork and leadership, the 'facilitator' sits back and observes everyone and plays the cat and mouse psychological game with everyone about their teamwork skills etc... Was nice actually we had LOADS of fun... And I DID learn a few things!
The best revelation was the way all us engineer trainees bonded... And of course how the management grads bonded amongst themselves and then the senior-junior thing developed between us... It was almost like clockwork. I am sure it is not necessary that this would've happened with other people. But for sure... it got me thinking about one thing.
Is it a mold which helped us bond? What ARE experiences? Just die-casts? To put us into a mold? Just imagine... U don't feel connected to a person because you shared a nurse in the hospital as a baby or even because both of you pee-ed all over each other in pre nursery or your favourite toy in the play area was the same. You feel connected to them when you share moments and events in a stage in life AFTER you've started forming opinions. It starts right back when you think that Robocop is cooler than He-man ( or some pikachu crap these days). It moves ahead unto all the groups you fall into in the school days (Muggoos, fad chaps, sport guys and morons, of course). And then the common activities and simmering raw opinions you form about life make some of the best bonds. Most important of all these die-casts is that of the family. No other bond is as instantaneous as growing up in similar family systems (hostel life is but an extension). And of course, I'm going to steer clear of the effects of matters of the heart!
Over 20 days in 'Corporate induction'. A desperate attempt by Mssrs Godrej Inc. to mold 40 individuals using their dies. Various terms flying thick in the air ... 'Economic Value Added' ... 'Total Quality Management' ... 'Theory of Constraints'... etcetra etcetra... There was this Outbound programme. Simple funda. Take 40 odd achievers and take them too a secluded place (pun not intended) where there is no mobile or net or any such communication mode. And then divide them into teams, make them play neanderthal games which require different aspects of teamwork and leadership, the 'facilitator' sits back and observes everyone and plays the cat and mouse psychological game with everyone about their teamwork skills etc... Was nice actually we had LOADS of fun... And I DID learn a few things!
The best revelation was the way all us engineer trainees bonded... And of course how the management grads bonded amongst themselves and then the senior-junior thing developed between us... It was almost like clockwork. I am sure it is not necessary that this would've happened with other people. But for sure... it got me thinking about one thing.
Is it a mold which helped us bond? What ARE experiences? Just die-casts? To put us into a mold? Just imagine... U don't feel connected to a person because you shared a nurse in the hospital as a baby or even because both of you pee-ed all over each other in pre nursery or your favourite toy in the play area was the same. You feel connected to them when you share moments and events in a stage in life AFTER you've started forming opinions. It starts right back when you think that Robocop is cooler than He-man ( or some pikachu crap these days). It moves ahead unto all the groups you fall into in the school days (Muggoos, fad chaps, sport guys and morons, of course). And then the common activities and simmering raw opinions you form about life make some of the best bonds. Most important of all these die-casts is that of the family. No other bond is as instantaneous as growing up in similar family systems (hostel life is but an extension). And of course, I'm going to steer clear of the effects of matters of the heart!
We have just been clearing cut-offs to fit into supposedly better casts? Wriggle through the shapes and contours of that cast... To be molded into a finished product. The rough edges being some of the few individualities left?
Will we end up as a suit?
Will I?
<...Shudder...>
Sahi mein... "Life is damn weird re!"
8 comments:
*brows furrowed*
hmmm, i think we get moulded w-a-y back when all those experiences happen, the ones that guide us as and when life progresses, the ones u mentioned.
i think now, it's the individuality which sticks out from the 'mould' that'll hold...
for as long as u are u
who ever inspired you for this title is the greatest person on earth :P
anyway, cool post !
this is amazing >>> You feel connected to them when you share moments and events in a stage in life AFTER you've started forming opinions.
And then the common activities and simmering raw opinions you form about life make some of the best bonds
so damn sensible !!!
uh..m just wondering..or actually imagining u getting moulded into 'shape'.. :P!heheehehe...sorry da..nothin serious is getting in my head..too much cotton filled in!
I guess bonding happens from sharing life experiences, from similar concepts and beliefs and being thrown together in trying situations. Congrats on your job! And here's to wonderful times ahead.
Come to think of it... over the years at least as far as career and professional choices are concerned many things have changed... the kind of industry that gets the most students, the pay packages... but essentially the general attitude seem to have remained the same.. tools have changed, maybe instead of a lathe machines we are using a computer now.. instead of a screwdriver a call centre headset is used.. but essentially everything is the same in abstract.. nothing changed.. corporates still try to rule your life.. run your life according to their needs... all this talk about individualism is a sham.... call me a skeptic or call me a cynic.. nothing has really changed.. its still the same die... and the same student.. who is beaten into it..
not just corporate or college life.. right from schools.. our time there was a die of it own kind.. we were beaten into its shape..
now they have a die of thier own ... one of forced holistic development wherein a student from is beaten into it right from nursery.. to follow a supposed path of holistic development... wherein he/she is made to do everything in the name of well rounded (no pun intended) personality... irrespective of whether he likes it or not..
it has sadly been always about customizing humans.... making them less of humans and more of humaoids...
aditya
ditto things happening here....similar outbound...freudian discussions with facilitators...weird games....the whole works
life is weird for sure.
and as far as the bonding with ppl and being cast into newer shapes is concenrned, it will always be making friends, taking over some traits from them, developing new and common perceptions and habits/behaviour as and when experiences and conditions dictate, and geting moulded into new shapes.
however, individuality will always remain, however much I learn new things, make new friends, make changes in my life, I will still be the bugging and irritating geek I always was.
@Babushka: The mould is complete for many... Hence this outpouring!
@aarthi: Not the greatest... next to the author maybe... :)
@ritu: Chill da!
@Padi: Loved the summing up line... "it has sadly been always about customizing humans" Masth!
@Sandy: haan kya? :)) ... its there everywhere!!! help! help!!
@bagru: Ya... you are moulded into a geek. There was no such category earlier... but there is now, and u only too gladly fit into it snugly!
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