Ok, so term 4 end terms are from tomorrow. I really don't know how we are expected to prepare for 4 papers with only 1 day available between end of classes & the exam.

The thing which is worse are the subjects. 3 theoretical subjects, with hundreds of pages of reading and for which I do not find either the conviction or the desire to study. Sadly, the other paper, which I really want to study is so damn hard that no matter how hard I work nothing seems to penetrate in.

Ah, well.....I guess these things happen. So the only way to handle it is just say that I care shit for all this crap. We'll handle things as & when they come....

So I celebrated another birthday couple of days back. Only this was probably not just another birthday.....the first digit of my age changed. Pretty significant, you would agree. I am now solidly into middle ages, which is not really a nice thought.

30 years is a substantially long time to have spent on the planet. For people who have spent their lifetime accumulating accolades and surpassing milestones one after the other would probably look back at me with disdain. But am I bothered? Frankly speaking....NO.

How does one measure success? Is it whether I am happy or not. Whether I have any regrets or not? Do I keep looking back and think of things that may have been?

Maybe I have not been a great achiever....and maybe I'll never be. I really don't give a damn. I am happy. And what are the things that have contributed to this?

I have been blessed with a wonderful family where I have been encouraged to think, debate and present my opinion from a very young age. We were expected to be well read, have an independent opinion on things around us. We never had decisions imposed upon us and all that was expected was that decisions were taken by us after thinking of all alternatives.

I have been blessed to have the most amazing woman who for some reason known only to her agreed to walk the journey of life with me. We have also been blessed with the sweetest baby, someone who has changed our entire perspective to this life.

Today I know that whatever I do or not do, wherever I go or not go my family would be beside by me. They are my rock, they are my pillars. They are the reason I look forward to each day with optimism. They are the reason why I am happy with life and the fact that I am happy makes my life a success. This is what I wanted out of my life and I have got it.

I wish life was easier. I wish things were less hectic. I wish I could sit back & enjoy this one glorious year.

6 months have passed (almost). The next 6 will also pass by in a whiz and we'll be out of here. I wish I had more time in my hands. Maybe not for studies, in fact, definitely not for studies. But just to enjoy this one year, get to know these wonderful guys better, do something more tangible (I don't know what that is).

I wish...I wish...I wish...

Sigh.....

The flood in Bihar has reached horrendous proportions. Anybody who is following the story is getting more and more appalled by the enormity of the destruction and the conditions of the hundreds of thousands who have been rendered homeless and are fighting for survival. It initially started as one more story of the usual floods that happen in India every year but very rapidly we realised that this is different. An entire river, charting a totally new course due to the deluge of water following heavy rains in its catchment area, it has caught the entire state or rather the entire country napping.

For my readers from abroad, a comprehensive coverage of the calamity can be found by referring this link.

This was the time to stand up, do something and be counted. Gone were the times of making patronizing statements, say the obligatory words of solace and then go on with your usual life. This was the time to walk the talk.

Some of us had stayed back in campus during the term break and they actually set the ball rolling. We brainstormed, we networked and by the time the batch had come back & Term 4 had started a concrete plan was ready. We wanted immediate action. That sort of ruled out making contributions to the Prime Minister's Relief Fund or any such other fund. While noble, these funds did not let us see any tangible benefits. It was like a case of fill it & forget it. We wanted more than that.

Some of us got in touch with a NGO working in the field in Bihar. Accredited by UNICEF & CARE, this was a reputed NGO & we could be sure that stuff we direct to them would reach the intended population. The next thing was to decide on what to send. Money, probably was the easiest thing. But these people on the brink of life & death don't need money now. They need food, they need safe drinking water, they need clothes and medicines. So what we decided was to raise the money in the campus and then buy the essential stuff. Already orders have been placed for an initial batch of medicines and we are also doing a cloth collection drive at the campus. We have also contacted the Indian Railways to book space for all the stuff we are going to ship out. This should reach the NGO in Patna who will in turn direct it to the forward areas.

We had our first collection drive yesterday. It was really really heartening to see the spontaneous response from the batch. We have not yet lost touch with reality. Even more heartening is the response people have shown to volunteer for other small activities all of which are essential to making this entire thing a success.

This is but a small start, a small drop in the ocean. This cannot be solved by 450 students sitting in a B-school. This requires monetary contribution and physical efforts which is beyond the current batch. This requires huge amounts of money & relief material. This also requires massive work on the ground to ensure that all that is collected & donated reach the needy & do not get "lost in transit".

At ISB, we are trying to tap all avenues and all the contacts that we have to get funding. Our solemn promise is that this is going to be run professionally and there would be total transparency & accountability for each & every rupee collected. If any of you out there would love to help/contribute/do anything in this regard you can drop me a mail at Sumantra_dasgupta@pgp2009.isb.edu or to Rajarshi Ray at Rajarshi_ray@pgp2009.isb.edu. Any kind of help would be appreciated.

All the best.