Humans of XL

Humans of XL Humans of XL catalogs the beat of XL. One story at a time.

We are back for the good! ❤️  We have our beloved Sabyasachi Sengupta Sir aka Sengo Sir! "Teaching is not just a profess...
30/01/2024

We are back for the good! ❤️

We have our beloved Sabyasachi Sengupta Sir aka Sengo Sir!

"Teaching is not just a profession for me; it's a calling that stems from my struggles. Because of initial financial instability, I started teaching at the age of 12 years. This 45+ years of teaching has made connecting to this vibrant XL student community easier over the years".
I was born in the vibrant city of Kolkata in 1966. I embarked on a journey filled with trials and triumphs. At the age of one, I faced the loss of my father, but the unwavering support of my mother and elder brother became the foundation of my resilience. Though my professional experience started in 1987, I completed my CA and costing in 1990. Those early practicing days were the breeding ground for examples that would later find a place in my XLRI classroom. 1994 brought a new chapter as I joined Tata Steel and simultaneously pursued my CS, which I successfully completed in 1997. In 1996, I visited XLRI for the first time as a visiting faculty member. Later, in 1998, I became a permanent faculty.
Over the years, I've become synonymous with teaching at XLRI. I have taught all 4 core courses here at XLRI: MANAC 1, MANAC 2, FM 1, and FM 2. Teaching is not just a profession for me; it's a calling that stems from personal struggles. Financial challenges in my early years pushed me to start teaching at the age of 12, and today, with 45 years of teaching experience, connecting with high-quality students at XLRI is a joy that has only grown over time. Today, I am 57 years old, and I will be turning 58 in June. All these years of teaching have allowed me to connect with students no matter what age group they are from. In fact, when I joined XLRI, students were practically my age only. Even in those days, I found it absolutely beautiful to connect with them. Now, you guys are in my daughter's age group. Even now, I find it absolutely brilliant to interact with all of you.
XLRI allows me to shape my teaching methods, and my interaction with students has been a source of immense satisfaction for the past 27 years. I share a unique bond with my students—a blend of love and hate. While I've never harbored any dislike for a single student, the challenges of hatred arise during evaluations and grading. Yet, this is an integral part of my role. I hold XLRI students in high regard, and that's precisely why I design exams to be consistently challenging. Embracing a fair share of twists, I am committed to maintaining the same high standards across all batches. Picture this: five years from now, if one of your juniors informs you that 40% of students scored A+ in Sengo's paper, you'd surely faint.
All my question ideas are sourced from various references, but I take the creativity into my own hands when crafting questions. No student will stumble upon these questions in any textbook because I've meticulously curated a vast question bank over the years. Naming my questions has been a tradition since the beginning, inspired by the creative approach of a comic called Asterix, where names reflect the essence of characters. Another Bengali author also influenced me in this regard. The names add a personal touch and serve as a guide, allowing students to better understand the nature of the question, for instance, SCORING OPPORTUNITY PRIVATE LIMITED. The vibrant colors in my Excel sheets draw inspiration from my time at Tata Steel, where my boss's choices left a lasting impact. These eye-catching colors aim to grab attention and make the learning experience more engaging. The unique font size I use has become a trademark of sorts. I once created a schedule for a carrom tournament, and the students quickly recognized the font size, adding a touch of familiarity to the classroom environment.
I find immense joy in playing carrom. Football captivates my heart; it's not just a sport to me but a true love. Additionally, I have a deep appreciation for good food and delightful drinks and a steadfast loyalty to Navy Cut. My journey with Navy Cut began without regard for its price, and this loyalty has remained unwavering. But football remains my first love; if a football tournament were going on, I would have rescheduled your sessions; such is my passion for the sport. I'm an ardent fan of Diego Maradona, pledging my allegiance to Argentina in a manner that goes beyond reason. Beyond football, I also indulge in various sports like chess, cricket, and badminton. While I excelled in cricket and badminton, my football skills could have been more noteworthy. Despite the hindrance of bifocal specs, I occasionally revisit cricket, reminiscing the days I played as an opening wicket-keeper batsman.
I am very fond of dogs. Growing up, I shared my days with a delightful canine named John. I am fond of German Shepherds, drawn to their remarkable adaptability—making them transform into anything you desire. Tufaan, my current dog, despite being of the German Shepherd breed, has effortlessly embraced the role of a lap dog, illustrating his versatile nature. Tufaan has a story inspired by a comic called Fantom. In its Bengali version, there's a horse named Tufaan, and it felt only fitting to name my loyal canine after this spirited character. Tufaan has gracefully entered his senior year, turning a remarkable 13 in March. While his breed typically enjoys a maximum lifespan of 12 years, Tufaan is now on bonus time. According to the vet, he's expected to cherish life for at least one more precious year.
I find immense joy in being a devoted enthusiast of "The Big Bang Theory." I referenced the show during a discussion, particularly when someone was making outlandish guesses—reminiscent of the unique humor only Sheldon Cooper could provide. My love for sitcoms extends to "Friends," and I also have a deep appreciation for series like "Different Strokes" and "Lucy." In a departure from lighthearted content, I wholeheartedly recommend watching "Tamas," a series delving into the serious tone of the 1947 riots. It carries a powerful message encapsulated in the quote, "Those who forget history are condemned to repeat it." The series, available on YouTube and spanning about 8 hours, serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of acknowledging our shared past. While my preference generally leans towards comedy series, I harbor a profound love for historical movies and documentaries, often indulging in a cinematic journey through Netflix. I'm particularly drawn to movies entwining courtroom drama with a hint of mystery. Recently, I had the pleasure of watching "Oppenheimer" in theaters, and it left a lasting impression with its compelling storytelling. These shows and movies bring warmth and joy to my leisure time, creating a perfect blend of entertainment and reflection.
To all my excellent students, here's a heartfelt message: In seven years, you'll be thriving in your respective lives. When that time comes, consider contacting the faculty in your field and requesting an interactive session with current students. This holds two beautiful advantages: firstly, returning to campus as an alum will bring joy to current students, creating a positive atmosphere. Secondly, it adds a valuable touch to your CV. While expertise in your field may take a few more years to fully develop, this opportunity lets you relive the special moments in IC. Embracing the warmth of your success, I must admit, fitting into my structured plans may pose a challenge, but the prospect of your return will always be a heartwarming delight.

I ABSOLUTELY ABSOLUTELY LOVE YOU ALL!

   #19For well over a decade, Suma and Uday Damodaran​ have touched upon all who have traversed through the XL journey. ...
22/03/2019

#19
For well over a decade, Suma and Uday Damodaran​ have touched upon all who have traversed through the XL journey. Having had varied experiences across the management education spectrum in India, they initially wished to stay in XLRI for a couple of years. However, the vibrant social life, and the charm of the – glued them and their 2 daughters to XLRI, and they decided to continue here.

The Damodarans have vivid interests – and believe in a more holistic approach to life.
In this regard, they believe that XLRI Jamshedpur has an edge over the premier B-Schools in India. Akin to the best B-Schools in the West (which are housed in premier universities), XLRI’s dedicated program for HRM enables the interplay of thoughts and ideas amongst both students and faculties – in BM, HRM, Law and allied fields – enabling different schools of thought to share knowledge and influence one another’s critical thinking process. And, this is what differentiates XLRI according to them, as, “There’s more to the world than simply learning to draw a balance sheet.”

Professor Uday has a knack for photography - mostly nature, buildings and windows. He enjoys the framing of pictures – and focusses more on their composition than the technicalities.
Both of them are avid travelers – who indeed believe in taking the road less traveled. In a unique expedition titled Garlanding India, Professor Uday took his Renault and drove across a whopping 14,000 KM over a 2-month period – doing just that. The initiative had 23 partner NGOs, across diverse interests. A key factor which the Damodarans like about XLRI is that it clearly allows – both students and faculty – to pursue their own interests. As they put it, “Keeping one’s passions alive is key to keeping oneself richer!”
Being sports enthusiasts, it’s hardly a surprise that in December 2018, Professor Uday organized the inaugural MathSport Asia Conference at XLRI – where the focus lay on applying Mathematics and Statistics to analyze the mountains of data generated in sporting events. He believes that a lot can be achieved by analyzing the play, training, coaching, etc. He is pepped up about the High-Performance Center for Sports being set up by Tata Steel in Jamshedpur – and the avenues it opens for the entanglement of Sports and Stats.

So, despite having such interesting pursuits, what keeps them inclined to teach even today?
As Professor Suma answers, “Teaching is like a performance. The feedback is instant. After a class, you know whether you feel good about it or not. It’s far more direct and you can attribute it to yourself.”

    #18Everyone's Beloved Bala DosaBala Dosa is synonymous with XLRI. As we enter through the gates of XLRI, our eyes au...
16/03/2019

#18

Everyone's Beloved Bala Dosa

Bala Dosa is synonymous with XLRI. As we enter through the gates of XLRI, our eyes automatically start to search for the cart preparing mouth-watering unconventional dosas. Even when alumnus visit the institute after years, having dosa at Bala’s is at the top of their bucket list. Let’s hear from the man himself about his journey through the years

About the origins of Bala Dosa

My grandfather hailed from Vellore. He originally worked in Tata Steel, post which he started a dosa stall in NIT Jamshedpur, then known as REC Jamshedpur. He shifted to XLRI after taking permission from Fr McGrath. Since then the Bala Dosa cart has always occupied the same spot in the XLRI campus. When I took over 22 years earlier, I decided to station the cart at the same spot as I feel this is a very lucky spot. This spot has given me enormous joy. I enter the campus at 4:30 PM every day and try to serve the best Dosas till midnight.

On his relations with the alumnus

All XLRI alumnus are very fond of me and so am I of them. Many of them keep in touch with me over phone. They frequently call me to ask me about how am I doing, and also tell me about what they are up to in their lives. It feels really special. Whenever there’s an alumni meet, they specially request me to serve them their breakfast dosas, as they feel their XL reunion would be incomplete without Bala’s dosa! Many of them have even offered to take me to metro cities and even to the United States to help me start a dosa business there. They have said they would provide all the necessary assistance. But I feel I belong here in XLRI, so I have politely declined all the requests.

His Favourite Batch of XLRI

2006 batch was my favourite batch! I still miss them. They were very good kids. Till today they give me the same love and respect. Am in regular touch with 4 of them till today. They work in HP, Google & Pepsi respectively. I even went all the way to Kolkata to meet them a couple of times! I have also had very good relations with students of various other batches also. I have even named a few of my dosas after them. “Neeraj dosa” was one of the popular ones!

About the origins of the famous “Placecomm Dosa”

I keep experimenting with dosas. About 4 years back, I made a new dosa. It was the placement season then, and the first one to try this dosa was a placecommer. He really liked it and asked me about the name of the dosa. I said let’s name it placecomm dosa, and from then the name has caught on. It has become the most famous dosa on campus and students absolutely adore it.

The changes through the years

I have seen XLRI evolve over the years. I have seen it evolve from just the OH area to a sprawling campus. I feel very happy with this growth. The batch sizes have increased, bringing in more number of intelligent students each year. One thing which I feel has been diminished over the years is the comradery. I feel XL is special because of the deep relationship amongst the students. My only message to the students would be to keep up this relationship and keep on making XL special.

   #17“Any pursuit requires ‘ghissuing’. Even an author writes for a certain number of hours every day. We just don’t se...
02/01/2018

#17

“Any pursuit requires ‘ghissuing’. Even an author writes for a certain number of hours every day. We just don’t see the effort behind it all.” - Radhika Sood Nayak (PMIR 1994 Batch)

A classical singer by profession, she has the following to say on her musical journey:
“I don’t come from a musical background. For me, it was a huge challenge. I was living in Ludhiana back then. My parents knew I could sing. They sent me to a lady in the neighbourhood for training. She must have told my parents to get me a more formal training. So, they sent me to another teacher who used to teach me raags. In class V, I hardly cared about all this, especially since nobody in my house was particularly interested in Hindustani Classical music. I would never practice, I would just go for the classes. I used to perform sometimes, in school and otherwise, but never out of interest or love. When I left my job at Grindlays, I had a lot of time. I had no plan really. I met a lot of people, made demos. But I hadn’t practiced for years and the competition in Bombay was tough. When you work for any organisation, that association gives you an identity, some legitimacy. I didn’t have that when I quit my job. When people asked me what I did or where I worked, I didn’t have a concrete answer. But, I started learning and things have started happening in the past 8 to 9 years.”

Her message to people who want to pursue their dreams:
“There are no guarantees in life. If you are looking for assurances, that’s not how it works. Sometimes, you have to take a leap of faith. People around you matter. If you surround yourself with people who think differently, chances are that you would also start thinking that way. If you are surrounded by pessimistic, defeatist people, who are walking down the beaten path, then you would also find yourself going in the same direction. But in the end, nobody can make decisions for you. The decisions made by others on your behalf are never as sturdy to begin with.”

On how she met her husband:
“I met him at XL. During my time, there were a lot of senior-junior couples in the college. We used to have a term, WAXI – Widows Association of XLRI, for the girls who had boyfriends in the senior batch. He got a job in Calcutta after college. I used to go there every month to meet him. For me and also for some of my close friends, hostel life was a new experience. We suddenly had so much freedom. One liberty we took of that freedom was that we fell in love.”

On life:
“I feel one should lead their life simply, keep it simple. I personally find solace in simplicity. In my musical journey, I have seen many people live a modest life, not worrying about materialistic things. When you stay away from the trappings of success, life is much better.”

   #16Mr. Sumit Neogi : XL Mafia, 2007“U can only grow by developing others… in the top level your role is that of a coa...
03/01/2017

#16
Mr. Sumit Neogi : XL Mafia, 2007
“U can only grow by developing others… in the top level your role is that of a coach or a counselor.”
It was the first OB class for the junior batch of 2005, and as soon as it got over one student called his father, saying, “I think I have made a mistake. They are teaching psychology!”
But the mechanical engineer-turned sales executive at BPCL-turned 1st year HR student at XLRI did not know how to give up. So, he trudged on and since then he has been spearheading some of the key HR projects in the industry.
Widely known as a change agent in the industry, Mr Sumit Neogi is currently the Head of Corporate HR at Cipla. During his short visit for the HR-IR conference and in between his packed schedule of seminars interspaced with catching up, we got him to recount some of his old XL-stories and give us his two cents about what lies ahead.
A placecommer at his time, this man still holds the values of a placecommer close to his heart. When asked how it has helped him, he talks about the work ethics and “self-disclosure” that placecom imbibed in him, which shaped each one of them as future responsible professionals, and bestowed upon them a credibility and goodwill that is unmatched in the professional circles.
On the qualities they looked for in their junior placecom members:
“Apart from integrity, the person should not be a loose mouth, should be a bit matured and a workaholic basically. Oh, and most importantly, are you worried about your grades? What grades are you looking for? 6.5? Reject!... Although we had toppers also in placecom…” he laughs.
On his corporate journey and change management:
[in Reliance, at a plant in Nagothane] “I walked into one of the washrooms, and it was written that, ‘if the flush is not working, contact the civil engineer or the HR’… they just did not know what HR was. That was the time when I build HR from the scratch. That was my first practical experience of change management. First six-seven months was a struggle, but in three years the location was transformed.”
“There was a township out there where they had a free hostel accommodation. I personally supervised the construction of the hostel, being the HR head of the site. Could I say no? Yes I could, and I had a civil engineer to do that for me. But at the end of the day your human resource is going to be affected. That’s where business alignment comes into picture. What are the business leader’s expectations from your human resource? Do not go and fight a battle that ‘I am here for managing your talent’, rather, say that ‘I am here to work with you to help you manage your business’ and incidentally I am an expert at these areas. If you do not understand business, you are not aligned, no one will listen to you”
Message to the current and upcoming batches:
“Be proud of where you are, you have done a wonderful job of reaching here. But rest assured, from here on the challenge is much more. People will look up to you, you should remain humble; remember, it is a journey and it is not about one meeting, one day or one company. Enjoy the journey.”

|Covered By: Madhurima Bhattacharyya & Parth Kotecha|

   #15Fr. Ozzie Mascarenhas: “If you plan things, they don’t happen. If you don’t plan, lord ensures to make things work...
28/11/2016

#15

Fr. Ozzie Mascarenhas: “If you plan things, they don’t happen. If you don’t plan, lord ensures to make things work for you.”

Fr. Ozzie is one of the professors with the most diverse field of knowledge. He has been teaching students at XLRI Jamshedpur since 1976, when it was just two buildings across each other. He joined as a professor of consumer behaviour and advanced marketing till 1985. He was also the public consultant and researcher for Nepalese govt. for 6 years. Afterwards, he joined the University of Detroit Mercy as the Chairperson of Dept. of Marketing. Being a very good friend of Fr. Abraham, Fr. Ozzie re-joined XLRI in 2010 as a professor for business ethics.

During his school days, he loved to browse through his father’s book collection, especially Shakespeare. To him, reading means borrowing someone else’s thought and incorporating it in your own. A proficient basketball player and dancer, he was nicknamed ‘Masckey’. As a teacher at AIMIT, St Aloysius College, Mangalore, he was extremely loved by his students – cameoing as ‘Gabbar’ in a short student made trailer. He refused the offer to be a warden at XLRI as he never wanted to be a disciplinarian, instead he loved joining students for eating and hanging out. “All work for me is freedom, fun, and play.”

He has been a mentor to some of the greatest leaders of India like Rekha Menon (CEO and MD, Accenture in India), P. S. Jayakumar (CEO, Bank of Baroda) and Hayagreeva Rao (Professor at Stanford University). His dream is to see XLRI among the Top 10 B-schools of the World, rubbing shoulders with The Wharton School and Harvard University. He wants the students to be curious and think out of the box, something more challenging and demanding in today’s world.

“XLers should feel proud to belong to the best of the country especially when they come for homecoming. XLRI has a huge potential to create future Nobel Laureates as well.”

Covered by: Parth Kotecha
Picture Credit: Rakesh Santhapur

   #14: Dadus: Heroes Of Great Food and XL BondsTake a peek behind TFEMR mess or journey to the space next to the GMP bu...
30/07/2016

#14: Dadus: Heroes Of Great Food and XL Bonds

Take a peek behind TFEMR mess or journey to the space next to the GMP buildings – and you’ll find two stalwarts of campus tirelessly churning out good food as students find refuge from the classrooms to grab a quick and tasty bite. Now take a break and listen to those two figures Niranjan and Chittaranjan Pusti, popularly referred to as ‘Dadus’, enthrall you with the story of their experience of XL........

"It was 1968 when our father left behind his life running the NIT (earlier RIT) Jamshedpur mess and came to XL with his stall. Over the years, there was a lot of moving around before the current status quo came about.

Our parents settled down in Jamshedpur and opened a dhaba in the middle of the tennis court, which was at that time a bare space surrounded by jungle. On the side, our father kept a farming area as well which doubled as a village trip for the students there. With no classes at night, students could while their time away for a long period gazing at the Jamshedpur sky – that sadly doesn’t happen anymore given how hectic it has become.

Around 1987, we shifted to where the medical store is now – near the XLRI gate. But after our father moved on, we established ourselves at the back of the TFEMR mess. And this year only, Chittaranjan started this store here to cater to the juniors.

It’s been eye-opening to see how much things have changed over the years. A developing Jamshedpur with restaurants, multiple messes given to contractors and Bishu da opening up next to us have contributed to a fall in customers and competition despite the students who keeping on increasing. Again, the students being divided between new and old campus made us realize opening a store at the new campus was needed – beforehand it was enough to have a single store.

Another big change has been the food items we carry. While earlier it was homemade desi food like chicken roti and singara jalebi, now it’s become a mix of rolls and fast food. We source a lot of food from Brubeck since students are into those things these days.

After our father died, it was a struggle to make ends meet; being the breadwinners in a family of ten siblings with a younger sister still to marry. We haven’t got the time to settle down – maybe after she’s married. Have lived all our life in Jamshedpur, being born and brought up in this city – this is our home.

And XLRI has been wonderful to us. Chittaranjan tries to visit all the alumni meets across the country, along with teachers like Shukla Sir and Sarin Sir. XL IIMC has been a fond journey every other year as well for him.

The XL alums have been very kind – giving him lodging and paying for his trips. Whenever they come to campus, no matter how big or busy they are, they always come to meet us. We really treasure our association with this campus. It's family after all."

Writing Credits: Avishek Chatterjee
Picture Credits: Sagnik Basu

   #13 : Dominic Thomas : XL MAFIA from batch of 1959A few people know that in the 1950s, XLRI use to hold its classes a...
24/12/2015

#13 : Dominic Thomas : XL MAFIA from batch of 1959

A few people know that in the 1950s, XLRI use to hold its classes at Loyola School, Jamshedpur. Even fewer know that the first class of XLRI was conducted in a room rented in Hotel Boulevard. Now, more than 65 years later, when XL has a well-established fully residential campus (and more to come), it feels great to be one of people who were there to witness the institute in those nascent stages.
Mr. Dominic (PMIR Batch 1959) remembers how the small batch size of 70 students made them a close knit family.
"I still recount the incident when once I went to finalise a deal with a company in M.P., only to find that the Head of the organisation was my batch mate. What happened next is that he simply asked his subordinates to take care of the deal while we left together for sharing nostalgia over a hot meal. Such camaraderie is what makes XL so special and different from any other institute."

To the current XLers- who are almost the age of his grandchildren- he wants to give just one advice,
‘When talking to someone, ensure that when you leave; they have smile on their face and not malice in their heart’.

   #12“Our poverty strengthened our marriage.”KumaraGuru Dnv and his wife Sowmya on a recent visit to their alma matter ...
25/11/2015

#12
“Our poverty strengthened our marriage.”
KumaraGuru Dnv and his wife Sowmya on a recent visit to their alma matter decided to take a stroll down memory lane as they recounted their days here with Guru being a member of the first batch of GMP students at XLRI and how their marriage helped them through all the highs and lows of their XL life.
It’s a story of struggle and accomplishments. Back then, for GMP there was no family-accommodation. It was quite amusing the way they got a rented accommodation – prospective tenants were quite strict about it being given to a married couple only. Soumya puts it candidly,” Guru was in class. So I was all alone and had to put on a toe ring and mangal sutra for convincing everyone that I was married and they could give us a place!”
Guru though subtly adds,” It was finally an old man who gave us a place after the lady had initially refused.”
That office space over the garage, despite multiple changes in residence, still remains memorable. XL itself helped a lot through a satellite program that enabled Sowmya to get a job there while Guru was enrolled in the GMP course. Sowmya eventually also returned to campus and graduated from GMP in 2007.
Coming to XL as a campus, they recounted how small it was compared to the spacious place it is now. You couldn’t help but come to know all the BM, FPM and HR students. Faculty quarters were quite off limits except for Diwali. Birthdays also had innocent victims who got caught in the crossfire.
Food was quite important to the couple and they fondly remember the pizza place and the newly minted CCD they used to haunt. The library, more than the books, was a great place to get some AC – and some sleep.
Reflecting a little, Guru passionately mentions,” We told XL the GMP students who come here with families also need a roofs over their heads just like the other batches.. And XL graciously accepted! ”
To Guru, his biggest achievement at XL, however, was that during their entire stay at Jamshedpur’s famous institution, he was always known as Sowmya’s husband – something his wife still takes enormous pride in.
And as he still firmly believes,” The lack of money strengthened our marriage as we came to know how we actually depend on each other”.

Writing Credits: Avishek Chatterjee
Photo Credits: Kiran Kanthavar

   #11Father Edward Mcgrath : "If you want to say something, say it in the Father Mc-Grath way so that people never forg...
14/09/2015

#11
Father Edward Mcgrath : "If you want to say something, say it in the Father Mc-Grath way so that people never forget about it, or don't say it at all,"

Almost 30 years ago, in 1983, the new batch at XLRI-Jamshedpur had just settled in for its first day in class when 50 adivasis stormed in and ransacked the classroom before vanishing into thin air. None of the students were hurt, but the professor, Father Edward McGrath, lay in a pool of blood.
Even as the dazed students were trying to make sense of what had just transpired, Father McGrath rose to his feet and said it was a staged show. "I want you'll to sit down and write what you have just seen," said the Irishman.
( Vineet Nayar, former CEO of HCL Technologies shared this small anecdote involving Father McGrath)

At 94, he is one of the oldest and most beloved residents of our campus. Founder, teacher, and inspiration to generations of XL-ers, Father McGrath might be old, but his love for the students and the campus hasn't diminished one bit. His eyes twinkle with love and good humour as he cheerily wishes a good morning to students he encounters on his strolls around the campus.
Father McGrath may have become a little forgetful at his age, but we can catch a glimpse of the genius and razor sharp mind that founded an institution like XLRI when he talks about how he came to India in 1951, leaving behind a rich family in the US. He never looked back, not even after retirement when he was invited back to his country of birth.

   #10M Hari Menon: XL Mafia '96Hari Menon ,alumnus of the '96 batch of XLRI Jamshedpur and currently the Deputy Directo...
30/08/2015

#10
M Hari Menon: XL Mafia '96
Hari Menon ,alumnus of the '96 batch of XLRI Jamshedpur and currently the Deputy Director for India Country Programs at the New Delhi office of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

XLRI Jamshedpur had left him with some indelible memories, he said, adding that it had been a place of self-discovery for him, where he found community and camaraderie (and his wife).
Having joined the social sector after having spent almost 8 years working as part of the corporate world, he said that he took the decision to switch because he wanted a greater sense of purpose with the work he was doing, which he felt was lacking in the private sector. Asked if he has any advice for the batch about to graduate in a few months' time, he was quick to point out that it was understandable to not know what they want to do, especially if they haven't had any work experience. But in spite of that, he advised them to stay away from peer pressure driven decisions.
"Don't go for the job that pays the most, or the job that comes to you the first. Try and figure out what it is that really matters to you," he cautioned, and emphasized that doing what one really loves would eventually be worth it. Drawing from his experiences with people, he observed that most people realise the need for doing meaningful work by the time they are in their mid-30's, which is why it's all the more pertinent to focus on it right from the beginning.

Covered by: Jagruti Vojjala

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