The IIMs are creating Big News these days. Headlines like these are catching everyone’s attention: IIM-B creates record in campus recruitment.
They are the news like these that add to the glamour of the IIMs. And therefore it is so obvious that most of them who desire to get into IIMs, want to do so, for Big Money. When you come to know that 34% of the entire batch in an IIM gets placed on day zero itself, and gets placed not just anywhere but in the sexiest of companies, you have to be attracted.
Money is important in life because it let’s you buy things that you had always dreamt of. But then, the fact is that money is not everything.
Why do we need money? Money in itself is nothing. It is merely a means to acquire real physical things. The real physical things are those that matter to us. I am talking about the big luxurious houses, posh four-wheelers, fancy designer attires, toothsome food, and things like these. These are the things that money lets us possess. And this is the only reason money is important. But then, this is also the reason, why money is not everything.
Life is not all about possessing few or even many physical stuffs. Life is much more than that. Life is about doing those things that you like doing, talking with friends, helping those who need your help, and caring for things around you. Yes, these things sound so far-fetched and bookish, but without them the journey of life is incomplete.
I pity those who get into IIMs, just because they got inspired by news like the one that I mentioned in the beginning. Sometimes they are not the student themselves who get inspired, but their parents. They are the parents, often from the middle class Indian Family. They know the value of money just too well. And in the process they simply exagerrate things. Money rises from its stature and blurrs one’s vision to see the bigger picture that life has to offer. Where there is money, prestige takes birth. So, when a child of a middle class parent is able to get into an IIM, the parents feel so proud of him. It never matters, what the real interests of the child are. No one cares. A rat race begins, all because of money. Soon everyone becomes a rat, and a hollow meaning of success is defined.
The problem with rat race is that, even if you win, you are still a rat. And this is just too sad. I wish, some of us are able to define our own definitions of success which isn’t based only upon money. I wish some of us are able to live the REAL life, like lions and not like rats.
8 replies on “IIM, Life, Money and the Race”
Nice post. The rat race statement is simply PERFECT!
But then again, I beg to differ.Let me state this example: One of my localite friends had come by to the insti in his car for some work, when he met our just-about-to-retire prof, lets call him P.Now Dr.P has never really been very lucid in his conversations with any of us before, but this one proved to be an exception. He started reviling the whole idea of ‘Do What You Like’ and ‘Live Life As It Comes’.I won’t go into the gruesome-ly boring details on how exactly he arrived at his conclusions, but instead will cut to chase and write the parting statement he made: “See pa, first get a good job, and make your position in society stable (Read make cartloads of money). Only _after_ you have done that, think of Doing What You Like or Following Your Dreams.Otherwise, you’ll end up like me”.”Like me”, as in sitting on his luna (did I mention that before?), sharing your woes with a student on the eve of the day you are supposed to gracefully end your career.
Which brings to the point, does Money deserve to be railed that way it has been in your post? No, I don’t think so.
Would you say the same things you have said if you _enjoyed_ the rat race? You wouldn’t have called it a ‘rat’ race, something closer to a ‘Lion’s fight’.Why not think about the race to the IIMs that way?
And, the footer you’ve put is a very nice touch 🙂
nice post!:)
i agree..
but do u really think so or this is just ur false philosphy.
@Mohan
Yeah, if I would have enjoyed the rat race myself, I would have definitely not cribbed about it. The good thing is that: I just do not enjoy it!
By the way, this was a great comment from you.
@ME
thanks!
@Ankit
This is my philosophy. I leave it on you to decide for yourself whether it’s false or true.
Great comment Geetali! Thank you…
hey amrit,
good to hear that from you dude!
” B ” is the word which is very important in life ( balance ).
i too completely agree with your thoughts and i am very happy to know that somebody do exists in this world with the thoughts that i share.
but i will tell you, if you get a chance to live in this world only once!!! , so live it and make your prsence felt. just change the world around you,give hopes to depressed soul, lit the candle,know that you are born with a special purpose, just dont behave artiffically.
coming to money part, its just few pieces of paper though its vital importance in life cannot be denied but when you work, just know that you are working to create some difference. do silly things , take risk of thinking differently in projects, take it for fun . act but be damn smart.
( havent u seen movies like : bond ,the firm , kyonki main jooth nahi bolta )
work with this purpose. dont think of money ,cos anyway it will be in bank after every 30 days.
just think when you were in college your dad use to give pocket money , now let big uncles like narayan , ambani uncle pay your bill of pizza.:)))
work as if you are doing for a favour to your boss.
The most important thing above evry thing is that you should have a good relation with GOD!
for he makes a person wise and gives peace.
come lets make this world a better place to live in
lots more to write but i am not prepared for any . if any wants to share their views or get in touch with me mail me at
getlijo@gmail.com
Hey lij…nice post:)…Janu
hi!
ya i agree to most of your views.
but the problem is that guys who join iims , just for hefty paypackets are well described by your ideas. but consider the guy who refused all offers he got , jut to launch his musuc album, or the guy who started his own reatuarant. the idea is getting a degree to get money – ( 99 %).
the rest 1% thinks differently, they want to get an mba degree to learn entrepreneurship. they want to do it their way . lets hope