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BITS, BYTES N BAKAR Where bakar prevails

Volume 18, 22nd January 2014

KAHANI AB TAK Aaaaand 2105 is here! Oops, sorry! I meant 2015 is here. (New Year L Square hangover is still on! :P). January has brought in two types of chills with it: The ‘let’s-snuggle-under-the-blanket’ chill and the ‘It’s-Term6!-Let’s-chillllllll’, the latter being endorsed by PPO holders and the PGP2s who got placed left, right and centre in the laterals with enviable offers. Those standing at the periphery and watching are the freshers, who constitute the Bottom Of the Pyramid – the last 25%-30% of the batch to get placed and have to bite their nails anxiously till the middle of February. (Yes! This piece has been penned by the sadist Secretary of Expressions who is a fresher herself!) IIM B’s sports contingent experienced a third type of chill in Lucknow during Sangharsh 2015, both literally and metaphorically. We got to see more ‘Parathe Waali Gali’ pics than winning shots. So, to save them some grace, we have followed the Sangharsh piece with a 2 pager Sangram write up. After all, sab apne hi toh bande hai :D!

SANGHARSH 2015

Writing Credit: JC Kruba who was finally made to work on something by the Secretary!

Well, as some random faceless stranger once said, “Success is walking from failure to failure without any loss of enthusiasm”. So this piece is not a legend about how we walked into an alien land, conquered the elitest’est (I’m a fan of superlative degree) inter IIM tournament, and walked away with Hans Zimmer score in the background. Lots of misfortunes, disappointments and “f*ck this sh*t”s, but let’s face it, a winning streak is bound to be broken and it does feel goddamn boring to be winning all the time. Now that I have disguised our failure to look like one of those legendary war defeats, let us take a peek into what happened in Lucknow. Any other IIM feels like a Shawshank prison after spending considerable time in IIMB. So, bad weather, a not so good accommodation and poor organization skills made sure that Day 1 of Sangharsh was hard even outside the field. The first match loss in volleyball against IIMC came as a shock to everyone as we had a strong team. Nevertheless we fought back like heroes

PICTURE OF THE EDITION

winning the next 2. Since it was a league format, the top 2 teams qualify for finals. In a dramatic turn of events, A, B and C were all fighting for the top 2 spots with each team winning the same number of matches and same number of sets. It came down to the number of points scored in total and we lost to C and A by 1 point. There were just 2 golds in the entire tournament – Men’s badminton and Girls’ basketball. The gold in Men’s Badminton was kind of obvious as we were easily stronger than any other IIMs by far. Six consecutive golds in the past 3 years, this team really deserves a round of applause. Splendid work by the basketball girls’ team as well, in a tight final match to bag that gold. They conquered Sangram as well as Sangharsh. Silver in cricket, tennis, men’s basketball and girls’ throwball, and bronze in men’s football, table tennis, volleyball and girls’ table tennis did help move the points tally up. However a no medal show in other sports made sure that we finished at position 3, which kind of sucks as there were only 4 teams and IIML doesn’t really count as a team. Special mention to the cricket team as it was sheer misfortune (read as lots of run-outs) which threw them off the gold race. Wrapping things up, it was a good experience overall and this trip did bond the Sangharsh team stronger than the first week orientation program. Cigarettes and alcohol in the final day... well blame the weather. The bus ride from Lucknow to Delhi was fun with each and every person trying hard to prove why he is not the mafia. Confident after the wins and wiser after the losses, IIMB is bound to kick some ass in the Sangram ‘15 and Sangharsh ‘16.

Edited by Expressions. To contribute, please contact expressions@iimb.ernet.in

Kho-Kho - Aswathi Sreedharan

Kho-kho is a traditional Indian sport - A simple game that challenges both the body and the mind. Sangram 2014 posed a unique experience in that kho-kho challenged us outside the match as well. As a team, boys and girls felt very prepared. We had put in a lot of effort, and practised well inspite of the cold weather, chilly winds, and the rains that loved to spoil our practices! Experiences from last year’s game at IIM Khozhikode taught us that Trichy and Kozhikode were quite good, and that the games would be intense. Not to mention all the cheering and sledging that was bound to happen. Our first match was scheduled for the girl’s team against IIM K on Friday at 3 pm. The anticipation upto the game was both exciting and a little nerve-wracking. However, we were not meant to get it over with. The rain decided play a little joke. Not losing hope, we used sponges to clean the kho-kho ground, only to be tricked again by another round of rain; this time, more severe. The game was postponed- but by a 30 minute basis. This meant, we would be notified half an hour before the game was to happen. In Rintu’s words, “Even if we have to play at 3 in the morning, get your team ready!” We were lucky to play that night. And we won by an innings. For all of next day, boys match got postponed. They finally played on Sunday against Trichy and Kozhikode, winning both the games by an innings. During my stay at IIM B, kho-kho was one experience that taught me how to really be part of team; to move beyond myself, and become part of a single unit. The victory was just the icing on the cake. It was the journey that mattered for both Shubhankar and me, one in which we went through the ups and downs of putting a team together, and come out winning while playing a game that we hold so close to our hearts.

Edited by Expressions. To contribute, please contact expressions@iimb.ernet.in

Basketball - Vibha Menon

This time last year, we had resolved to take vengeance of the harsh sledging and the embarrassing match at K. Considering K our biggest rival we practiced in whatever little time we got post placements, putting together a team amidst rains, assignments and injuries. In the process we just didn’t figure out how much of a fight we would have to put up against T! To begin with, we didn’t want to play our match on Fri evening as the court was wet due to the untimely rains and hence slippery and dangerous. But there was little we could do about it and so were compelled to play. And so the game began! We put our strong defense on Reeti and Jayathi, their best players based on our experience last year. However Jayathi turned out to be a pain for us and quite a delight for the spectators! Our offense strategy was not working either. By the time we figured out their strength and speed, we were down 0-7 by the end of the first quarter! That’s when thanks to our own Kabir Khans – Anurag and Tabish- we figured out how to crack the offense. We tightened our defense, started pressing them full court and rose from 0-7, 2-7 to finally winning at 20-17! We had to fight every minute of the game, and we did it brilliantly! Meanwhile our other rivals were watching us keenly, noting down our weak points, strategizing against us- planning to fowl us out. But right from the start of the game, it was close. There was a lot of confusion in the beginning as to who would defend whom, but once we settled down and identified their main players our defense got tighter. This team again had two star players – Prakriti and Bhavna, but we were able to break their coordination. They however were restricting our offense, with our controller, captain Akanksha being checked too tightly! But with the timely help from the team, we cracked their defense open and once our captain started getting a chance, there was no stopping her! And that’s where we did brilliantly as a team, each person playing her role to the tee. We guarded well, assisted brilliantly, and applied screens when needed. And won 22-17!

Sangram ‘14: A golden weekend!

was back on Trichy. With our most experienced batsman Prakhar guiding him, the team moved to a respectable total of 139 in 20 overs.

Trichy needed to score the runs off 18 overs to have a shot at the gold medal. They sent a pinch hitter at the top who began aggressively by hitting a boundary off Parewa. Khetan was introduced in the 12th over and in no time he ran through their middle order and tail to bag a five-for. The catching was phenomenal with Sooraj taking three difficult catches. Trichy was shot out for 96 and we won by a more than convincing 43 runs.

The winning margins reflected the quality of IIM B team when compared to the visitors. The regular practice and match experience was clearly visible in the way the team played on the ground. All in all, it was a satisfying reward for the hard work the boys had put in.

Chess - Rakesh Mondal

EPGP lounge, famous for its project workplace, was crowded for a totally different purpose from 14-16th November. Chess! It all started with IIM B Vs IIM T boys’ chess match. Though it was a bit disheartening losing the first set even after leading for 3/4th of the match, it didn’t affect our girls’ team. Sohini and Preethi defeated the IIM K team in a matter of time and took a huge lead. With Vijayalakshmi still in my armor, it gave me immense confidence that history was about to be scripted. In the next game with K, she pinned her strong opponent down, well before time got over. IIM B didn’t give even a single chance to eithers IIM K or IIM T to sneak through and won Gold Medal for the first time ever in the history of IIM B.

Cricket

- Rakesh Mondal

It all started with IIM K Vs IIM T match soon after the inauguration. Rain and foggy weather delayed the match but the sky cleared up soon. IIM T collapsed and made a dismal 117 runs on the board which was chased convincingly by IIM K batsman. Harsh (IIM K captain) played a gem of an innings and won the match for K in the 19th over.

The next day, the toss went K’s way and it chose to bowl. We had planned to bat first as well and two overs into the match we held the upper hand with 30 runs on the board. However, a mini collapse followed and in no time we were 80 odd for six wickets in 12 overs. Then Pankaj came to the crease who soaked up the pressure, played out a over of their best spinner Harsh and then took the rest of Kozhikode bowlers to the cleaners in a knock of 38 off just 25 balls. Meanwhile Khetan was holding the other end tight with a sensible 25 off 30 balls. A six of the penultimate ball by Nitesh took us past 150.

The bowlers knew they had runs on their backs when going against the decently strong Kozhikode batting attack. The new bowlers Parewa and Prakhar exerted pressure and in no time the run rate required shot up and the Kozhikode batsmen were falling like ninepins. Once their captain Harsh, hero of the match against Trichy, the chase was truly over. We won by a convincing 22 runs.

On Sunday the weather was perfect, the sun god had opened up and the pitch was a bathing beauty. IIMB won the toss and chose to bat. Quick runs followed without too many risks. They brought in their spinner Rahul and he struck in his first over IIMB captain went for a sweep to a full delivery. Just when things were going well with Prakhar and me rotating the strike responsibly, a bad umpiring decision, some confused calling and a direct hit led to my run out.

Surya, who had replaced Sandeep this match due to an injury, was sent in and he very well seized the moment. He counter attacked with two boundaries over midwicket of their spinners and the pressure

Edited by Expressions. To contribute, please contact expressions@iimb.ernet.in

“And now time for some Unmaad Publicity too! Or else, what’s the use of being in

Expressions Team!!”

- Vada Pao

Uncontrolled passion in its quintessential form- ‘Unmaad’

The largest B school cultural fest of the country is in the next 8 days. It draws participants from across India and features events like dramatics, music, dance, quiz, debate, street play, professional concerts and the grand Unmaad fashion show among many others. The event has hosted some noteworthy performances by artists, such as Farhan Akhtar, Shankar Ehsaan Loy, KK, Kailash Kher, Lucky Ali, Strings, Jethro Tull and Indian Ocean.

The theme this year is “A Comic Relief” which revolves around the underlying need that exists in all of us to break free from the sometimes mundane, banal lives we all lead and to live life some. A number of exciting events and workshops are lined up at this year’s Unmaad. Some of them include, Nihilanth – the unparalleled IIT-IIM quizzing fiesta of India, Haute Couture – a show to take you to the dizzying heights of fashion, blending in your spirit and style to bring out the

supermodel in you, Footloose - the most awaited dance competition that makes you shed all inhibitions and rock the world with your moves and grooves and many more. Unmaad 2015 is being sponsored by some notable names in the industry including Van Heusen Power Dressing, Prestige Group, OLX, Micromax, Bru Gold, MYRA School of Business, Max Infra Ltd and so on… Fourteen time nominee for the Film fare Award for Best Music Director, Winner of Asian Film Award for Best

Composer, Winner of RD Burman Award, the dynamic duo of the Indian Bollywood music industry -Vishal &

Shekhar are all set to perform at Unmaad this year on 31st January! The name today is synonymous with Indian film music, and has everyone ranging from seven to seventy grooving to their peppy, upbeat tunes! The duo have performed in more than 500 live shows/concerts over the past 7 years. One of their phenomenal tours

was the Unforgettable Tour with the Bachchans. Rohit Vasudevan Diaries will be opening the act for Vishal Shekhar Live this year. B-School of Rock (BSOR) one of the flagship events at Unmaad, has grown into a veritable Mecca for pro and semi-pro bands across the country. With its vision of promoting rock music in India, BSOR in the past has been the launch pad for several bands with nation-wide appeal today. Some of these include Chrome.O.Soul, Public Issue, Inner Sanctum, Parvaaz, The Down Troddence, Clown With The Frown. Last year’s BSOR saw entries from over top 100 bands across the country, with only a chosen few making it to the final event. The stakes are as high as INR 1,00,000 this year! Ne Obliviscaris, a metal band from Australia is the headliner act and the judges for this year’s B-School of Rock! This is the band’s very first gig in India. This edition of the mega festival will end with a live performance by the very funny and immensely popularly comedians from the The Viral Fever Group or TVF as they are known on their YouTube channel. With close to 900,000 subscribers, they are India’s first and largest online entertainment TV network. Get ready for some rib tickling humour with acts by Deepak Mishra, Vipul Goyal, Biswapati Sarkar and many more. What better way to end Unmaad, than with joy and laughter all around and not to mention, the ‘TVF Qtiyapa’! Spanning three days from 30th Jan to 1st Feb ’15, with 30+ events and INR 10 Lacs up for grabs, Unmaad provides you with a platform to flaunt your skills, an arena to gape at talent or just an excuse to come and have loads and loads of fun. Visit www.unmaad.com or follow us on twitter @unmaadiimb to know more!

Edited by Expressions. To contribute, please contact expressions@iimb.ernet.in

Signing off – Kalpa, KG, Ra-Man, Sarkar, Vadapao,

Gill Sab, Lankesh, Subbu, Thundrebolt & Wacky Tabacky