Organic Meal. Oragnic Growth.

The induction fortnight at FMS is one helluva hectic time with 20-22 hour days and a zillion deadlines to meet. Add to that the fact, that it begins right from the first day, so people don't even get a chance to really settle down in the campus, or even the city for those coming from outside. However, despite its pressures, it is really an enjoyable and enriching time for most of us. Its an experience worth having.

A part of this experience is the meals that we have. Most breaks given for meals are less than a double digit figure in duration, which includes the time you need to spend with the people in your next assignment group to discuss your 'strategy'.

This post is however, not about those 'regular' meals. Its about the special meal we had during the induction for which we got full 30 mins. of freedom, and how we made the most of it.

It had been over 12 days into the induction and needless to say nobody had managed to find the time to eat out. Nobody had found the time to step out of college for that matter except to get the daily 2-3 hours of sleep. So, this particular time when we were told we had 30 mins. for lunch, everyone's excitement levels knew no bounds. 30 mins. seemed like a lifetime for us to do what we liked. So about 15 of us, instantly ran out of the campus and got into rickshaws and headed towards the local market.

There are some things about an FMS MBA which no other institute can provide. Where else will you find 15 MBA students (from a premier B-School of the country ;-)), dressed in suit-tie etc. and laptops on their shoulders, rushing to a place like the streets of Malkaganj in a caravan of rickshaws in the heat of a Delhi summer afternoon?!

We reached this little shop somebody had recommended and feasted on Chhola Bhatura and Fruit-Juice pigging out like we hadn't eaten in days (which is partially true 8-)). The group included South-Indians on their first trip to Northern India having the dish for the first time, proud & flambouyant Haryanavis, Delhiites from East to South, Engineers, Eco Grads, people just out of college to those who had been in organisations for 3-4 years. For a while the backgrund, attire, accessories and the association with the institute and course, was completely forgotten and food was all that occupied everyone's mindspace.

Or maybe not.

Maybe it just was the process of the synergising the conventional associations of a 'B-School Life' with the life outside this particular campus; rickshaws, galis, street food etc. which is a quintessential part of the experience at FMS.

Shall we call this Organic growth, eh?!