Yes, only 7 days. I could have this surreal feeling only for 7 days. I am leaving IIM Kashipur now with my heart still here.

I learned it hard way…to let go. And I am doing it now, for the greater good.

Before I vanish into oblivion again, let me recall my first and the last week at IIM Kashipur.

It was a sunny morning of june 21, 2018 when I deboarded the train at the Kashipur Railway Station. There I found a group of people who were also heading for IIM Kashipur. We had our introduction done before we saw a man with placard “IIM Kashipur” in his hands trying to locate us. We found him and he escorted us to the bus. It was a 15 minute ride from the station to college around a Jungle area.

We reached the college campus at around 8AM. It was a surreal feeling to have got an opportunity to walk into an IIM, the topmost management brand of the country. The presence of various Bank representatives all around us to get an opportunity to converse with us and convince us to take loan from their respective banks made it feel more so.

Till that day in my life, I never saw any bank running after anyone to offer him a whopping sum of money as loan and without any collateral and red-tapism. It was unreal. At least I felt so.

However, we evaded their questions at that point of time and entered into our rooms. Room! Luxurious it was to say the least. For a moment I doubted if it was a 5-star hotel. No, it was a college only. I realised it while waiting for 4 hours for my turn for registration. Finally it happened and I took a sigh of relief. I was very tired so I came back to my room and slept for 2 hours.

2 hour sleep!

Something that is not very common at IIM Kashipur which I realised the first day itself.

We had our first session at 12AM, June 22.

Wow. Welcome to IIM Kashipur. Welcome to a hell of a ride!

For the first time in my life, I had my class at such an odd time. We came back to our rooms at 3AM. Yeah, 3AM.

With my eyes fully exhausted, I slept at around 4AM. I could sleep only for 3 hours because we had our classes from 8AM. It was just the beginning.

Since then, we had our sessions daily till 2AM in the morning, sometimes 3AM and even beyond.

“Welcome to the IIM, Nikhil!” I whispered to myself.

So, this journey was full of struggles, right?

No, it was full of opportunities. The opportunity to dream big. The opportunity to keep pushing my boundaries. The opportunity to learn. The opportunity to grow; grow together. And above all, it was an opportunity to make a difference.

I acknowledge that the first week was damn tough to get through an IIM rigour, with just 3 hours of average sleep. But it’s okay. I have chosen this life for myself and I am living it now. Going through emotions, both high and low.

Feeling this difference. Till now I have seen managers making their team work. But here I witnessed managers slogging themselves day in day out and taking their team ahead. I lacked motivation to work in office but here I felt I was ready to work round the clock. Why?

Because here my seniors worked harder than us. If they made us work 16-18 hours a day, they ensured that they worked 18-20 hours a day. And I literally mean it. I have seen it. They have been really tough but even then I am in awe of them. They set some real high standards for us. To collaborate more and achieve more. The kind of collaboration they manifested was awe-inspiring. And they are earnestly striving to instill the same spirit and unity in us. Wonderful.

Have got a lot to take from here.

A moment is needed to make a memory. Thank you IIM kashipur for myriad such moments and memories. Albeit for a week only, I have been privileged to be a part of this wonderful institute.

Signing off is Nikhil Jain!!!

Have a great time ahead!!!