Matheran – The Break we Partied.

Hmmm... 7:00 am is not a good time to stand at Malad station... Actually 7:00am is not a good time to stand at any station. But as fate would have it, we were there carrying our bags. Mine was heavier than average thanks to my (n*X)L size. Sometimes I wonder... anyways.. So where was I.. Oh yes... Malad station. So I was waiting along with half my batch waiting for the Zuk-zuk gadi to arrive. We were on our way to Matheran. Supposedly the smallest, tiniest, hill station in the country.

Half way through the journey, past Dadar, we had half the bogie to ourselves. So we were cracking jokes, teasing each other. This was one time the entire admin team was with us taking part in our antics. We reached Neral by 10, had breakfast, got divided in groups of 5 and headed for the Hills in rickety cabs. The fun had begun. We were looking forward for this break for a long time, Since Zeitgeist.

The cab ride was good. The winding roads up the Sahyadris were smooth and loaded with some really picturesque locations. By the time we reached the taxi stop up hills, we were actually midst clouds. It was magical. We had to trek for almost 5km to reach Matheran and another 4km to reach the Hotel. The modes of transportation in Matheran are horses and feet. In my case both were inadequate to carry my weight for a long time. Anyways, so we were walking-

and-walking and walking some more. We were followed by our very own Smiling SamuRai and Prof Girish with his wonderful camera. That day there were 30 more monkeys in Matheran hills.

The hotel was called ‘Radha Cottage’. Decent place. We saw some guys setting up mise en place for some adventure tasks. Deja vu. Dabosa memories... Luckily things were relatively pleasant. Prof. Parvez Jokhi was with us. He and his team had set up a few fun tasks for us... We did those post lunch... Good fun... Walking on planks, erecting tents with group members tied together, Passing groups members through rope webs, balancing a ball by threads... Good fun... Roadies would die of awe... Post that we had a session by Mr. Shubrotho Sen.

24th September was an important date. It was the day the college was setup. Anniversary of our very own MBS. It was also Kevin’s, one of our batchmates’, birthday. So we had two cakes. There was a bonfire which refused to light up even after guzzling a litre of kerosene. It was raining too. We all partied till wee hours. Next day comprised of some more games and then we embarked on the return journey. We came down in a more relaxed manner. Bathing in the beauty of nature. Felt close to mother earth. Felt good. Felt relived. Felt reclaimed.
Dabosa, as Nikhil had rightly said, was an ice- breaker for our batch. Matheran was a unity-maker. We hung around with friends we generally just knew. Sat till 3:00am with them. Shared anecdotes, nostalgia, ghost stories, past heartbreaks and recent patch ups. We always knew each other, but it was different this time. This break gave everyone some peace of mind they needed. Some sought it in company of others. Some regained their energies by spending time with themselves. The school didn’t meddle with any of our leisure activities. They gave us what we yearned for. Some solace from the daily grind.

We came back with refreshed bodies and calm minds. That small vacation did wonders. Missing those magic moments.

A hidden treasure

Today, emerging markets represent the fastest growing economies in the world. Growing industry consolidation and slowing growth abroad has drawn focus from multinational companies on emerging countries such as India and China that offer significant untapped growth opportunities. The institutions that operate within emerging markets—governments, education, health and private enterprise—are beginning to recognize that without rural sector development they would not be able to grow significantly or improve the standard of living of their people.
Rural India accounts for more than 50% of the GDP and the rural consumption expenditure registers around 60% of the total consumption expenditure in the country. On the other side, the Chinese economy is experiencing unprecedented growth, largely in urban areas, but the need is growing for rural populations to have the same advantages and access to technology as those people living in cities.

In order to tap the rural phenomenon more efficiently, initiatives such as Unlimited Potential by Microsoft, One Laptop Per Child concept by MIT Media Labs, World Ahead program from Intel and 50x15 program from AMD are already been in place. The aim of these companies is at providing the low-cost computing/ PCs to emerging nations to create a win-win situation for all. Recently, One Laptop per Child (OLPC) program unveiled the second version of its XO laptop, while Intel announced its next-generation Classmate PC for developing countries.
However, low-cost PCs may not be the relevant technology to reach rural people in emerging nations. A sustainable rural mobile development program can create all-round growth in under-developed areas of emerging countries as cellular technology is far more reachable than PC penetration.

The rural areas in China and India are experiencing explosive growth in mobile communications, as falling tariffs and rising incomes are bringing mobile phones within the reach of millions of new customers. The Ministry of Information Industry, China announced that the number of mobile phone users had reached 501.64 million by the end of June 2007 and the higher growth came from the rural areas. On the other side, India has emerged as the fastest growing telecom market in the world. The number of rural mobile phone users is around 40 million, accounting more than 22% of the total mobile subscriber base in India. This figure is expected to go up to 35-40% by 2010 in the country.

Although I am of the opinion that rural markets in emerging nations will trigger new types of competition in the years to come, there will be a number of issues to face due to a lack of infrastructure, poor coordination among government bodies, funding and technical support in countries such as India and China.

The active efforts from companies are just getting started, and we believe it will be early to comment that a particular technology will have a solid impact on rural areas growth. As seen in any emerging country, the cost will play a key attribute based on demand, feasibility, and user needs. It will be interesting to see how the business model of various companies evolves to target the big and untapped opportunity in the rural segment.

Winston Dsouza

MBS - Rocks!!

The Stock Market

The stock market plays a significant role in the health of the economy. The economy has to be strong for its country and its citizens to prosper. The stock market appears in the news every day. You hear about it any time it reaches a new high or a new low, and you also hear about it daily in statements like "The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 2 percent today, or the more familar statement of " Aaj Bazar 200 point oopar, with advances leading declines by a margin of ..." Obviously, stocks and the stock market are important, but you may find that you know very little about them. What is a stock? What is a stock market? Where does the stock market come from to begin with, and why do people want to buy and sell it? If you have any questions like these, read on......

In the financial market, stock refers to a supply of money that a company has raised. This supply comes from people who have given the company money in the hope that the company will make their money grow. The term "stock market" refers to the business of buying and selling stock. The stock market is not a specific place, though some people use the term " Dalal Street" the main street in Mumbai where BSE is located or they use the term"Wall Street"--the main street in New York City's financial district--to refer to the U.S. stock market in general.

If a company wants to grow--maybe build more factories, hire more people, or develop new products--it needs money. It could get a loan from a bank. But then it would owe money. By issuing stock, a company can raise money without going into debt. People who buy the stock are giving the company the money it needs to grow. Not every company can issue stock. A business owned by one person (a proprietorship) or a few people (a partnership) cannot issue stock. Only a business corporation can issue stock. A corporation has a special legal status. Like a school, its existence does not depend on the people who run it. Under the law, it is separate from the people associated with it, and has special legal rights and responsibilities as well as its own unique name.

Owning stock in a company means owning part of that company. Each part is known as a share. If a company has issued 100 shares of stock, and you bought one, you own 1% of that company. People who own stock are called stockholders, or shareholders. Stockholders hope the company will earn money as it grows. If a company earns money, the stockholders share the profits. Over time, people usually earn more owning stock than leaving money in the bank, buying bonds, or making other investments. The terms "up" and "down" are used to describe the rise and fall of the market as a whole.

Stockholders in a company usually have voting rights. They vote on such issues as who will be elected to the board of directors--the group of people who oversee company decisions--and whether to buy other companies. Stockholders typically have one vote for each share they own. Every vote counts, but a stockholder with 5,000 shares will have more influence on the company than someone with only one share. Most companies have annual meetings, where stockholders cast votes and ask questions of the company's leaders. If they cannot attend, stockholders may use an absentee ballot to vote. Shareholders also receive quarterly and annual reports that tell them how the company is doing.

Bears are cautious animals who don't like to move too fast. Bulls are bold animals who might charge right ahead. An investor is said to be "bearish" if he or she believes the stock market will go down. A "bearish" investor will buy stock cautiously. A "bullish" investor believes the market will go up. He or she will charge ahead and put money into the market. An investor can be bearish or bullish about a particular kind of stock. Likewise, the term "bear market" describes a time when stock prices have been falling on the whole. A "bull market" is a period when stock prices are generally rising.

I have learned a lot from the stock market. I have also learned a lot from being in Economics. When I get older, I will be able to use this information to make money. Economics is a huge part of life.

Winston Dsouza

MBS - Rocks!!

Softening Judgment

Softening Judgment
Moving Beyond Appearances


It is our natural inclination to judge people, since it happens without our even thinking about it. We take one look and summarize a whole person—overweight, pretty, stylish, sloppy. When we judge, we are looking for pertinent information, trying to determine whether the person approaching is a threat, an ally, or someone we don’t need to worry about. This way of looking at people makes sense in a dangerous context, but in our daily lives it leads to an overly simplistic reading of the people we meet.

If you have ever judged someone, only to have them become a dear friend once you got to know them, you know the hazards of the judgment cycle firsthand. An experience like that may have led you to soften your natural tendency to believe your first impressions. We will always notice things about the people we meet, but as we become more conscious of the shortcomings of judgment, we won’t be satisfied with our surface observations. We may notice that someone is driving an expensive car, but we will decide whether to befriend him based on getting to know him over time. We will not rule out a friendship with someone with messy hair, especially if he turns out to have a great sense of humor and a kind heart. Liking or disliking a person is a choice you will naturally make, but it will be after you have gotten to know them.

Next time you notice yourself judging somebody, try to send love, light, or blessings to the person you were judging. Then try to listen to them openly or look them in the eye and learn something about them. If this is not easy for you, remember not to judge yourself either. Trust that with practice, you will successfully disable your habitual patterns. As you do, you will find a whole new dimension of perception opening up to you, allowing you to see beyond the surface and into the essence of the people you meet..


Cheers!!!
Haider J

Outlining Your Intentions

Outlining Your Intentions
Making a List of What You Want


The universe is aware of both the concrete goals we actively pursue and the dreams we have not yet begun to refine. Neither our struggles nor the daydreams that inspire us are beyond the range of universal perception. Yet to manifest our aspirations, we not only need to know what it is we generally wish to achieve; we also need to clearly articulate these aims to ourselves and the universe. When we create a list of what we want, citing each item in as much detail as possible, our aspirations take on new substance. What was once a mere wish becomes real and achievable when put into words. As you pour the contents of your heart and soul into your list, your well-defined ambitions become a part of you, and the universe responds to your new determination by placing opportunities related to your objectives in your path.

Whatever the nature of your desires, your list can help you channel your intellectual and emotional power into your efforts to realize them. The list you create should not simply be a record of your individual goals. Rather, it should be a comprehensive, exhaustive catalog of each target you want to reach and your reasons for aiming for them. This may mean that your list will encompass many pages of text, since when you write down and review your ambitions, you empower yourself to more accurately direct your goal-realization efforts. You then also have a framework in place that helps you distinguish success from setbacks. If you keep your list in a convenient spot and review it daily, you will inadvertently reaffirm your conviction to your aspirations, demonstrating that you are truly devoted to your chosen path while keeping your objectives fresh in your mind. If you have an altar, this would be a great place to keep your list.

As you compose your list, try not to edit or judge what you have written. Some of what you want may seem outlandish when considered in the context of your current circumstances. Whether you are destined to fulfill the items on the unique long-term agenda you create in a year, 10 years, or 20 years, if you are free with your ideas and understand that you may not bring these dreams into reality for some time, your list will attract the universe’s benevolence even as it energizes and inspires you.


Cheers!!!
Haider Jasdan

Trendsetters in the Wonderland

Alice: Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?
The Cat: That depends a good deal on where you want to get to
Alice: I don't much care where.
The Cat: Then it doesn't much matter which way you go.
Alice: …so long as I get somewhere.
The Cat: Oh, you're sure to do that, if only you walk long enough.

We all read this story in our school didn’t we ? It has such an important lesson to learn , as Cheshire Cat rightly told Alice that she would definitely reach “SOMEWHERE” if she walks long enough and it does not matter which way she takes , but just reaching “SOMEWHERE” is not enough .We need to know where do we need to go and then what is the path to reach “THERE” .

We 30 Trendsetters have already decided we have to reach “THERE” and not just “SOMEWHERE” . Now we are working in identifying the way to reach “THERE” through our externships. We are in the process of identifying the companies where we would be doing our externship and thanks to our well connected Faculties and directors we have a wide range of companies coming and visiting us , to name a few Lawrence and Mayo, Siemens, Al Seer Dubai, Datamatics etc .
Our externships starts this October. That’s when we start our journey to reach “THERE” from the cross road where we are today as we know our goal is to reach “THERE” we would definitely find the way to reach our destination with able guidance of our Cheshire Cats (Our Faculty)

BON VOYAGE Trend setters !!
Paritosh Sharma
Trendsetter 26
Proud to be MBSite

An awakening...!!!

Last month we got an unexpected mini-vacation(courtesy... Swine flu). Almost everyone of us had gone home. We met our pre-mbs friends after a gap of almost 4 months. We had a time of our lives. Long chats, parties, nostalgia, all rolled into one. That’s when it struck me. Those fellows... chums... are not very different from the new friends I made here. Staying away from fellow trendsetters for just 4 days made me realise how much I love these guys. It is true ‘Distance is a great teacher’. When we are around 24/7 we don’t realise it. Every moment I was thinking of coming back to school. After returning, I realised, this feeling was same across the batch, Sparsh’s bday party was a testament to that.

Term 2 started with a bang. Never thought International Business would be such fun(Prof. Venky is too much...) and Uncle Bala teaching Management Accounting(He’s a master of his art). Coming back the grind started again. But I felt the difference. The group dynamics had changed. We always sat together as groups to solve the case studies. Now groups were sitting together as a big team, tackling problems, solving doubts. The better ones were teaching and guiding the lesser mortals irrespective of what groups she/he belonged to. Frankly this never happened before. We have become a family now. Like all families, we study together, party together, even fight together and once we are done fighting, we party harder.

I think this is what Dr. Rai wanted us to be. Humane managers. We are becoming ones. We are better at our subjects now. The business immersion’s in place. Many companies are accepting this new format of management studies. We have a green signal from various Brands for interns as well as working opportunities. Life’s on the move. Deep inside I feel, rather we all feel, that we are with a set of likeminded individuals. There comes a time in everyone’s life when she/he thinks beyond her/his personal accomplishments. I think we are doing well. We are still learning. Every dawn sees the end of a dark night.

That’s a small realisation I wanted to share with any and everyone. I now look at this college with a different view... MBS is no longer our school... not anymore... It’s a home away from home.

Bhushan Vishwasrao

Trendsetter # 30

A proud MBSite.