The first few moments, of that long winding pathway leading up the hill.. that hill obscured by clouds.. are framed in my mind forever. I’d seen a thousand photos before, but nothing could prepare me for the real deal. Its 5 AM and the bus from Bangalore tosses out a few crumpledsouls and their baggage at the place we now know as “Nee Che” (‘Down’ in Hindi). And we are lucky souls indeed, for with that vicarious stroke of serendipity the gods have consented that we may visit them for a while.
I’m always reminded of Mandrake’s Xanadu, with a John Denver track playing somewhere in my mind whenever I traverse up the hairpin bends and twisting roads hugging the hill, taking me to the summit. The ascent always plays out in slow-motion.. the cautious turns, the peeping around corners before traveling higher, and on the other side of the hills, the increasingly breathtaking view. It is as breathtaking the millionth time one sees it, as it was the first time that bedraggled troop made its way to the campus. And what a sight awaited us there. Mt. Olympus could not have been more beautiful! And yes, we felt like Gods.
Whoever thought of situating a post-modern architectural wonder in the middle of rolling hills covered with evergreen jungles was clearly a genius and one with a slanted sense of humour too. For what else can you call this hidden gem of a campus, which can make even hardened MBA prospects wax lyrical and bring out the muses a lot faster than one’s system can safely deal with, and which can turn even a cynic a believer.The IIMK campus is inspirational to say the least. In every nook and corner, in the perfect angles and contrasting curves of the buildings, the cobbled pathways and the sentinel watchtowers one finds inspiration. Gods do, after all, have an aesthetic sense.And as one looks deeper into the heart of IIMK, one finds substance to the outward beauty.
The 5th IIM to come up, IIMK hosts some of the most brilliant talent in India, both in terms of students and faculty. Constantly abuzz with activity, it beats with the throb of a heart wanting to achieve, with a hunger that it demands to be satiated, a dream that wants to come alive. It did not take me long to realize that it is this hunger and passion that is almost automatically imbibed in the community that works and lives here that makes this place so magical, a real treat to be in. The people is what makes Kozhikode so special (and sometimes, the otherway round too)
We live amongst the clouds, and thank our luck stars for being where we’ve always wanted to be, amongst those who inspire us and make us strive ahead and live. We live with gods. We are, IIM Kozhikode.
Courtesy - Rishi Tandon :)
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