Decoding Medusa At IIM Lucknow - The One On Greek Mythology

Mythology says that Athena in a state of vengeance and full of rage with the unholy turn of events cursed Medusa. The hair she was so envious of, was turned into a head of venomous snakes. Overnight a beautiful lady was turned into a monster.

It is believed that anyone who looked into Medusa’s eyes was turned into stone. As the words spread, she became the target of many warriors who craved to add her head to their list of trophies, signifying their utmost valour and courage, which stood up to this venomous creature. Medusa was finally beheaded by Perseus, with the help of divine gifts.

Now when I am familiar with the story, I think she was a highly misunderstood character, she was punished for circumstances she had little control over. I somehow observe an uncanny resemblance between the portrayal of Medusa and Hel(L). IIM Lucknow or Hel(L) as we love to call it, is infamous for its academic rigour, pressure and sacrosanct deadlines. From the last 10 months, though many have despised this place thanks to its notorious portrayal of hellish characteristics, deep down we have realized, this place is more than just Hel(L). It is a place which actually shields us, protect us and prepares us for Hellish competition of the outside world. Medusa is a saga of misplaced trust, pride and consequences of one’s actions. As in IIM Lucknow, it may signify to be mindful of the choices we make, build relationships that are beyond the realms of jealousy and not be stoned by the fact that we are in IIM Lucknow. As our lovely professor has once quoted “You all will be provided with equal opportunities to be unequal”, it's up to us how we employ our senses in wake of unfortunate circumstances. It is those moments that will define our stories.

While I am writing this at an ungodly hour of 4:00 am fully loaded up on caffeine, I am not quite certain whether it was the real intention behind placing this statue in the middle of a beautiful setup, but, one thing is for sure, the relevance of this place for me has changed forever.