IIM Indore has this interesting program called IPM, Integrated Program in Management. I happen to be a proud participant of it. When we joined the course, the idea of holistic development sounded like a jargon but I signed up because I trusted IIM Indore. The basic reasoning was simple if this institute can educate people to become such successful managers in 2 years, 5 years with the same faculty and resources has to be a driver for success. It hasn’t disappointed. This story comes from one such class that would probably never make its place in the concise 2-year curriculum of PGP. IPM has a course on Drama and Theatre, not an obligatory course of 1 credit to give you a taste of the subject, a proper 4 credit course. This story comes from one session of the course. The instructor cancelled our class from the auditorium which is the usual venue for drama classes and brought us to our own classroom. No restrictions sit wherever you want. She told us this was going to be a little serious. Actors use all kinds of methods to portray emotions. However, one of the most common ways is to draw from our own experience of that emotion. While it might be easy for us to draw joy from remembering the laughs we had last night it is the pain and loss that is difficult to handle. The instructor asked us to come one by one and share our stories of pain with the whole class. As a person who doesn't like to show his emotions, this was a major challenge for me. As in looked around in could sense the discomfort in the room. Nevertheless, we began. Never in my life had in heard such silence that we didn't even notice we were all silent till it was over, never had in heard someone speak so slowly so softly, no mic, still hit us like a speeding bus. These people who had been casual fun guys slowly started turning into heroes in my eyes. The stories were varied and hugely so, from loss of a father to a terrorist attack in North East, it was living with people who had concurred such tragedies and we're here to prove their metal. No signs from their personal wars had ever affected their performance and in the know this because I have lived for 5 years with these people. Then it was my turn. I planned to tell the story factually. I started chronologically telling the story of my journey through a disease, it had nearly made it when one moment stuck in my mind, one involving my mother crying over my board results. I unknowingly drifted into details. Even more unknowingly in drifted into tears. But it was okay, the class was silent and empathetic. For the first time in my life in felt, it was okay to talk in a shivering voice. This was the moment in realized the importance of perspective. I realized that the instructor did not know we had such stories to tell and still she started the session. This means that she was confident that we would have them, this means everyone has them. Everyone has gone through things they shouldn't have had to. I am proud to know the ones in my batch who have had the guts to rise above their demons. These are the people, in am sure, will be the future leaders of our world. This was one session where we inspired each other, where we developed respect for each other and one session in which we learnt true empathy. It was a session for me as a person wherein learnt that it is okay to have emotions, and it is okay to talk about them. While these stories ended on a happy note, because today these people are happy, sometimes these stories don't end so well. My father is an insurance officer, since childhood I have understood the importance of insurance.
When things go to rut you need an arm on your shoulder telling you, we will help you get through this. Birla Sun Life Insurance is one such company that gives you the confidence to rebuild when all seems to be lost. This is why in have a huge appreciation for the company's ideology, and it would love to work for them if in getting an opportunity.
Chat
Comments