A long journey from Jaipur to Guwahati to Shillong led me to the gates of the mesmerizing Campus in Clouds. The fatigue of any arduous journey is forgotten the moment one enters this serene campus. Once the abode of the king of Mayurbhanj, the campus is set amongst thick flora and fauna, grand churches and winding lanes. Sure I had seen the campus on various social media portals, but looking at it in real life anyone would agree that no lens can do this picturesque scene justice. True to its legacy, the admin blocks stands out as a grand palace welcomes you to not just a B-school but to an experience of a life time.
But don’t be fooled, this is hardly the place to relive the life of a king. My first few days at the campus were as hectic as they are in any other B-school, if not more. But the campus has its own way of boosting student morale as they burn the midnight oil.
The owls of the batch are the only lucky ones at Shillong that get to see the moonlight piercing through thick pine trees. Fan-less auditoriums have the perfect breeze coming in through the windows which makes the start of yet another back-breaking Knowledge Transfer session so much more bearable. I had heard about how one can experience four different seasons in the same day here at IIM Shillong and the weather here has done justice to that notion. After soothing, sprinkling rain came the bright yellow sun as I walked one noon to lunch. Evolving through the clouds, it greeted us as with warmth and the entire campus seemed to notice this change.
When in Shillong, it is easy to forget about sweaty days; walks uphill become a norm and hot momos at the end of the road become like a reward like no other. I’d talk about hostel and its amenities, but it has become just a place to sleep. Life happens in the classrooms, on the badminton court, at the coffee shop outside and in the library. All your shyness and worries melt away since nobody ever leaves you alone. The campus ensures a feeling of belongingness and togetherness that is common among the locals of Shillong. Unknowingly one learns the names of every single person on campus, from batchmates to admin staff to the kongs that do maintenance tasks. Just like a family or any other cohesive unit, every single one present here works towards the betterment of the institution. Collaborative excellence in short!
To conclude, I can say that IIM Shillong has been an experience like never before and I’m awaiting the journey ahead.
Itika Joshi
PGP 1st Year
IIM Shillong
