It was my first week as an official participant of IIM Shillong, and this week was one of the most exciting weeks that I have experienced in my life. It started with learning about sustainability, a practice that IIM Shillong has deep in its roots, we learnt about sustainability from the perspective of various domains, how incorporating sustainability can help a business grow and be successful in a way that it not only preserves the environment but help it recover from the damage that already has been done.
The last day of sustainability week was when we embark on a journey to "Walk among the clouds" it was five in the morning when we took off the campus to begin our journey. The first place we visited was the sacred forest of Mawphlang, it was a place where you experience nature in its purest sense, a place free of pollution, a place where life flourishes, in the forest you get to learn about the rituals of the Khasi people, their traditions and values. The journey through the forest was one where you can get lost and find yourself, it was truly an enthralling experience.
After visiting the forest, we took off for the trek, the trek started with a lot of fun, people singing, cracking jokes, slipping in the wetlands, get their hands dirty, helping each other as we reach the top, then it started, the walk among the clouds, it was an experience that you must have in a lifetime, the little droplets bracing on your face leaving you with a fresh breeze, a feeling where you can let yourself loose, open your arms, and experience heaven.
During the trek, you will encounter streams of water that reflect like a mirror, flowing through, you will encounter waterfalls, grassland so lush that you see in the movies, you will encounter scenic beauty that will make you stop and stare, all the while journey will make you move as there is a lot to see, it is truly a gift that IIM Shillong make us experience.
To reflect back I would say that the trek was so beautiful that you can spend the whole day in the awe of it, so refreshing that can make you forget the problems you may be facing, so serene that you can achieve the peace of mind you might not have experienced before, it was really an experience of a lifetime.
Shivang Gupta
PGP 1st Year
IIM Shillong
