It is 3 am in the morning. Having survived four lectures, one guest lecture and after submitting three assignments, it was time to go back to the hostel, the “C9 Hostel”. For those of you who are not aware, IIFT Delhi has an all boys’ hostel called C9 Hostel, which is located outside of main campus. The mundane promenade between C9 and the main campus does provide oneself with not so mundane of an experience. With high rise trees on both the sides of the road and with virtually no presence of motor vehicles, the ten-minute walk does make you feel and believe that you aren’t staying in the most bustling areas of South Delhi.
Having reached the hostel, as I was about to sleep, my stomach growled and a hunger craving hit me hard. In addition, I was left with no option but to visit the tea vendor and the protagonist of the story, who happens to be residing at the front of my hostel gate.
Meet Diwaan Singh Mehra, who is respectfully and fondly called as “Diwaan Sahab”. Diwaan Sahab started his teashop near C9 in the year 1994 and since then has not moved bases. Having witnessed twenty-four batches of IIFT, Diwaan Sahab is unofficially the first point of contact any new comer has with the culture of IIFT.
However, wait! What makes him so special and revered as a person? The answer to this lies in the warmth and simplicity with which Diwaan Sahab treats every student. Be it in the middle of a scorching afternoon or be it the 2 am frosty nights of Delhi, Diwaan Sahab makes sure that no student who comes by goes empty stomach. I still remember, it was during my first few days at IIFT, that even though I had no money on me at that point, Diwaan Sahab was generous enough to give food to a complete stranger. Moreover, this incident just happens to be the reason that egged me into writing an article about him.
Diwaan Sahab might never find any official mention about him in the chronicles of IIFT, but least assured, all the batches would agree that even though he was not a direct part of their journey, he surely was an integral part of it.
Which ABG Company would I want to work for?
If given a chance, I would like to work for Birla Carbon. The reason being that I want to learn more about the carbon black additive industry. Birla Carbon would also provide me a brief exposure of latest technology management tools and Six Sigma methodology.