Last night, while watching the movie ‘Jindagi Na Milegi Dobara’, I was reminded of my vacation with my batchmates during my IIT days and how it impacted my life.
During December ‘71, a bunch of us 3rd hostelites went for a short vacation to Bakul’s grandfather’s bungalow, a nice house in Pune. There were no adults to supervise us, and the only elders were the domestic help.
After breakfast, I remember visiting various places like the Botanical Garden, where we enjoyed a walk, chatting in the quiet, green surroundings. Later, going to a movie theatre to see ‘Seeta aur Geeta’, a comedy starring Hema Malini. I also remember hiring bikes to ride around Pune and to visit the Film Institute of India, where we watched a documentary. The highlight of the trip was probably the dinner at a Chinese restaurant – my first ever experience with Chinese cuisine.
This was my first outing with just my friends, without any family members and, even though we did not necessarily do anything too extravagant, it has left me with fond memories filled with simple, innocent exchanges and experiences. Those were very different times, lot simpler than today’s global lifestyle, filled with simplicity and nurtured by Satvik values.
Soon after this trip I visited Anjali’s father who used to stay in Mahabaleshwar. The trip might have had an unexpected impact on me, perhaps driven by the interaction with close friends and the movies we watched. I fell in love with Anjali.
Though Anjali did not respond positively during that visit, I was full of optimism possibly fueled by the cool Mahabaleshwar air, the surrounding greenery and the positive attitude developed during the vacation in Pune.
The rest has been history, filled with decades of wonderful memories during my married life with Anjali. Just like Hritik Roshan in ‘Jindagi Na Milegi Dobara’, at the end of that vacation in Pune, I found my soulmate!
Post IIT
Immediately after IIT I joined NITIE for post-graduation and thereafter worked for a few companies. Eventually. I settled into a long career in the Pharma industry.
I joined Sandoz India as Financial Controller of their Pharma division. I moved within different departments in marketing, supply chain management, and business development, all within the Indian subsidiary of Sandoz.
In 1997, Sandoz and CIBA merged to form Novartis and I moved (thanks to my IIT background!) as Technical Head of the Indian entity of Novartis India. We in-sourced many activities from Europe and US to the Indian affiliate of Novartis. I headed Chemical and Pharmaceutical factories and was instrumental in establishing the Chemical Development Center in India for our global operations. After an eventful career in Novartis, I worked as a Director at Watson for a few years and, later, as technical advisor with an Indian company. In 2016, I retired after four decades of service. I am married to Anjali, have two sons and four grandchildren and presently reside in Thane. On the occasion of our golden jubilee gathering, I look forward with great pleasure to meet old IITians and to reminisce about old and memorable journeys, as in this note.
IIT Bombay 1974 Reunion 