- The History
Indian Institute of Foreign Trade was founded in 1963 to promote excellence. Throughout its storied history, not only has it upheld that mandate with pride and ability, but has improved and excelled to become one of the premier educational institutions of this country.
From the bright library halls stacked with books to the Academic Block where the magic happens, it’d be impossible to list all that makes it such a revered institution. Its students can but claim only a small contribution to that magnificent journey. But it is a claim rich in merit. The students have been the lifeblood of this institution, flowing through its history, a rich vibrant stream, making sure its brilliance is maintained, its traditions upheld, and chapters added to its stories, to be told to future generations, who gain entry into these hallowed halls.
- The Tradition
The Old Hostel, tucked away in a corner, has probably the most moving stories to tell – stories of success and failure, of happiness and tragedy, of dreams fulfilled and dreams extinguished. It would take a book thicker than Encyclopaedia Britannica to jot down all the stories, but I want to focus on one particular story, one particular tradition.
The tradition that when you leave this grand old building, you don’t abandon it completely. You leave a part of you behind, you leave your story behind, you write down the memorable moments you added to your life, to remind those who will live there next and above all, you yourself, of all that you accomplished in the months you spent in that room of that tall, old, lonely building.
Imagine this: you are an IIFT MBA candidate having just cleared one of the toughest admission procedures in the country. You are high on your achievements, a little drunk on your brilliance and prone to thinking yourself better than the rest. You enter the room you’re going to spend the next 12 months of your life in, probably the most hectic 12 months of your life. You walk in, already in awe of the grandeur of the campus, a bit disappointed by the old room but still impressed by the sheer sturdiness of the building. You look out of the balcony, are impressed by the view, turn around to take the room in. Three beds, three pairs of tables and chairs and a single grey coloured steel almirah. The almirah, or more specifically, its panels, is what draws your attention. Not just draws, but grabs your attention by the neck and holds it in place. There you see, etched in permanent ink, the accomplishments of those who used to occupy this room but only a few weeks ago.
You’re of course well versed in the history of the place, but the visceral nature of the experience, coming face to face with all that your seniors have accomplished here knocks the air out. A JPMC Credit Analysis Unit internship, a SIDBI Venture Capital internship, a CFA Level 2, SEC of Melange, the Cultural Committee, a Prep Comm member. It’s like they set out to conquer the world and they did. And in face of that you realise how insignificant your own achievements really are.
Your gaze slips down and a smile creeps across your face. “That’s something unexpected, these guys actually had fun.” Funny nicknames and common phrases they uttered so often it became part of the lore. Friendships made and grudges held. Weird character traits and open secrets, finally jotted down, in permanent ink – on these two panels of the almirah, etching their mark on it, confessing their sins and revelling in their achievements, was the final hurrah they wanted to give themselves, to their journey in the Old Hostel. All before starting again at the New Hostel in their second and final year at IIFT.
It’s an humbling and inspiring to experience all that on your first day. It tells you the story of your next 12 months at IIFT, or rather, what it can be. Your future flashes before your eyes and you feel dread and at the same time, motivated. You know where you stand and what you would have to do to actually even match that brilliance much less surpass them. There’s light at the end of the tunnel, only you can’t take your eyes off it, not even once.
I do not know when this started or how long this tradition would continue but for me, this experience will be one of the most prominent memories of my life at IIFT and I would be forever grateful I could be inspired by it.
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- The Dream
When we are talking about tradition, it’s only fitting we talk about Grasim. The flagship company of the Aditya Birla Group, it began its journey as a Textiles manufacturer in 1947, the year India became independent. Mr Ghanshyam Das Birla, a close confident of the Mahatma, who contributed so much to India’s freedom struggle, must have seen this as a happy coincidence. Today, Grasim is a leading global player in Viscose Staple Fibre (VSF) ensuring the Aditya Birla Group maintains its market leading position in VSF, where it accounts of 17% of the production. Grasim is also the largest chemicals manufacturer, largest cement producer and a diversified financial services player in India.
All of which lends to Grasim the gravitas that is lacking in most other companies. Grasim’s storied history, its rich tradition, its diverse portfolio makes it one of the companies a child dreams of working for. I remember the Grasim shop we had in our nearby supermarket, how it always radiated quality and how the well-fitted mannequins made me want to dress like them. Whenever I think of Grasim, quality and aesthetics is the first associations that comes to my mind. It makes me aspire to be part of that rich tradition of excellence at Grasim and it would be an extremely proud moment for me if I were to one day be part of it.
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