My turn to live the tradition

Around 30 of our section ‘dunkards’ got together to dunk me on July 2^nd (my birthday). The Cake was cut and smeared all over my face and then as per the commands of ISB tradition, I too was dunked (thrown) in the pool. Now, Cake was being smeared on my face in public, but I was loving every moment of it – that is the power of this wonderful tradition of dunking.

Many a times previously I had escaped dunking using my camera as my shield. However, this day there was no escaping and in fact I was warned before hand by our ‘dunkards’ against getting my camera. There was no dearth of photographs though as there were many who had brought their cameras. We had some strict deadlines to meet the next day and most of the ISBians were busy breaking their heads with Markstrat. Yet, a huge number of my section mates turned out for the dunking and I must admit I was pleasantly surprised by the big turnout. Thank you guys for all your love and affection.

The day was made even more special by my family who joined me on that day in fact joined the other ‘dunkards’ in dunking me. My three year old son was also there to witness it all and he still laughs recollecting that night of dunking.

I am still not very clear about my exact goals at ISB. My son, however is absolutely clear about his one goal at ISB – that goal is to dunk me again in the pool – and this time all by himself!

P.S. The second part of my previous post on Admission Essays is due. I shall post that part in the next few days.

The great ISB tradition of Dunking

As the clock strikes 12:00 in the night, a bunch of around 20-30 ghosts descend on to the rooms of some unsuspecting students at ISB and whisk them away on their shoulders through the dark and chilly nights. They shout and scream as they devour their prey and take it to the altar of sacrifice – the SWIMMING POOL!

If you still did not get it, I am talking about not actual ghosts but just about this wonderful tradition in ISB of ‘dunking’ the students in the pool, on their Birthday. I do not know when and who in ISB started this tradition. Whoever it were or was deserve a big, big THANK YOU from us all. We would have missed out some amazing amount of fun in the absence of this tradition of dunking. It is great fun not only for those who have their birthday on the designated day but also for those who come just to dunk or just to view the dunk. It is all the more fun for photo enthusiasts like me for it is a time for some really memorable photo ops!

Dunking is enjoyed by all in ISB but the guys who seem to enjoy it most are the guys from the Section E. And the credit for this goes primarily to the two ‘office bearers’ of the ‘Section E - Birthday Club,’ Swati and Bikhyat. These two are the ones mainly responsible for remembering each one’s Birthday, organizing the parties, cakes, booze and for rallying the ‘big gang of ghosts’ to devour the Birthday Boy/Girl in the dead of the night. It is really surprising to find, in ISB, students who take up an initiative that will not give them any ‘spike’ or a ‘bullet-point’ on their resume. It is even more surprising to find them take this initiative forward with the sincerity and dedication that Swati and Bikhyat do. Great work guys! Keep it up!

I should also not forget to give credit to our section junta which turns up in huge numbers for dunking and for anything else related to the section or ISB. Some amazing spirit of camaraderie we have in the section. Hope we all keep it that way.

May be I should think of a way of putting up ‘Kaala – Tika’ on our section to ward of any possible ‘Buri – Nazar!.’

A few photos from today's dunk...(rest at flickr)