Is it possible to bell the CAT online?

This is a first person account of what happened with me on the first day of the much hyped and hysterical CAT exam. I had decided that since there is a 10 day window for the exam and the excessive media attention towards the exam, its better for me to pay off the liability on the very first day. That's exactly what I did.

My exam was scheduled on Nov 28. 3.30 pm, Bandra, Mumbai. Before leaving home, at around 12.30 pm I chanced upon to see a couple of news channels who were beaming flashes that the CAT exam servers have crashed at certain locations. The most starking city of the lot was Bangalore. Isn't Bangalore the IT hub of India? Isn't that the city where the IT revolution in this country started? Isn't the prized city of Karnataka the Silicon Valley of India? Then why did the servers crashed in Bangalore? And we say that our infrastructure is blah blah blah.

I left home thinking that Mumbai wont suffer such issues as this is THE city in India. Even at its worse this city is one of the best in the country. I was be be proved wrong shortly.

I reached my exam centre, Fr Agnel's Engineering college at 1.15 pm. Waited for 15 minutes as the instructions clearly said that reach two hours before the exam and "NO ONE WOULD BE ALLOWED TO ENTER AFTER 2 pm."

All the aspiring MBAs were standing outside the college till two as the first batch hadn't finished their exam yet. For the record, the first batch was supposed to sit for the exam at 10.30 and finish at 12.30 pm. They started late as the servers in Mumbai crashed, too.

After 2 pm, we started to enter the college premises and went to our designated floors. My exam was scheduled at the 9th floor computer lab. Once at the 9the floor, the security incharge asked us to line up at the 8th floor, get ourselves checked- and return to the 9th floor. What other option did we have? After standing in the que
for 20 minutes, the security incharge tells us to go back on the 9th floor and get the required process started there. We go back. After the check, and zipping our phones, wallets, watches, pens, etc, we were asked to settle ourselves in a small room called auditorium. I clearly remember my space starved KC College in Mumbai had 5 times bigger class rooms than this "auditorium" at an engineering college.

Anyway, now totally cut-off from the world and no idea about the time (as our watches too, were taken away) we waited. Patiently, we waited, some slept, some made new friends, some glanced away from the window to the under construction Bandra-Worli sea link and some, to the swimming pool of Taj, Land's End. I repented not getting my spectacle made and couldn't see whats happening at a distance :(


The imaginary clock was ticking lazily in the hot and humid Mumbai afternoon. Tick. Tick. Tick. The Prometric is a tick actually.

I cant believe that the prestigious IIMs, who teach Indians how to "manage" couldn't manage a simple exam online? How difficult it could be if you have one year to prepare the infrastructure and an organisation like Prometric, a biggie who knows how to manage these online exams?

Somewhere post 4.30 pm the issues were sorted out and we slowed inched closer to our designated spaces. A finger-print scan and a picture later, I sat and waited yet again.

Ah yes, one more thing: Dear IIMs, please don't think that we Indians are drop dead lame and stupid and still think that computers are some creepy machines which requires years and years of practice to master. The so called 15-minute tutorial was actually, technically a 30 second 9 steps interactive pictures. I can take on anyone in the world who defends that it was a video. It wasn't.

After spending 30 seconds on the lame 9-step instruction screen, i waited yet again as the college didn't let us start the exam before 5.30 pm. You read it correct, no typo there, 5.30 pm. An exam that was supposed to begin at 3.30 was a good 2 hours late. And mind you, were were asked to report 2 hours before the exam.

What followed wasn't a smooth ride either. My computer crashed twice as the previous test taken was closed properly and a screen warning the same appeared every two minutes. I couldn't begin the test for a good 5 minutes and was given technical assistance which somehow brought things under control.

I read in newspapers today morning that the CAT convenor has said that problems are bound to happen as this is the first time CAT is online. What? Really? Did he say that? hm.. This means, that when the American credit market crashed last year and the whole world collapsed afterwards, we should have said, "This is the first time this is happening so please bear with us."

Shouldn't the convenor be saying what steps they are taking to minimize the glitches?

Prometric, which boasts of being a Mr know-it-all in the online test space has failed miserably. How can so many servers crash at the same time? They knew that over 2 lakh aspirants will be sitting for the exam in these 10 days right?

Moreover, only 10,000 aspirants typed the exam on the first day. Prometric couldn't manage 10,000 people, that too, in two slots.

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A match washed out, and so the hopes

I read in the paper sometime ago that Dr DY Patil stadium in Navi Mumbai is one of the best in the world. This wasn't an excuse for me to go for the India Australia match on Nov 11 though.

Mumbai-November-absolutely no chance of rain-good stadium-charged up series-a perfect atmosphere for a high adrenaline Cricket match. I took an off from work and was all set for a blissful day of cricket under lights.

Could anyone tell me what this Phyan means? WHY, just WHY did this cyclone was to hit Mumbai on Nov 10-11? Money wasted, day wasted.

And you know what bad luck is? You do? I bet you don't. Read this:

We reached the stadium at 3 and the covers were on, it was drizzling then. Umpires came out by 4, inspected the pitch, ground and a miracle happened. The groundsmen started to remove covers and rollers worked overtime to drain out the ground. Match was about to begin.

The rain had stopped although heavy clouds continued to cover the ground.

At 5, it started to drizzle again. But I guess this was it and the umpired decided that its time to call it off.

Since then it hasn't rained a single drop. This is bad luck.

I seriously pity McDonald's, who couldn't cash on this opportunity to make some extra money. All their preparations too, were washed out.

And I request BCCI to please please please refund the money. Not a single ball was bowled and the players didn't even come out of their hotels.



I spoke to RJ Neha of Radiomirchi. She did put me on air and I gave a live report of what was happening on the ground. I asked her to appeal to BCCI from all of us to refund the money. The last I heard was that BCCI was thinking about this. Fingers crossed.

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When I ate and ate and ate in China

Boss: Are you a non-vegetarian?
Me: Yes.

Boss: Would you like to try something which is not run-of-the-mill non-veg food, atleast for us?
Me: Absolutely! I always wanted to try, ox’s testicles, snakes, silkworms, ducks, etc.

Boss: Good, You are going to China in 10 days!

This was the conversation I had with my boss when he asked me to go for this junket. I admit, more than the work, the thought of eating all the above mentioned, “Disgusting” according to us, was enough motivation for me to pack my bags and head straight to China.

What followed in the week before my trip was nothing short of an experience in itself. My friends, family, colleagues, and possibly any and everyone who came to know about this least sought after places for vacation (given our fixation for the Switzerlands, and Londons of the world), asked me, China? Why? How will you survive there? Do you even know what they eat? How and what will you eat there? And many more such questions were thrown at me.

My answer to all of them was just one simple sentence. “That’s exactly why I am so excited to go to China!”

I sincerely believe that visiting a new country or even a place in your own country isn’t complete until you try the local food. No matter how offensive it may sound to you, its staple for some and one MUST experience them.

Although, I must admit that all these reservations did make me jittery but nonetheless, I was determined to eat everything and anything that came my way, after all I was an Indian Tiger!

Mentally well prepared to eat “anything”, we landed in Shanghai. To begin my belly dance on a safe note, I first entered a KFC restaurant at the airport and asked for a shark burger! It was yum and I cleared stage one.

Before the food, I must admit that I was completely awestruck by the Dragon. Whatever I have seen and continue to on television is just a tiny speck to what the country actually is. The first words I uttered when I saw Shanghai were, “Politicians want to transform Mumbai into a Shanghai? Have they even seen Shanghai? Not 10, not 20, what I saw in Shanghai was a city which was atleast 50 years, even by the most conservative estimates, ahead of us.

Back to the food, after the first day of the conference, the organizers took us to this amazing restaurant that served food in the authentic Chinese style. There were 15 types of meat to savor and I must admit I don’t know any of the names expect a couple of pork dishes and duck’s tongue! To all those who say that the authentic Chinese food doesn’t taste good - Balls. My mouth still waters when I think of it. Without knowing what I was eating, I ate all sorts of meat and some were really good, some good and well, few were out rightly disgusting.

Next day’s lunch was scheduled at the Sofitel Hotel near the picturesque Westlake in Hangzhou. It was a buffet and names of the dishes were written in Chinese. A particular kind of meat caught my attention and I asked the chef what it was? He pointed towards the lake and said something which I comprehended as “Duck!” I ate it, and by far it is the most delicious type of meat I have ever eaten.

Once in Beijing, I met wonderful backpackers and instantly formed a small group. Davis Campbell of Scotland, Rita Cabaco (Portugal) who was coming from Vietnam and was heading to Japan, Fannie was a Dutch, spent her six days in the Trans-Siberian train on her way to China, and Farida (UK).

The most obvious place to eat in Beijing was the “Snack Street”, which was something like the khau gali of Mumbai. What I saw there was a sight I think is only a carnivore’s delight! From snakes to silkworms, sea horses and scorpions to weird looking sea creatures, you name it and they got it. Just for your information, scorpions are alive and tied to skewers. You order one and they will put a live scorpion into hot boiling oil for a couple of seconds, garnish and voila! Its ready to eat! I am glad I did not puke at that.

Meanwhile, Campbell ordered something and was relishing on it. I asked, “What’s this?” He replied, “Try it.” I did. It was tasty, something that I had never ever eaten in my life before. Soft, spicy and juicy… yes, it was a snake!

Even now when I think how I ate a snake, silkworms and sea horses, I do feel giddy. A bigger sin would have been not eating all those meats and coming back to my comfort zone in India.

The taste of a snake is still fresh on my tongue, duck’s tongue – no matter how repulsive it may sound, was just out of this world and silkworms were undoubtedly one of the most disgusting meat I have ever tasted!

It was unmatched experience and I am looking forward to go to China again, and this time, on a full fledged food trip!

I was in China from September 10 to 19.

More on the country in my subsequent posts.

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random

The purpose of this blog has changed over the years. What it stands for today? I dont kn. It is still undergoing changes. I think of writing something but refrained thinking that someone might get offended. What should i do... this has been my personal space, and people who know me do feel upset or joyed if i mention somthin about them....

today is valentine's day... honestly, i never believed in this day and at the same time dreamt of celebrating it everytime. I am all alone today, a personality so flawed that i an even afriad of making new friends. I have made a lot of mistakes and continue to do so. tears have stopped flowing. they too are tired. like me. where am i? i dont kn.

people who know me in an out, too are at a distance, coz I harm, hurt and make them suffer.

One thing that i have noticed about my life... earlier, when i wanted to be alone, i was always with friends, so many i couldnt even remember their names; and today, when i want to be with them, i m all alone.

dont for how long this will continue. I am afraid that i ll get used to this. DOnt know what to do... there are days together when i dont utter a single word... being quiet is not a choice but i dont have any other option..

I need help. I need to be with friends, i need someone who could be with me despite my million flaws... is that possible? i dont think so.

a burden i cant let go,
someone, please unload me
... i m choking.

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