It poured cats and dogs all night leaving the city in knee deep water. It continued to pour other animals too, so much so, that knee deep soon became chest- hurting- can't-see-a-thing-umbrella-flying-drive-at-15-kmph four hours of rain that just refused to let up.
Still with smiles on our faces, wet to our bones we turned up promptly at eight thirty of the pre-placement talk at CEG ( both my college and CEG have placements together at CEG, we're one university now)- Google was coming! Sure, only a handful of us would get in, but it'd be a super cool experience. It was google after all!
They started their ppt at around ten ish- two phrases that I would take back with me from that one hour I spent with them, because of their frequent occurence as part of the "culture at google" were- "work ethic" and "do not be evil". The Professor in charge very kindly read out the names of students elligble to attend the first round of screenly- no MIT student was short listed. Criteria to attend the company- CGPA above 8. Did I have that much? Yes. I have 9.1 Did the fifteen other people with me meet with their criteria? Yes, each and every one of them did.
Supremely pissed off and thinking that the professors in charge had taken their partiality towards CEG students too far, I asked the guy in charge why none of our names were on the list. To quote him, "MIT students are not elligible." To make sure the decision was of the company and not the University office, I approached the HR person who'd come (I was on a roll by then)-
Me: "Excuse me ma'am, I'd like to ask you a question, if that's alright."
She: " Yes, of course."
Me: "Was it your decision to not shortlist MIT students or the colleges'?"
She: "It was ours."
Me (sweetest voice ever):" Can we please know what the reason behind this decision was?"
She: "I've discussed it at length with your professors and I would rather he explained it to you."
Me: "Sure, thank you ma'am."
Within five minutes, I was on my way to college with the rest of my friends. The university had NO bleddy right to allow a company that discriminated against a department of its just because it was located on a different campus. We have the same exams, same rules, same VC. Not an affiliated college. Not an autonomous college anymore. We are a part of the damn university.
Walked straight into my HODs room and gave her the details. Another five minutes and we were talking to the Vice Chancellor (what a day for him to be visiting our college).
We were informed some time later, that he had been in the know how. Some student from my batch had tried to approach the company directly, and they were pissed off about it and had brought it to his notice. Utter bull shit. And that's what we told our HOD. She promised us she would follow the matter up, but that it would take time, and to not worry.
Point at the end of the day was- we'd lost an opportunity. One that wasn't coming back any time soon.
Only, for probably the first time in the history of a governmental institution action was taken within hours. We were to find out in the evening, that the VC on returning to his offices, had cancelled the company.
I feel sorry for the students who had been shortlisted and were attending their interviews by that time. Our only intention was to be told why and how this need for segregation arose, and why and how it was being allowed.
I'm ecstatic also. You should have seen us. HOD in front, me and two three of us who had represented the issue next, and my entire class behind us, umbrellas out we marched across college to meet the VC. It was like leading a revolution. And in some ways it was. One that we won.
Only, I'm slightly disappointed my weapon of choice will be known as an umbrella.
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P.S. Two goverment officials who took prompt action and stood up for what was right. In one day. Almost too hard to believe no?
what utter bull shit.. that is the worst thing i've ever heard.. how the hell can they exclude a college like that! and google?? im disappointed.. i really am.. and what bull shit.. so someone approached the company on their own.. so what? i dont get this .. but ur HOD deserves mucho praise.. impressive.. not many ppl would do that.. and i'm saying who cares.. so ur not gonna work for google.. big shit.. :) .. u staged a revolt :D.. hehe.. how many ppl can claim to have done that in the annals of the anna univ.. and with umbrella in hand.. that has to be a first.. :D.. kemmon! :) ..
Ok. For a second there I thought you were bull shitting my post- had to take deep breaths before venturing ahead :D
And yes, it sucked. Apparently, Google had been invited by some student representatives and ambassadors and not the university. The deal was that they'd come only for CEG students and not the rest.
Anyhoo, the VC got all mad and sent them back. Me shall go down in history :D
SG.
yohooo!!!! i lurrrrve revolutions :)
nepotism happens everywhere man, i remember the time when i got my ass kicked coz i wanted to get sponsorship for college events...nice experience it was.
LOL :) .. apologies.. and that clears things up.. and well it may bea little unfair to the ppl selected .. for the greater good.. it was the right thing :) .. way to stand up for the right thing :) ..
@ nav: yahoo didn't come!
damnnnnnnnnn poor joke :)
@bani: yea...and i thought only i could stoop so low :P
@nav: Ooh, where was I when this happened? Where was I?
@vishal: Hey, no arguments from me there :D
@sis: I didn't even make the connection. Some level genius. Also, how about commenting on the post and your elder sisters heroism.
Thanks for dropping by you guys,
SG.
you probably dont want to put such things online? do you?
-V
I just did, didn't I?
Plus I don't see why there'd be a problem, and you do, so why don't you elucidate?
SG.