...Life moves on...

It's a mixed bag of emotions as i count the last remaining days with my first company - Wipro Technologies, Bangalore. I must confess that it has been one of the toughest decisions of my life to leave this organization and pursue an opportunity outside. When i look back - I probably don't see a grief or any sign of remorse...All i see are some unforgettable moments and memoirs that this company has given me for the past 3 years and 5 months.

23rd July 2007, a bunch of 10 people from HIT were given a joining under the header of Magnum Opus. 31st of July 2007 - we were deported to Bangalore and our 3 months mandatory training was waived off because we had done a project with the company during our final semester. Yes indeed, it was like a feeling of a Chosen One - but probably not for long. We had a 15 day extensive Java training - there were many names but one which stuck with me for all these years was definitely Anoop. We were assigned projects by 19th August 2007. I got lucky with the Nortel Networks account.

From that day till now - it has been one heck of a ride. There were times when i just wanted to give up and there were times when i could enjoy an unparalleled feeling of happiness. My most enjoyable tenure work wise was with the GNPS issues that i got a chance to resolve. These were challenging and also gave me the perfect blend to learn and get exposed to the world. I learned to interact with people who were not of our culture and felt being responsible. Yes, i would probably take Chethan Mangalore's name right at the beginning before anyone else who have supervised me for in my present organization. I think as a reportee the best joy is to see people having faith in you, Chethan did just that. It gave me whole new confidence in dealing with things in life. No prizes for guessing but he gave me the opportunity to travel outside my home country too. Gaurav has been my mentor from almost the start of my career and i still take his opinions on things which are related my professional career. Well not to mention the fun i have had in conducting games or participating in one to make the work place more happening.

Speaking of onsite, Canada was a life changing one for me. So many of them out there in Canada who just gave me the love that i honestly never expected. I feel proud to say that i was one of those of lucky ones who found home out of home and where people really wanted me to come back again. What can be more saddening than leaving a part of me there with the uncertainity that it maybe really long before i see them again...It was like India there, it was like college and i felt people around the world are no different than us or we are no different than them. One random line that probably means a lot more than JUST being a line is this - Shaiju K, you are the best manager (not just a people manager) i have worked with/seen so far in my life...not to mention about the opportunities that became reality because of you. I learned a lot from you and would always be in touch!

I was lucky enough to visit Canada for the second time and it just showed me how people can be really welcoming to you - if you really know how to talk and acknowledge. Personally it was a great achievement because i thought i broke a lot of myths about Indians - yeah Russell we do have stereotypes but then if they were not there - you would be unemployed right now.

Getting back to India - Ah! What should i say...So many friends in Wipro as i leave...maybe i should take a breather and take all of their names who would remain as buddies even outside the organization - Tej, Shrikant, Santhosh, Sandeep S, Shyami, Raka, Sony...and recently - Umesh, Sundeep, Jyoti, Usha, Shuhaibu, Krishna, Sristy, Priyanka, Sai, Aruna and so many of them...You know the secret of having so many friends is by treating each one of them specially...but the place where i met with these wonderful people is at Wipro. I should not skip to mention Mahesh and Kiran too - you guys are more than managers for people. Also, the one Bengali who gave me all the confidence and also who made me feel that i was special - Mr. Sabyasachi Malakar. Also it's a necessity to mention Selva's name who was my first mentor and is a wonderful guide even till date. Gautam - i don't hesitate to say this that you are the most underrated person i have ever met in terms of programming ability...I know you would achieve a lot. Savitha and Sangeetha will always remain like those two cute seniors whom i always loved getting my legs pulled by.

I know my days are numbered and it would be a long walk on the 20th of December out of the Wipro Campus. Many asked me the reason - why i wanted to quit and till this night - i don't have a specific reason. I did not hate my managers - i loved each one of them i worked with. I did not crib for onsites they came to me, i did not ask for band progression they happened...But i think we all need to move on in life to an uncertain world at some point of time - forgetting our fear...where it might just be a new beginning...

All my gratitude to Wipro Tech, i wish the organization - all the very best and the people working for it or who have worked for it. It's hard to say a goodbye but probably it's for a comeback....The earth is round and Well you never know!!!

Cheers!