S3 Asia MBA

I was asked to comment on the S3 (Read S-cube) Asia MBA Program. Here's what I had to say:

About my vision and expectations:

I am motivated by the growth potential of the Asian economies and the S³ Asia MBA, with its exclusive focus on Asia, addresses my aspirations perfectly. This program will prepare me to lead business ventures centered on Asia from the forefront. In my opinion, the real strength of this program is the opportunity to interact with students from all over Asia and the rest of the world, in THREE renowned Business Schools. This experience is crucial for companies planning to expand their businesses in Asia. Anyone who can proffer this experience to these companies will be an invaluable asset. Also, the AACSB accreditation to NUS and KUBS ensures the international recognition of the dual MBA. As a member of the first batch, I will share the responsibility of ensuring the program's success. I will not only be an ambassador in the corporate world, representing this unique program, but also be playing an important role in paving the way for future graduates. I am thrilled by this challenge and the prospect of living in three of the most dynamic cities of the world. I intend to make my presence at the three schools as unique an experience for the class as the class will be for me.

About me:

I hold a Bachelor of Engineering (Honors) degree in Computer Science from the Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani. I am working with Oracle India as a developer on their SOA Suite offering. I have been honing my public speaking and leadership skills through Toastmasters International. I also play the bass guitar and enjoy reading both fiction and non-fiction.

Why do we sleep?

You snooze, you lose. It’s a catchy phrase. But sleep is not an optional enterprise. All mammals do it. So do birds, reptiles, and even fruit flies. Rats deprived of sleep apparently die faster than those deprived of food. In spite of these facts, we know very little about the purpose that sleep serves for us. Why do we sleep?

After sleeping over this question, I went in search of some theories. I came across a few. But first, let’s first get to know the two different types of sleep. “Two different types!” Initially, I was surprised as well.

A little more than a half-century ago, most scientists believed that sleep was an inactive state. Then in 1951, Eugene Aserinsky, a clever graduate student at the University of Chicago, hooked his son Armond to a retooled "brain wave machine" and monitored the boy's sleep deep into the night. Aserinsky observed sharp spikes of activity on his readout, suggesting that Armond's eyes were darting back and forth. This turned out to reflect the distinctive state within sleep dubbed rapid eye movement, or REM. Latter it was hypothesized that this movement was related to dreaming. When we are not dreaming but still sleeping, we are in NREM sleep, or Non REM sleep.

Now that we have familiarized ourselves with the two types, let us try and answer the question.

With sleep, as opposed to food, no one knows exactly what the underlying need is. However, to understand its relevance in simple terms, let us think of our bodies as a car. I presume everyone here, other than me, owns a car, or do I have company? Now you will all know that no car can keep going and going without a tune up or oil change. Well, the car may still run, but not as smoothly as it would have done if maintained properly. Scientists believe that sleep is like a daily tune-up for our bodies.

Now to get back to the theories: There are three theories that I am going to talk about today. The first among them is the Repair and Restoration Theory:

According to this theory, sleeping is essential for revitalizing and restoring the physiological processes that keep the body and mind healthy and properly functioning. This theory suggests that NREM sleep is important for restoring physiological functions, while REM sleep is essential in restoring mental functions.

Support for this theory is provided by research that shows periods of REM sleep increase following periods of sleep deprivation and strenuous physical activity. During sleep, the body also increases its rate of cell division and protein synthesis, further suggesting that repair and restoration occurs during sleeping periods.

The second theory is the Evolutionary Theory:

This theory is also known as the adaptive theory of sleep, suggests that periods of activity and inactivity evolved as a means of conserving energy. According to this theory, all species have adapted to sleep during periods of time when wakefulness would be the most hazardous.

Support for this theory comes from comparative research of different animal species. Animals that have few natural predators, such as bears and lions, often sleep between 12 to 15 hours each day. On the other hand, animals that have many natural predators have only short periods of sleep, usually getting no more than 4 or 5 hours of sleep each day.

The last theory that we are going to talk about is the Information Consolidation Theory:
The information consolidation theory of sleep is based on cognitive research and suggests that people sleep in order to process information that has been acquired during the day. In addition to processing information from the day prior, this theory also argues that sleep allows the brain to prepare for the day to come. Some research also suggests that sleep helps cement the things we have learned during the day into long-term memory. Support for this idea stems from a number of sleep deprivation studied demonstrating that a lack of sleep has a serious impact on the ability to recall and remember information.

While there is research and evidence to support each of these theories of sleep, there is still no clear-cut support for any one theory. So, although we haven’t answered the question directly, we now know that the stigma of laziness that comes with napping is not justified. I hope that from now on, everyone here will ensure that they get proper sleep everyday, particularly people who are involved in hectic physical or mental activities. These include mothers, (and fathers in some cases), industrial workers, doctors and many more. Remember, you snooze, you achieve.

A Ghostly Encounter.

RK, the shrewd one and DJ, the stout one were having an argument. "Well, if you are so sure, why don't you spend a night at that bungalow", RK taunted DJ. DJ looked totally dejected. Although he firmly believed that ghosts did not exist, he could not persuade himself to accept RK's challenge.

What was the argument about? Ghosts and their presence in a house in the village.

Sometime after the argument, DJ met another friend. "I am disappointed because I could not take up the challenge”, he said. “ I think we should go to the house. Will you accompany me?" His friend looked surprised and a little scared, but true to his character, he agreed.

They did not share their plan with anyone. “Tomorrow is a Saturday. Lets do it tomorrow morning.” Morning came and the weather was a little gloomy like it is in Bangalore just before heavy rains. The two friends started walking up the old overgrown path. "Yesterday, I was talking to my grandmother", DJ said absentmindedly. "She told me that this house was owned by a very rich family. The entire family died in a road mishap. There are rumors that this house is haunted by their ghosts." DJ felt his spines tingle as he finished the last sentence. The big house had just come into view.

They mustered all their courage and jumped over the boundary and entered the house. They explored the ground floor and all that they found was dust and rot. With time, pride started replacing fear in their hearts. And as they were about to leave, they heard a scurrying noise from the first floor. Curious, they ascended the squeaky stairs and entered the room where they thought the noise had come from. The room was empty but they noticed another door that was swinging. They opened it slowly and peered through it. The view from the balcony of that room was so beautiful that they were mesmerized and inadvertently drawn to the very edge.

And then, they had this feeling that someone was standing behind them. They turned around slowly and their hearts stopped beating. There was one old man standing behind them at the entrance of the door. He was looking very pale. His hair and beard both were all white and he was definitely more than ninety years old.

Their mouths dried up. Thud-thud—thud. Thud-thud—thud beat their hearts. It was as if the whole world could hear it. What were they witnessing? Was it a ghost? It couldn't be. The old man was smiling at them! "Welcome to my lovely home!" he opened his arms. His voice was unnaturally gruff and sinister. "Let me introduce myself" the old man took two steps forward. "I am the Nawab who lived here sixty years back" he waved his hands towards the house. A smiling ghost! They tensed up for an assault and were ready to jump over the balcony. As if the ghost read their minds, he spoke, "I am not going to trouble you. I always wanted people to visit my home."

“Come let me show you around" said the old man and started showing them around the house. He was behaving as if the house was fully furnished.

Once they finished the house, the old man took them outside and started talking about the invisible gardens. And then all of a sudden the old man started fidgeting around licking his lips.

"I need food. Give me some blood" The old man drew a small kitchen knife form his shabby cloths and approached the boys.

"Run Anand run…" DJ shouted. And the boys ran. They ran till they could run no more. And then they ran some more. All this time, the only thought racing through DJ's mind was how it could be possible. He was still not convinced. But he had seen the ghost with his eyes. Two people cannot both hallucinate at the same time. Finally, out of breath and with legs like lead, they stopped. They sat down and gulped in mouthfuls of air as if they had just surfaced from a deep sea.

DJ's belief was shredded but there were a few strands still holding. He could not believe that they had seen a ghost. Although he had run away in a fit of panic, he decided to go back to the house to solve the mystery.

He reached the house and started peering through the windows of the ground floor one by one. Just as he was about to give up, he saw the same old man. He could also see two other people with him. One of them was RK. "Oh My God!" thought DJ. "I must save RK. He is trouble. But wait. Why is he laughing? Why is he paying money to the ghost?" It was then that the whole prank struck him. He had learned a valuable lesson. Seeing is not always believing.