End of times in Infosys

Its the end of an era in my professional life tomorrow. I sign off from Infosys after an eventful, tumultuous period in last 4 years on Monday. 9/19 marks an end of the times when I walk off the company which refused to give me the due I owned in lieu of the blood and sweat I gave to the company, helped them deliver so many projects, got the lacs of US dollars and in the end I got to go with an open mind.

When I joined Infosys in October 2007, I was excited to be part of it as I had always wanted to be part of it. I had heard of stories when people got cash rich bonuses or even some rewards whenever organization attained a milestone. But when I joined and spent 47 months in the organization, I came to know that the glittering gold outside is even worse than a burnt coal, worse even than ashes.

They've got some real skewed appraisal process, some coterie of people who take decisions far away from the ground realities, they continue to live in denial, they misuse the power they've got in the Indian IT industry. They are bunch of people who believe more in perceptions, image building and ignoring the facts. They've got a bunch of fat asses who refuse to acknowledge the existence of people. They've got some real nasty policies which basically leaves you feeling worse working here. They've got superb buildings in all their Development Centers, all down South, they've got some skewed numbers to show the world they are a very ethical and a very good IT company, but instead they've got some idiot dickheads in the management who feel they can rule the world. 

Such companies who are built on crappy ethics are  bound to downfall. And for them the downfall has already begun. 

I remember how badly I was treated in those dark days of 2008 - 09 when the project I worked in was screwed. The onsite managers used to openly swear in the calls, the offshore management of the same account was out to get me thrown out of company. I managed to battle all of that and I am happy that I am walking out of the company on my terms. 

I feel relieved, I feel I am wiping out a  dark and painful era of my life. Last few months were spent desparately looking out for a change and though it didnt come very smooth, but when it came, its giving me a chance to forget the past, learn from it and move on. I remember those hours spent in the office cubicle working in skewed projects and at the end of it getting a very poor feedback. I remember having missed out on attending my Dad's catract operation in March 2009, missed out on attending wedding functions of my friends and family members, I remember how I had missed out on being myself working here in this bullshit organization. 

Its a fresh start for me, its a new life that begins for me very soon with all painful times wiped out. Its gonna be a new lease of life, its gonna be a new times, its gonna be a good myself, a new me, a new inner self and an exterior me.

Quake & Irene

A quake of intensity 5.9 on Tuesday and now Irene is making a bit of life difficult here in East Coast this week. Irene is ensuring that there is heavy rainfall and gutsy winds 40-50 mph in the entire east coast right from Carolinas to the North east part of the country. 

Weather has been very bad and poor this weekend and would be continuing till Sunday evening. We are prepared to face it in way we best could. Though Owings Mills doesnt come directly in the core path of the hurricane, but still its just 100 odd miles from Chesapake Bay or Ocean city which have been evacuated. 

Earthquake of tuesday was a surprise element for all of us here. The office buildings were evacuated and only after post inspections deemed buildings safe, we were allowed to return back to the office. I was out driving to the office when the tremors came, so didnt feel the shocks, but my wife ran for safety after she comprehended that it was a quake. The cell phones were jammed and it took hours to restore the normalcy. 

All in all a tough week weatherwise, but a good one given the job search almost ended with a success. That however later.

Wordless

My hopes for job switch ended brutally this week with both companies with whom I had last stage of process pending ditching. 

Frustrating thing is that I clear every interview, but at the end either the opportunity goes on hold or the client is too late to decide. They call me saying they would consider me for future opportunities. They do call but everytime same thing happens. 

No wonder the 2 companies here are desi ones.

Feeling wordless but not worthless.

The context of 66th Indian Independence day

66th Independence day is around the corner for India and its been one of the most gloomiest ever. Corruption, terror, dictatorship from the government, disappointments on sports front and a lot other factors being the responsible factors for this. 

My 2nd Independence day outside India in 3 years and a day when I feel a little less attached to India than ever I did in all of my life. India now means negativity, soft nation and a soft target of every terrorist in the world. Corruption rules the roost in the country, the scamsters are rulers, people are making millions, select few of course. Poor farmers are being killed, the right to protest against the government is being trounced in so called largest democracy of the world. So whats the point in being proud of being an Indian?

The only attachment I feel with India is that my family is still in India. Besides that, I dont see any attachment now with that country. Open any newspaper or site from India and all you see loot, scams, murders, terror attacks and inability of the government to hunt down the protagonists behind this blasts.

Those patriotic songs of 60s and 70s now hold significance only twice an year on 26th Jan and 15th Aug. The rest of the year, it doesnt hold any significance.  What did India do to punish the culprits of 11/26, 7/11, 7/13, 7/25, 7/26, 9/13 ?

On the name of votebank politics, the real masterminds of attacks are let go free. The likes of Digvijay Singh, who are no good than a street dog are roaming around with their nasty opinions destroying the secular fabric of the country. Disturbing the harmony of the foundation of that country, built by lot of folks with their blood and sweat.  Which day you'd see an attack in any part of country, you wont know. You wont know if you'd be safe within your country. Whats the use of celebrating Independence day in such scenario?

Its more of celebrating the Congress icons -- Nehrus, Gandhis and those Congressmen who so called fought for the country and laid their lives. But aint we today reaping what they sown? Aint today's problems result of the bigoted policies they made in 50s and 60s ? Reservation, votebank politics and stuff like that ?

The real Independence day shall loom around when we'd get rid of corruption, Islamic terror, votebank politics, bigot headed politicos and of course we would then boast of being a real Independent country. Till then we are just slaves to Desi monsters laid to birth by Congress's forefathers.

Shitload from Cogni

Exhausting day today. One of my crucial projects and one of the best I worked in and handled, went for Testing today. It was tough and tense day today. The build up for most part of the day was very cool and had no issues, but when deployment happened, I had to deal with some real jerks and lampoons.  Challenged for understanding and challenged for common sense. They pretend not to understand or they are really mentally challenged guys. 

Had to endure a  real tough time making them understand the issue in the deployment, though in the end everything turned out to be good. I came home and this guy BR wanted me to stay back in the office. When I can work  from home, why stay in the office. 

But the real stunner came from the company who is seeming to be on a positive growth spree and is now # 3 in Indian IT world. But it just lacks common sense and professionalism to handle recruitment. I was supposed to get an offer letter today,  but something changed and they called me saying that they have some doubts over my commitment. Goddamn, that's ridiculous. 4 years in a single company isnt a joke after having gone through all shit and crap here. 

Account manager says we roll out an offer, his sub-ordinate and HR says wait till you get a suitable opportunity. Am continuing to face delays in getting one good offer. Frustrating thing is I am clearing every step. All interviews cleared, technical stuff, HR stuff. Managerial interview, everything cleared. But when it comes down to roll out the offer, they suddenly feel I am not best fit. When ? When all shitload of interviews are done, all evaluation is being done and they suddenly feel I am not best fit. Just hours before they call back and say Boss you are very good technically and we'd want you onboard soon.

Dont know when this round is going to end. Worse part of it all is the financial loss i would endure. My lease expires in 2 weeks and based on yesterday's call with the account manager, I extended my lease till the end of this month by paying 200 bucks more than what I usually do for my monthly rent. And at the end of it, due to the reason I did, I get to know this is not at all needed.

If I shift to another apartment and sign a 3 month lease and I have to move in within 3 weeks, then I'd end up breaking lease and pay the fine out of my pocket. Cognizant then wont be around to take cognizance of that fact. My history with Cognizant in past hasnt been very good and that seems to just repeating itself all over again now. They selected me 3 times and every time in the past they selected me, they didnt send an offer letter to me and based on vocal conversation, they want me to join them.....

And they are all set to pip Infosys from the 2nd spot.

Delays in the change

My life is hardly dull or boring. At any given point of time there is always some or the other action going on. Be it a tussle with the boss or an offshore team or a tussle with the HRs and the interview managers of the couple of companies, I am trying to join now for last 4 months. 

Somehow something or the other factor keeps my life interesting with the delays and it often incurs frustration for me. Somehow I dont find a reason why there should be a delay in rolling out the offer for me if i have cleared all interviews. 

Starting all over again for a new interview is very painful process and even more painful is the attempt to get to that HR or manager who is incharge. When they have to schedule an interview, they'd call you many times, but when it comes down to the feedback, they dont pick their phones. 

Its already close to a year being in USA and almost same time away from the blogs. I have travelled to many places like Washington DC, Seattle, New York, Virginia etc and have enjoyed touring places alongside my pretty cute wife whom I call Tofu.

Many more tours warrant in the next few months, but only after the supposed move. I am due to vacate the apartment in next 2 weeks or so, and so I am trying to get an offer soon and move directly to the other state wherever the new job would take me, but thats looking more and more difficult now. Dont want to move to another apartment and break lease in just few weeks or a month or so. 

More desparate I get, tougher it becomes for me to get what I want. And perhaps that sickens me even more. I feel I get a raw deal when it comes to job changes in last few yrs. Havent changed a job in 45 months now and even when I came to Infosys, I had similar frustrating experiences for 3 months before 1 day when a call from Infy HR sealed the change from Kanbay to Infy. Hoping a similar call would do the trick now for me very soon than later.

Misfit Me

The hurt feeling, the hurt locker, the feelings you have caged for years make a comeback in a flash when you are misunderstood. Carrying a tag of being the most understood (mis) person in the world isnt easy thing to do. It always sucks when you are misunderstood by your own people, who are part of your innermost circle, the most closest persons any one can be. You feel terrible, you feel horrible and you feel like going to a shell. 

And all of this on a thing which every time in my case is blown out of proportion always. I am a master of controversies, anything I say or i do is always misunderstood. Always. No matter what point of time it is, no matter when it is. No matter which part you are in the world. Controversies and  misunderstandings always follow me.

The entire framework of the social relations in India is skewed one. It requires you to be politically correct always,  speaking your mind always lands you in the trouble. Doesnt matter whom you speak your mind, the drama that follows leaves you hollow and horrible. You feel horrible. Being politically correct is the thing of the present. Being rationale, fact based and sane is something that is non Indian. You got to be worshipping the other side of the fence who join hands to marry..Especially if you are from girl's family. Stand every legal / illegal demand from groom's side. Fulfill every expectation they have, that's worst part of society like India has from eons of ages and centuries. 

No wonder I am such a misfit and such a character who is not wanted around when it comes to the marriages and stuff like that. I dont stand the age old traditions which have to be followed, which should have adhered to. Skewed traditions. And if you dont follow those, you are not in. You are stubborn, you are idiot, you are goddamn adamant..

Welcome Sam to the world of the blogs again.  Short of my usual best, but I see the time when I would be near to the best I have been for my blogs.

Comeback

Its been a year that I made a serious post on my non cricketing blog. I attempted to make a lot of comebacks limited to few days and few posts. But all of them failed. Most of them were limited to rants out of tough days in the office.  The motivation, zing was lost and there was nothing left to write. 

However after a year almost, I feel the time is ripe to write again. I dont know what I would write. May be for few days it shall be a struggle. May be for few days it would be reposts of some old classics. 

May be National Blog Posting Month shall help.

Hope this time, I am able to sustain the zeal and passion to write for long time to come. A lot has changed since the last post was made. We have  relocated again, made a lot of purchases, went through a lot of ordeal and what not. All of this, I shall share in the days ahead to come.