Mr.

Rituparna Roy Chowdhury

Flat No. B-4, 1st floor,
4/10, Bijoygarh,
(Near Bijoygarh P.O.),
Kolkata – 700 032.
India.
+91-94321-00756/ +91-98686-39414.

rituparnaroychowdhury@gmail.com
journalistdelhi@yahoo.co.in

These links on www.rediff.com, explain how to write good essays/SOPs

http://in.rediff.com/getahead/2005/jun/07study.htm
http://in.rediff.com/getahead/2005/jun/08abroad.htm
http://in.rediff.com/getahead/2005/jun/09study.htm
http://in.rediff.com/getahead/2005/jun/23gre.htm

D. If you can spend one day as someone else, who would it be? Why?

If I were to spend one day as someone else, I would love to don

the mantle of a financial analyst.

I am a very ambitious person, and always look for a brighter

future. I am also a risk taker though not a gambler or a speculator. But I love
exploring the opportunities of tomorrow which may seem invisible today.

A day’s work as a financial analyst will not transform me into a

financial wizard. Neither is my ambition to become a financial wizard. I only want
to acquire the vision of a forecaster of the future. When investment decisions are
taken by financial consultants, they look at the micro and macroeconomic factors
of the economy, the fundamentals of the company, market sentiments and
investor behavior and fancy towards certain shares.

Our biggest drawback is that we don’t think much about the

future. But we must realize that all that we do today is towards a future goal, and
unless we look at the future, it is impossible for us to constructively plan our work
today which directly impacts our path of progress.

For instance, I find very few people going for post-retirement

financial planning. Since, we don’t visualize how the economy would shape up
after two or three decades, or what would be the cost price indexes, we are not
bothered about how to sustain ourselves in old age.

My long-term goal is to be a consultant and to be so, I need the

mindset of predicting the future. The way IT has revolutionized the work
processes and has given rise to new products, product lines and product profiles
with the convergence of technology, it has always been the first movers who
have made fortunes out of it. Whether it is the hotmail experience of Indian
technocrat Sabeer Bhatia, or that of google, as a consultant too, I need to see
the opportunities before anybody can perceive and put it to practice.

The way technology has come up, no body can say in whose
favor the dices would turn. Even a decade ago, it was unbelievable that India’s
service sector would get a huge boost because of a significant portion of the
world’s back office operations and business process outsourcing shifting to India,
and that it would cost the English speaking economies dear with rising
unemployment in their countries.

The unpredictability of the systems can best be explained

through the trading of the stock markets. When one is selling a scrip, another
person is buying it at the same time. This in turn explains that while the seller
feels he has been able to sell the share at the highest saleable price, the buyer
too feels he has been able to acquire it at the lowest buying rate.

Yet amidst such uncertainties, the eyes that can see the right
picture of future emerge as winners. My aspiration to be a financial analyst for a
day is just for acquiring that “winning vision”.

2.1 Evaluate your application and provide a critical assessment of it.

Outline factors that might differentiate you from others from a similar
background. 500 words.
My application portrays the picture of an ideal MBA aspirant who
holds a sound academic record and is highly innovative in thoughts; and believes
cross functional approaches are the best mode of learning, a reflection of my
broad vision.
My bachelor’s in chemical engineering from the Indian Institute of
Technology, one of the most prestigious scientific research centers of the world
has provided me with a strong background of science. I am having a good GMAT
score of 710 as well.
Again, my work experiences in sales, marketing, production and
operations for FMCG major HLL, has enriched me with ideas of managing a
business enterprise. Moreover, my candidature clearly indicates my eagerness to
learn things from the grassroots levels rather than look at things academically.
While being selected for the first job through campus interviews, I deliberately
chose a rural posting for training. I have been born and brought up in Siliguri, a
small town of eastern India, as well as stayed in New Delhi and Kolkata. Hence, I
had the opportunities to see the urban markets and their consumer psyches. So,
now I wanted to learn the rural markets.
I am a person who always looks for newer opportunities. The rural
markets had all along being treated with less importance by FMCG and
consumer durable companies. Of late, however, studies have revealed that rural
India, which constitutes about 60% of the total population, is the emerging
market. This is because of a saturation point that certain products are reaching in
the urban areas, and secondly owing to higher disposable income along with the
spread of education, giving rise to consumerism among the rural populace.
Even at a top educational institute, when we were about to close
down our global online education system because of tremendous agitation
against outsourcing, all of my colleagues feared retrenchment. But rather being
perturbed, I came up with the idea of offering the services at a retail level. It was
primarily at my initiative that we started marketing it to individuals with free
classes and were able to convert a large number of them as clients. And this
ensured no lay-offs.
My long term goal of opening a 24 x 7 x 365 basis call center
offering information related to global education needs is unique and explains my
entrepreneurial ideas and my foresight in understanding the future, when
classrooms would be replaced by cyber schools.
I definitely satisfy the leadership traits that all b-schools look at. I
get along with people very easily, from the ranks of shop floor workers to the
ranks of Directors. In fact, I enjoy working in a group, as it is the best medium to
gain through the exchange of knowledge and skills.
Overall, I am a candidate of huge merit, innovative, hard working,
having fancied but realistic goals in life. Considering my personality traits,
academic record and professional performance, I am an ideal candidate for
management studies, and would be an asset to the class of ISB, if admitted.
Statement of Purpose
I am a computer science and engineering graduate having seven years of
experience in IT sales, service and consultancy. I am highly ambitious and always
dream big. I passionately explore newer and unknown fields and love taking calculated
risks. This has helped me grow tremendously, as a leader, as a team player and more
importantly, as a responsible human being.
I take pride in myself as one who looks at every problem as a golden
opportunity and steps his foot forward at the most appropriate moment to provide a
solution and leave the impressions of leadership through innovativeness.
My ultimate career goal is to open my own consultancy and emerge as a
business leader in the field of emerging technologies and consulting. I strongly believe in
innovation and professional excellence, and my motto of work is to use my novel
thoughts to add commercial value to all available technology.
I was born to a middle-class family with my father being a police officer.
Thus, right from the beginning my father inspired me to get through the country's
prestigious Civil Services and bear the much coveted IAS or IPS bureaucratic tag
attached to my name. However, as I was destined for a career in engineering, I cleared
the engineering entrance exams to become a technocrat today. I still would regret
somewhat that I could not fulfill my father's dream, and also something on which I too
had set my eyes on. However, the handsome salary that I draw as a result of being an IT
professional negates much of that feeling.
This incident makes me accept failures with grace, and rejoice with what we
have won rather than moan for what we perhaps had lost. With only such optimism can
one move ahead. Otherwise, we will perish under sorrows of anguish.
I have been climbing the professional ladder very fast. In this process, my
maturity into a business strategist is the most significant accomplishment I have made. I
have acquired the knack of identifying newer and emerging business opportunities,
which is so crucial for anyone venturing into any business.
When I joined FTD a Singapore based Regional MNC dedicated to EDA
and embedded field in Oct 2002, I had little awareness about the Embedded Tools and
its market. Immediately after joining I started learning the Embedded Technology as I
understood that learning the technology was more important than learning the specific
tools if I were to grow in this domain. Next, I started moving around the market and came
to know through sources that an In-circuit Emulator (ICE) was not working in Central
Research Laboratory of Bharat Electronics Ltd (A premier Ministry Of Defence, India
Unit). As I was aware of their problem, in the first visit itself gave them a standby unit
even though I did not even know that they would be buying the product from us. This
initial help of ours was taken as a gesture of excellent client relationship and he got an
order from them for 10,000 USD for the quarter ending March 2003.
At Mistral, we faced the problem of very few prospective clients who
could be approached for the Embedded line of products, which the Company
represented in India. One of the verticals, which was growing very fast, was that of
Networking and the Consumer Devices and we had a specific product for that which had
been introduced in India shortly before that. I along with my team conducted various
seminars and user-conference across India to create awareness for this product and
ultimately we generated USD 1 Million in revenue for the company.
I have learnt a lot about commercial requirements from an operational
point of view through observations and experiences, but fully understand the value of
theoretical knowledge of technology management. For instance, once during a technical
presentation on Reliability Analysis Tools in GE Industrial Systems, I was unable to give
a detailed analysis of its utility from the cost perspective based accounting management
principles, although my presentation on the technical aspects were very well received.
Hence, I aspire for MBA from a leading European b-school today.
My MBA study would enable me to see technology from a more business
oriented approach. It can’t be an overnight affair, but I would gradually acquire that
maturity, vision and far sight. Till now these approaches have been very simple and
were based on my previous experiences. I can then combine my informal knowledge
with formal business education and suitably aid in bringing out the hidden business
potential of technology. It would also help corporates bring about greater efficiency in
their existing work structures and systems.
In quest of this endeavor, my job in the immediate post-MBA phase would
be to identify potential change in the wind direction of technological progress, both
unilaterally and through convergence. My field of work involves dealing with Telecom
Value Added Service Providers, Network Equipment Manufacturers, research and
development labs. We provide solutions to client requirements and hence have to
continuously customize according to their needs. This requires huge managerial abilities
to think how to implement every technological upgradation in their existing systems.
Hence in the short term, I would like to work for a consulting firm and try to
narrow the difference between theory and practice of business processes through its
understanding. It would be an opportunity for visualizing how convergence can be
utilized to the hilt in my area as I keep growing professionally and in vision.
The evolution of IT and the convergence of technology have transformed
business processes, theories and practices worldwide. In this backdrop, with my
technical background and a desire to learn about today’s business strategies, Nyenrode
MBA would show me the direction of the wind and perfectly mould me. It would give me
the ideal launching pad for sailing through to discover hidden treasures that the wave of
technology is blowing with.
 I always believed in adopting a different approach. While my friends and
colleagues pursue MBA studies from the US, UK and Canada, I chose Nyenrode in
Netherlands over the other popular destinations.
And even my perception of education and learning differs from others. In
my understanding academic learning constitutes only a part of the entire exercise. For
we learn much more through our observation and the circumstances we are in.
Academic theories enhance our knowledge, and therefore, is a must. But only a diverse
set of experiences can enable us to think how our knowledge can best be converted to
constructive and beneficial assets.
Nyenrode International MBA is truly international in terms of the nations
involved. The way it has nurtured talent for 60 years is worth mentioning. It ideally
addresses my concern of joining a school, which has a combination of theory and
practice, and always remain focused on the real world of management and the
marketplace. It would be a truly learning environment for me and see the European
Union much more closely than just Europe.
Moreover, Netherlands is one of Europe's social, cultural, and financial hubs.
It is home to commercial giants like Unilever, Philips, ABN AMRO and ING, and the
number one destination for foreign investment, according to the Economist Intelligence
Unit. Even it is a country that had the world's first stock exchange, first central bank, first
multinational (in the United East India Company), apart Europe’s biggest port, and one
of the world's busiest airports – symbols of robust global trade.
But even a bigger learning opportunity would be to study how all the member
states of Europe unified under the banner of European Union and Euro. So the question
that arises is, did emerging technologies play its role to unify the continent? That would
bring about deeper thoughts in me to study how technology can rotate and revolve the
earth in the days ahead.
At the same time, I am also keen on learning a European language. This
opportunity would enable me to pick up Dutch.
However, there would be some hurdles in my adventurous journey.
Initially, it would be difficult for me to adjust in public life in a non-English speaking
country. The cost of living in Holland is also high and would affect my finances to a
certain extent. Even adapting to the socio-cultural life in the new land would be a slight
problem, although not a hurdle. I can adapt to many a new situation and never hesitate
to change myself wherever required and be part of the mainstream. I love crossing
hurdles and enjoy the thrill of exploring newer zones. Such opportunities, in fact,
rejuvenate me with huge sporting spirits.
My contribution to the class of Nyenrode too would remain significant. I
would bring in a lot of wealth for the entire fraternity to share and learn. My seven years
of experience in sales and marketing of EDA/Embedded and Telecom domain of IT
would definitely enrich everybody from any domain whatsoever, of how in an IT-driven
world, sea changes in communication and data are revolutionizing business processes,
systems, structures and models.
These are key domains in IT being focused in the European region. This
could be used in the discussion in the class when they will talk about the paradigm shift
in the focus of leading European Telecom companies for the Indian market. On the EDA
I can talk about how the semiconductor majors are running away from making India as
their fabrication house. Rather they just concentrate in India as a design house. And how
these design houses were the first example of outsourcing or BPO what we talk today.
 On the personal front too, I can bring in the much-needed breather through
my instantaneous sense of humor, which we may need at times in the midst of serious
issues.

Why is Nyenrode the university you have selected for attaining your MBA?
Please discuss the primary advantages and disadvantages you perceive of
the program

I always believed in adopting a different approach. While my friends

and colleagues pursue MBA studies from the US, UK and Canada, I chose
Nyenrode in Netherlands over the other popular destinations.
And even my perception of education and learning differs from
others. In my understanding academic learning constitutes only a part of the
entire exercise. For we learn much more through our observation and the
circumstances we are in. Academic theories enhance our knowledge, and
therefore, is a must. But only a diverse set of experiences can enable us to think
how our knowledge can best be converted to constructive and beneficial assets.
Nyenrode International MBA is truly international in terms of the
nations involved. The way it has nurtured talent for 60 years is worth mentioning.
It ideally addresses my concern of joining a school, which has a combination of
theory and practice, and always remain focused on the real world of
management and the marketplace. It would be a truly learning environment for
me and see the European Union much more closely than just Europe.
Moreover, Netherlands is one of Europe's social, cultural, and
financial hubs. It is home to commercial giants like Unilever, Philips, ABN AMRO
and ING, and the number one destination for foreign investment, according to the
Economist Intelligence Unit. Even it is a country that had the world's first stock
exchange, first central bank, first multinational (in the United East India
Company), apart Europe’s biggest port, and one of the world's busiest airports –
symbols of robust global trade.
At the same time, I am also keen on learning a European
language. This opportunity would enable me to pick up Dutch.
However, there would be some hurdles in my adventurous journey.
Initially, it would be difficult for me to adjust in public life in a non-English
speaking country. The cost of living in Holland is also high and would affect my
finances to a certain extent. Even adapting to the socio-cultural life in the new
land would be a slight problem, although not a hurdle. I can adapt to many a new
situation and never hesitate to change myself wherever required and be part of
the mainstream. I love crossing hurdles and enjoy the thrill of exploring newer
zones. Such opportunities, in fact, rejuvenate me with huge sporting spirits.

The Essentials Of Being A Writer

Writing is an art, and like any other form of artistic expression, it is a

spontaneous outflow of one’s feelings. It is a reflection of perceptions and
opinions on specific issues or subjects that are very close to the writer’s heart. A
good writing is overall judged by how articulately and with what degree of
cohesiveness and subtlety those thoughts have been portrayed for a
comprehensive understanding of the communicative message. The ability to find
a good subject is the most important issue here, as unless you have a suitable
topic, what would write on? Apart from the subject matter, it also has a strong
academic aspect from the point of view of grammar, text and vocabulary.

Thus, the first and foremost step in striving for success in writing is to
see through the core of things and perceive different phenomena in abstraction.
On doing so, you reach the realm of oblivion; lose your identity as a writer and as
a human machine. Thereafter, whatever you see, whether a scientific or a non-
scientific phenomenon, you can transcend all your barriers of learning and
knowledge and tread into a different universe altogether, undaunted by the
unknown new domain you have landed in. For, now you are empowered with the
forces of utter self-realization, to unveil the hidden virtues discreetly lying
dormant in you, enabling you with those extra-ordinary attributes to comprehend
myriad subjects, theories and occurrences with ease that may seem impossible
with the naked eye. A new vision engulfs you, and you turn into a child of
imagination. Most importantly, it brings out the true thinker in you.

It is indeed, extremely difficult, to elevate your mental horizons to

such levels all of a sudden. For that, you need to study and understand the
conflicts of life, and annihilate yourself into the beauty that exists within the joy of
happiness or the agony of pain in suffering as we crawl along the path of
livelihood. Whether it is the visage of a luxurious 5-star hotel or a road-side
shanty; or for that matter the flying supersonic jets and a crematorium, all these
are bright and dark portraits between the inter-mingling of dreams and reality of
mankind in their enduring struggle for existence. These unending confrontations
should submerge you and be the fount of your communicating link between you
and all that is beyond you.

While perceiving the theme is important for any form of writing, the
ability to pen down the thoughts with excellent written communication skills is of
equal importance. The secret to mastering this art is no overnight affair but
requires tremendous toiling – which would include voracious reading and
continuous writing habits. The more you read – and whatever you read from any
discipline of study enlarges your imagination from a wider spectrum. The
language used; the varied styles and subtleties; different forms of expressions;
words, idioms, phrases, adjectives – all of these get registered in your sub-
conscious mind. Here, you should assiduously note down all new words or the
paraphernalia of language you come across, and this should be an unending
process – there is no end to learning or refining or even redefining your verbal
ability to set new standards in writing.

Style is another important aspect of writing, and therefore, having a

feel of how they differ depending on the type of writing is also important as you
grow as a writer. For example, the approach of an advertisement copy would
differ from that of a journalistic copy, while the technique used in compiling
sociological texts would invariably be contrasting with literary texts as well as with
those of science and engineering studies. Gradually, you can adapt yourself to
these formats and create your own style too!

Reading has to be supplemented by writing, and as you keep writing-

you gradually start gaining control over the language, and it keeps maturing in a
progressive manner with the aging of the clock. If you turn back to whatever you
had written say even a year back, you would notice the distinct difference.

Another extremely helpful tool is to get your work read by another

person to find out the flaws and ways to improve on the same. Since an author is
inclined in a particular direction, only somebody with an independent mindset can
suggest the best modifications for the piece.

Seasoning your writing is a must, as any piece of writing has

enormous scope for improvement. For writers of almost every genre, the mind
saturates at a specific level while writing, thereby affecting the overall creative
strength. Therefore, one needs to spread out the work over a period of time by
completely forgetting what he has written on the first day and take it up only after
a few days. In this process, the writer gets the time to think consciously or
unconsciously of what he had worked on, which in turn, brings new ideas the
next time he takes it up. This opportunity should also be used for embellishing
the article to make it look more colourful.

But writing is not merely for the sake of writing or for self-appreciation.
Seeing it in print is something that really enthrals any author, and more so if any
reputed or premier publication carries it. This would obviously instil confidence in
you, in your abilities and the potential you hold for success. Therefore, one
should keep dispatching one’s work regularly to different journals, even if on
most occasions they are not carried or returned with a euphemistic apology letter
from the editor.

The picture may not be rosy for budding writers. It’s a long drawn
process and one has to face innumerable hurdles, which may make him
extremely frustrated. Initially, when you start, you stand nowhere – and often
people may even demoralize you by stating that they are not up to the mark. But
you have to ignore all such remarks and have a steel-firm determination to
struggle and reach the heights of success – which would happen only after a
considerable time-frame.

After the long wait is over, your writing skills mature and you start
receiving the acclaims. Then you can proudly proclaim, “I am the Writer.”
By :- Rituparna Roy Chowdhury