Affiliations: Alpha Beta Kappa, Gamma Beta Phi, Galeej Gang.

Methinks letting the G2 Unit (Galeej Gang) slip under “Affiliations” would do no further harm to an otherwise mostly damage-control resume. Mealsothinks that without the ABK and the GBP (they have been listed in the title only to put things in perspective), my only affiliation with the Gang wouldn’t escape notice. But why should it?

When I was a sophomore, I started hanging out with Ram, Shanker and Krishandan and their company brought me in occasional contact with the exco- Raju, Mani and Prabhu. A few thanni sessions and I became a Galeej Trainee. A few more sessions, dum- breaks over coffee and tea ( mostly with Ram, Shanker and Kris), dinner and such made me a Galeej recruit proper. At around the same time, Anoj joined the force and Chibi was initiated last year amid much speculation over fast-disappearing coffee stocks ( Ram’s idea that the only way to stop Chibi from raiding the gang’s supplies was to take him in). The whole of last year was filled with idle debating over cups of filter coffee and masala tea, whenever we met in the HQ (level 8 balcony, EA). At other times, rooms were randomly raided (with the exception of Chibi who preferred raiding kitchens) and advice freely given and taken ( more than once was I sternly advised to not pretend that I was asleep with a member of the Galeej Gang at the door). Fruitful existence.

Although it may seem to the lay reader that the Gang is another congregation of birds of the same dirty feather, things cannot, in reality be more different. Raju needs little by way of introduction save for the fact that he is already into his second year of the Singapore-MIT-Alliance Program. Prabhu, the swashbuckling batsman that he is, turned down an offer from Team Singapore when he realized that a citizenship status in Singapore was frowned upon by the elders of his village. Two consecutive centuries in the selections were sufficient to silence even the most annoying critics. Ram, sadly, needs an intro (he is single). A patent filed under the governances of the US office and 2 papers published in scientific journals- all in a period of 12 months. Need I say more? Contemplating the number of neurons firing collectively in an investment bank, though, used to be his favorite pastime. I doubt he would ever do that again, not while he is sitting in his Credit Suisse office now. An adept of Carnatic music, Shanker lent his voice to numerous events in the 4 years that he spent in NUS and not many people know the smooth salesman within that mighty frame. It is always fun to drink with Shanker in the group, when 3 shots down he realizes that you are his best friend. You receive a place of honor next to him and he even pours you the drink himself! If the group needed a neutral person, we had it in the form of Kris. The result of a perfectly normal Tamil couple that decided to settle in Sri Lanka, Kris was quite naturally an outcast among all forms of life until the Galeej Gang came to. Never have I heard Kris say anything that was unnecessary in a conversation and his choice of words still amazes me! If there was one person you would definitely miss in the event of a homecoming, that would be our dear hybrid, Kris. Anoj needs little/ no introduction depending on who you are. If you work for the OSA, you know him. For some others, including my own self, his perseverance and that never-ending supply of energy are subjects of considerable awe. He is probably the one person in my own batch, who I have turned to for advice more often than I can remember. Galeej to his very bones, staying in the same room as him can be featured on Animal Planet’s “Wild Chronicles” ( an adept at staying alive, Anoj can miraculously live off unwashed vessels for months together. I haven’t been able to use my oven-bowl since the summer of 2007). They say you save the best for the last. The most mysterious, highly discreet and little-known member of the Gang- Chibi, definitely warrants the space. Chibi, as Ram opines, is the pinnacle of evolution, so little known and highly secretive. This mysterious blob is generally harmless and can be spotted roaming the campus and in the kitchens of various halls. Chibi is one guy I sorely miss in EA, what with all the coffee we had together in the last one semester alone. A sincere chap and an adept at playing the Kanjeera, Chibi is among my best companions in NUS till date. And now Karthik Balasubramaniam (alias Bobby) has joined us and I am happy to inform the reader that he has already grown accustomed to our ways.

How do I explain all this in an interview?

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