Joka – It’s a feeling - by Simran Pasricha, 56th Batch

Joka! It is not just a word, It’s a feeling! My first encounter with the word Joka was more than a year ago. After getting admitted into IIM Calcutta, a friend from another B school said , "Let's see how Joka treats you!". I had no idea what Joka meant then and I immediately texted a friend at IIM Calcutta and till date I can clearly remember his words, "It's our tribe which is not found anywhere else. You will know once you come here!". Fast forward one year, and here I yearn to go back to Joka and spend my time as a PGP2 with my fellow Jokars.

At this one of a kind B-school, we are not about outshining our fellow mates but about taking everyone together at each step. Professors & students alike chant & follow the feeling, "At Joka, we leave no one behind."

From the initial CV making times to the peak of our summer prep we had an exemplary support system in place with seniors helping us all throughout. The feeling of standing up for each other was grown in us.

When the batch was on the verge of completing its summer placements, as people got placed they joined the brigade in helping their friends with last minute prep tips, managing their whole trajectory of giving 10-15 GDs per day & a lot of support! When the last person was in an interview, the whole batch was waiting in support. Isn't this what all B schools should follow? After all what will make us good leaders? Just following the rat race or also supporting our people and being empathetic towards others? Well that has what Joka tribe has taught all of us!

Academics is yet again a big part of what IIM Calcutta stands for. Firstly, this place gave us opportunities to meet world renowned personalities such as Nobel laureate Richard Thaler and Chief Economic Advisor of India Krishnamurthy Subramaniam.

Secondly, the team building activities have always been fun. Starting from "Lost at C" to devising in classroom sustainable plans in Information Technology and Systems or Environment Development & many more subjects. The presentations, the case discussions, having a healthy dialogue with the professors to put forth our opinions are something we all loved at Joka. And well we all have had professors whose classes should never have ended. I remember some of us being emotional as to why can't those professors teach some more because the way they made us learn was just too remarkable and fun!

There is so much more to Joka rather than just academics and placements. We all love our green campus, the good parts of it, the bad parts of it!

No one can forget those late night conversations/picture sessions and outings at Jetty or the LVH Bridge, taking the scary route from LVH to NH at night just to have Kotler Da's Pasta and Choco Lava cake, hanging out at Mohan Da's after classes, group study sessions at Library, waiting for night mess when they almost always delay our orders, going to classes with snakes walking with us, sleeping with our friends because we have bats in our rooms! There would be so much more in each one's memory! Aren't we proud of the parties that rock the hostels every weekend or those that happened in the Quads! Or the world war which is our tradition since the very beginning. The enthusiasm around Varchasva or Sangharsh has brought us closer together as a tribe. The chanting of "Jokaaaaaa" "Jokaaaaa" still resonates in my ears.

One thing about Joka shines above all else! The Jokars themseles, who aren't just friends, but are now family. From waking each other up in the morning to rushing each other for classes to sharing notes, learning together before exams, doing projects & assignments, all the case studies, the club meetings to having parties at C-35, playing monopoly with loud music, & numerous other games! We all got a family in Joka! Joka is a tribe, an experience which is nowhere else to be found.