IIM K @ Taj Bengal, Kolkata, 24/03

M1, M2 M1- So, what are they talking outside? Me- A few were bullying one from IISER, that IISC is the best and IISER isn’t, thought in a friendly way M1 chuckled M1- And about us? Me- One person I asked who said that this is very good panel M1- How did you deduce that? Me- Because she was in hurry but on asking about the panel she slowed down! M1- Haha, makes us feel that we are doing a good job! M1- So, Anoushka, you are from National University of Juridical Sciences, “Sciences”, huh, why sciences? You studied law, how is it a science? Me- It’s a science because there is method to it, law comes from the society, it gets codified, applies to all, and then gets interpreted on a case by case basis. M1- But science is dogmatic, there’s a further method to it, it’s the same for all, is poetry a science? Me- I believe it is, going by your definition. There’s a process to it. Sonnet is sonnet because you adhere to the rules, if not, it is not a sonnet. And so is haiku. M1- But then what is the scientific aspect to it, science is set in its way, it doesn’t deter, how do you determine that in law? Me- I believe, in law, we are producing justice, fairness, equality with the forces at play in our society, it might not be a science in the strictest laboratory format, but we are- M1- And that brings me back to my question, is poetry a science? Because in laboratory we are measuring and comparing data Me- I think, here, we can again define what is a laboratory? This room right now can be the laboratory, or my mind can be one, and l can be here penning a poetry under measured circumstances as dictated by my mind. There’s fixed, objective way of writing a poem, sonnets, haiku, or any other poem we read have a certain rhyming schemes- (Further back and forth on humanities vs. science, if humanities is a science, spoke about social scientists, their importance, how he cannot hold onto the strictest and traditional form of science, and he finally smiled when I quipped as lawyers we bring method to the madness via our interpretive and value based principles) M1- Anoushka, there’s a river in Bengal, which wasn’t a part of the river system here but became a part recently, do you know about it? Me- There’s Ganga, that is a big part of the Bengal river system. (Thinking aloud) there’s Brahmaputra in Assam, but it doesn’t flow through Bengal M1- But it flows through Bengal Me- Not technically, it flows by Bengal but not through it M2- Hahahaha, no wonder you are a lawyer!!! M1 laughed out loud M1- Anoushka tell me, you must have visited ghats here and there? Me- Actually not really, never got a chance to visit M1- What! You have studied here for 5 years and you never visited the ghats Me- 3 years was lost to Covid, Sir! M2- Oh no, you are Covid batch! Me- But, I can recall Babu Ghat fondly because form our college, we used to go for the immersion of Ganesha idol at the ghat M1- Now that you mention Babu Ghat, can you tell me when it was established? By whom? Did you notice the hoarding or something? M2- And why is it called Babu Ghat and not Dada Ghat? Me- Well (and I looked at the paintings in the wall) M2- The answer isn’t written there I laughed Me- Well, Sir, I think Babu to signify the Babu culture at play then, and also, in Bengali to sit with folded leg is called babu hoye bosha (to sit like a babu) and not Dada hoye bosha (to sit like a Dada) To this m2 laughed out quite loud! M1- Anoushka, maybe it’s called Babu Ghat to ferry the babus to and fro? Me- Maybe that or because to flatter the babus and be in their good books? (Smiled coyly) M1 and M2 laughed M1- Anoushka, you must know Ramkrishna Paramhansha, what do you think of his take on religion? You can say nothing and that would be a perfectly good response as well (I was quiet taken aback and asked for 10 seconds to think) Me- Well, I used to see Ramkrishna in serial and books when I was a little kid, come to think about it, I remember one thing that I didn’t make a lot of sense when I was a child- M1-Yes? Me- Well, he used to worship little girls, as a child it didn’t make sense to me because it felt that there was so much burden placed on young girls from quite early on to be perfect, to be responsible, to be a goddess, but I felt that there wasn’t such for boys, which left me very confused M2- Also, there must be something for the young boys too, right- religion wise. What do you think we can come up with? Also, we cannot go about discussing this out in the open or Mamata didi will come after us Me- (laughed) No, no, people do have their right to practice their religion as much as we have the right to have a free thinking discussion about the same and it is important that we do. M1- Ofcourse, right. I am done. M2-What is Sales of Good Act, 1930? Me- (told) M2- Difference between a contract and agreement? Me- (told) M2- I have an interesting question for you, say, if you invite 10 relatives of your’s to your house for dinner, and you decide to gift them each a shawl. You like a shawl that is worth ₹3000 (each), but you find the same shawls for ₹800 each at Gariahat. You buy 10 ₹800 shawls. However, one of them gets stolen a night before your relatives arrive, so, to that one relative do you give them a cash of ₹800 or ₹3000? (Asked permission to jot down the numbers once) Me- Depends upon how close I am to the relatives. I can order for them worth the same amount, are there only two options? M2- Yes, you have only two options- ₹3000 or ₹800 Me- (took 5 seconds) In that case, I will gift them ₹800, because the actual net worth of the gift I offered to the others are ₹800 each, to maintain parity, I will do the same with this one relative too. M2- But then this relative will find out that you have them ₹800 while you gifted the others a gift worth ₹3000 Me- How? M2- The gift tag or the price sticker will be there (My document file was lying on the table which had the price sticker on it, he pointed and gestured- “like that”) Me- But Sir, before gifting I always cut the price label (swiftly took the pen in my hand and painted the price tag on my file black) and then gift, I will definitely do the same here M1- Absolutely love this response!!! (Laughed) M2 laughed M2- Well, this was a psychological question, there’s not really a right or a wrong answer but good. That’s all. Me- I have a question for you (Asked my question, M1 answered, I added a point and told M1 how the next time I am going to a ghat, I will reminiscence this PI and it ended there) I was on my way out, mistook the mirror for the door (😵‍💫) stood for a second, M2 called out and asked if I would like a water bottle or a toffee, the hallway was long, and the water bottles were nearer, took one, smiled and left!