The Xavier’s Management Society of St. Xavier’s College got down to serious business with Xavier’s Management Convention, a two-day annual business event, in association with The Telegraph — YOU. Featuring events like Existentialist (human resource), Corporate Excelsior (best manager) and The Propitiator (public relations) that tested one’s management acumen, from finance to marketing, XMC saw the participation of city colleges like Bhawanipur Education Society, Shri Shikshayatan College, iLead and J.D. Birla Institute (departments of management and commerce).
The theme for this year’s convention was ‘DYSTOPIA — May The Odds Be Ever In Your Favour.’ While the corporate world is synonymous with ambition, glamour and success, the Xavier’s Management Society attempted to expose its dystopian nature — the failure, betrayal and challenges.
St. Xavier’s College (department of economics) emerged winners at the end of the two-day convention.
Deborima Ganguly
One of the main attractions of the convention was X-Talk, an interactive session with television anchor and funnyman Cyrus Broacha. He spent an hour on stage interacting with students, answering questions and sharing anecdotes. Here are some of the questions “uncle” Cyrus answered (he refused to be called “Sir”), in true Cyrus style.
Picture: Sayantan Ghosh
Q. What is your take on the political scenario in Bengal?
A: I will give you this answer from Mumbai or after the next elections. It is a very good question but one needs to be careful about what one says these days even with Section 66A being struck down. Let’s just say, your generation will have a free-er press than us, we’re still trying to write between the lines and all that.
Q. What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you?
A: Piles, haemorrhoids. I’m serious. I’m now in my early 40s and every day is a challenge. Organs don’t work, things don’t come on time and I’ve been going to the toilet at night three times in six-and-a-half hours. So my advice, enjoy your 20s and 30s. When you are 40, live in a room alone, nobody would want you around.
Q. What do your parents think of you?
A: My parents are quite nice that way. If I talk too much at home, my mother says, whatever you do on television and you become a big shot, to me you’ll always be an idiot. She has been very clear about that. Having said that, my mum was the kind of mother, like most Indian mums, who if I came third in a race with only three people competing, she would tell the neighbours, “Hey my son came third!” I remember when MTV started and there was a show called MTV You, she would call all the neighbours to watch it. By the fourth episode, nobody wanted to come so they all ran whenever they saw her.
Q. What are your thoughts on the songs of Yo Yo Honey Singh and Sunny Leone?
A: I don’t mind Yo Yo Honey Singh’s lyrics but of course they are ridiculously stupid. Let him put anything he wants out there, we need to have a free society. It’s a way of expression so we can’t say much.... Sunny is just trying to make a living. I mean I prefer Sunny Deol but I’m a little backward. Now let me ask you a question, all those who watch Sunny Leone pictures, raise your hand. Okay now all those who watch her Hindi pictures raise your hand. Yeah, nobody, just as I thought!
