It is usually the start of a new day for the rest of the world when we humbly accept the simple law of nature that once in a day, we should sleep. However by the time we just realize this fact, it is the time for lectures. Worse is the misery of people with heavy F.Q. (i.e. Finance course Quotient).
So we sleep during lectures. This is an age old phenomenon at IIM Indore (and may be at other IIMs and B-schools as well) to sleep in the classrooms and it has been a tradition that has stood the test of the time. Everyone sleeps in the class, sometime or the other. There is no denying this fact. For those who state otherwise, well, go get a life dude!
Here is just a humble attempt to understand the deep mysteries and dynamics of classroom sleeping.
Sleeping in the classroom is a complex but vital concept and there are several laws that govern the same. Let's discuss some of those.
- First law of sleep: Life is not fair and so is seating arrangement.
By default or by design, some people always do have better opportunities than others. If you are sitting in the back rows and you have a relatively taller and broader person giving you a cover from front, nothing like that. Basically all the rules of camouflage and covering that works in military set up are equally applicable.
- Second law of sleep: Even professors don't have perfect eye contact.
It is not just the participants who have a problem making eye contacts with those sitting in the extreme corners. Even professors (at least most of them) have an issue with the same. So if your seats are in the extremes of your row, you just have the best chances of being neglected by most of the speakers during MOC presentations and so by the most of the professor. Enjoy the slumber.
- Third law of sleep: Not all fingers are alike, and so the professors.
Not all professors realize the importance of sleep and hence it is fatal to try to enjoy this otherwise harmless gift of nature during their lectures. Participants are strongly advised to refrain from all sorts of temptations to sleep during the same. One must try to maximise the value of his or her sleep function during the lectures of the better lot of professors. (Oh yes! Please give good feedback to such professors at the end of the course so that even the batches to come can have their necessity of sleep fulfilled.)
Rules and definitions are for masses but as an old saying at IIM Indore goes, where there is will, there is sleep. It is, like every other thing in life, depends completely your ability to be able to have this incomparable pleasure of life.
Remember! Life is at its best in our hostels. Don't waste those moments. Sleep in class. Happy sleeping!
(The author has been practising the sacred art of classroom sleeping for last two months and has decided to devote his time at the institute to follow the tradition with body, mind and soul.)
Saurabh Shrivastava (PGP 2007-09)
