BENGALURU: Classes for the new batch at IIMB have begun in the virtual mode, and some students shared with TOI how Covid-19 affected their life. A doctor in the batch of 483 PGP candidates narrated her role in the battle against the pandemic, while two engineers spoke about the loss and struggles they faced.
Dr Nuhad Bardai is an MBBS student from BJ Medical College in Ahmedabad. A major part of her medical internship involved Covid work, from taking swabs for tests to monitoring patients in the intensive care unit. “It has been a life-changing experience. I saw four patients die in an hour and assisted the delivery of a woman with Covid. I saw the pains and trials,” she said.
Dr Bardai explained her decision to pursue an MBA programme. “Seeing the near-collapse of the healthcare infrastructure gave me a further conviction that medical professionals with management skills can make a big difference. As doctors struggled with dual roles of medicos and administrators in a crisis, I realised that with better management expertise or training, the situation could have been handled in a better manner,” she said.
She prepared for CAT after her duty hours. “Being consistent paid off, helping me get a place in IIMB,” she added.
Krishnendu N, an engineer from Kerala, recounted how she had to attend an interview at another top Bschool two hours after her father died of Covid-19. “Losing a parent to Covid-19 left me petrified. This was the most challenging period in my life. During this time, I received an offer letter from IIMB, and it was the only ray of hope I clung to,” she said.
Krishnendu focused on one thing her father always believed in: gaining knowledge. “Being a finance enthusiast, I enrolled in as many finance courses as I could. That was my coping mechanism — burying myself in work. I didn’t want the situation to affect me negatively and I wanted to make my father proud,” she said. “One thing I learned during this phase was that no matter what happens to you, the world does not pause; life must go on. And you better be on the frontline fighting for yourself and your family.”
Sagarika Barman hails from Karimganj in Assam. During the pandemic, her father died after a heart attack and her mother slipped into depression. “Because of the Covid lockdown and all the negativity around, my mother’s mental condition kept deteriorating. I kept worrying about her sitting alone in Bengaluru. When the unlock happened last year, I got her to stay with me here. This was the most challenging period for me during my CAT preparation,” she said.
Domestic workers were not available, so Sagarika managed everything, from chores, cooking and office work to her mother’s care, on her own. “Initially, I kept myself motivated by watching inspirational videos and reading self-help books. I introspected a lot and developed a routine that I followed strictly, studying after work. When I felt a little low, I spoke to my close friends, exercised or listened to music,” she added.
The students believe that it’s important to move on and find happiness.
