Nepalese student takes tough route to IIM-Lucknow

LOVE FOR COMPETITION Aakash opted to appear in the Common Admission Test instead of coming to IIM-L as part of foreign student exchange programme

Just as Indian students go abroad for higher studies, aspirants from other countries come to India for a range of courses. One such student is Aakash Lohia, lone foreign student who took admission in IIM-Lucknow this year to pursue two years’ post graduate management programme. He is happy to have crossed the border in pursuit of higher studies on Indian soil.

Aakash, 23, could have opted to study in IIM-L under foreign student exchange programme. But he decided against it and appeared in the Common Admission Test (CAT) and interview to get into the prestigious institution.

“Writing the CAT and appearing for the interviews was a learning experience in itself and it was my first chance to compete with the huge talent pool in India. The option of applying as an international candidate was definitely there and I considered using it at one point of time,” he said

“To compete with more than 2.5 lakhs students and then to get selected would be incomparable to taking the easy way on the campus. In the end, everything worked out really well and I got the offer from IIM- Lucknow. The whole experience was more rewarding than it would have been had I taken the easier route,” he said.

In Nepal, the general trend is to go to the US or India for higher studies. “India being culturally close to Nepal was my first choice. My sister is married and settled in Lucknow as well. My father and my sister studied in India for their graduation. So I am not the first in the family to cross the border for higher studies,” he said.

Talking about his experience in IIM-L Aakash said, “The diversity and the level of talent of students on the campus is amazing and makes me feel privileged to be a part of this group. I have made very good friends . They make me feel at home and also help me learn and understand all the Indian things that they do.”

Aakash is not only learning management lessons but is also being educated about Indian holidays and the socially accepted norms here. And in return, he tries to teach them Nepali way of doing things. “Learning each other’s culture is fun,” he said.

Even the faculty has been wonderful to him. “For instance, Nima Sir speaks Nepali and was so good that he invited me to his place for some Nepali food ,” he said. The moment I set foot on the campus, I could feel the enormity of the institute and the expectations from students .”

He did not feel much of a cultural difference, though some things were new and unfamiliar to him. “Here students have come from 29 states and each one has a completely different set of ideologies.” Khabo, dhabo ghumabo is one thing that he learnt after coming here.

Since this was the first time he moved out of Nepal, that too to a hostel, life was undoubtedly different from home, said Aakash who is fond of playing piano. Asked to describe life on IIM-L campus, he said, “A typical day for me starts at around 8:30 am. The time spent eating at the mess is always the best time to catch up with friends. After class, some of the routine work follows and then a nap of an hour or two. At around 5 or 6 in the evening, I visit the library to complete the assignments . At IIM Lucknow, afternoons take place at 7 pm, evenings at 11 pm and night falls at 2 am. The day ends for me after 3 or 4 in the morning,” he said.

Aakash said that a very interesting aspect of life at IIM Lucknow was that people worked late into the night. “There is always energy and activity 24 hours a day.”

On the flipside, Akash names the weather and the food, as typical Nepali food cannot be found in other places.