The stone rolled!

This post encompasses the thoughts that have been surrounding me for the last few eventful days....
WARNING: This one might be very incoherent!

At last, the wanderer moves out of the mysterious jungle to encroach into the city... and hopefully, for good. With all the frustration that has been surrounding me, regarding work, regarding the hygiene factors at Bhadra, dwindling chances of being relocated and the need to visit home frequently, this one really comes as a savior! Even though this is a professionally better jump, it has been triggered by the personal woes. And, personally, it can't get better than this. I am shifting to my home!

But, leaving Bhadraland is easy, leaving ITC isn't. It's a very fine company. Infact, one of the best in India to be associated with. According to me, ITC is what aggressive market moves is all about. ITC is what focussed vision is about. From a business which had 85% of its value presence with tobacco, just 10 years back, the company today has a completely transformed image of a multi-divisional, socially responsible and a nation-building organisation, reducing tobacco dependence to around 40%.
(The only Indian firm which makes me more dumbstruck is Reliance which created an INR 100,000 crore company launching the first CDMA phone in Dec 2002, 4 1/2 years back! To think of it, what ITC or HLL are yet to achieve in 100 years, Reliance did in less than 5 years :P)

I have a great respect for ITC, and not just respect, there's an emotional attachment. Afterall, its my first company, first love :-) I am in love with its brands. I think Aashirwad rocks over Pillsburry or Annapurna, Sunfeast Bourbon is more chocolaty than Britannia's, Wills Lifestyle has some amazing collection (even though it might seem snobbishly overpriced :P), John Players is a good affordable range, Classmate is the best quality notebooks I've seen in that price-segment, Spriha is a good product, and so are Minto fresh (I love the Laila Majnu ad), Candyman (the natkhat mango) and BINGO! They have come with some really innovative flavors. And Hotels! One MUST pay a visit to Sonar Bangla! It really gives a "Wow!" factor. And, DO NOT miss the Daal Bukhaara!

But, in the end, things happening down at the the shopfloor are way too different than what happens at Virginia House :-)

Change, the only permanent thing in life, again surrounds me. Even though the change is for a much better life ahead, its unsettling to begin with. Change from board to detergent, from contractors to suppliers, from Bhadrachalam to Bhopal, from Sambhar to Daal, from rice to rotis, from 6-day week to 5-day, from broadbanding to functional assignments, from an India-centric vision to Global markets... changes and more changes. And everything is happening too quick to let it sink in!

I am gonna miss ITC, sigma17 and Big B... post on the latter two is on its way!

Long way to go! I am buying ITC shares now... I hope with me leaving, there's a little plunge... and I'm gonna encash on it! ;-)