Room number 9 of dorm number 19, or 1809, at Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIMA) is more than just a room. It is a lucky charm. The room has created a record of sorts. It has produced three gold medalists in last three years. While the alumni believe it is just a coincidence, they do not deny surprise at it.
In 2013, Jaipur-born IIT Bombay graduate Sumit Somani received a gold medal from LN Mittal. In 2014, IIT Delhi graduate Sanchit Bansal received a gold medal from Anand Mahindra. This year, it was IIT Madras graduate Rakshit Agrawal getting the medal at the hands of Ajay Banga.
"We get a chance to change the room in our second year, which is when all three of us would have moved in this room in respective years," said Agrawal. He terms it pure coincidence. "I didn't move in thinking that I would get a medal. I chose the room because of the advantages it afforded. It's just a very interesting coincidence", he added.
Medal or no medal, the room on the first floor is just perfect. On view are lush green gardens on both sides of the room with extremely good ventilation which comes as a boon in summer months. Its location means one doesn't have to climb too high. "I wish I could have stayed in that room longer," Agrawal said.
He recalls Bansal, also his senior and a gold medalist himself, saying "Better get a gold medal. Only then will we create a mark." Agrawal says he did not react at that moment, but the day he got the gold medal, he sent him a message.
Allotment of the room in first year is randomly done by the PGP office. However, in the second year, the students get an option to change the room within the dorm itself.
Numerology speaks
Numerologist Sanjay B Jumaani said, "Number 9 represents mass, it is a planet of energy, a red fiery planer. It symbolises power, ambitions, stubbornness and energy. But all this can even be destructive hence it should be used constructively. However, it may not suit every individual. But people having 3, 6, 9 in their birth dates or zodiac sign as Aries or Scorpio, it will suit them. In fact, Japan's Manglev train also set a record of 603 kmph which again makes a total of number 9. Also the number 9 is very stubborn, multiply 9 with any number it will eventually reproduce 9.
