For those who still kept track of my blog despite of almost 2 weeks of absentia, thanks for watching the space. Last week has been pretty hectic for me as I got the opportunity to visit the Dhirubhai Ambani Knowledge City (DAKC) the collosal darbar of Reliance Empire, spread across 140-acres at Navi Mumbai. DAKC houses the National Headquarters, Internet Data Centers, Call Centers, Applications Development Laboratories and the National Network Operations Centre of Reliance Infocomm. If you are there for the first time you are bound to be struck with an awe. 2.2 million sq. ft. of office space spread over 14 buildings where DAKC houses 10,000 people (and we are perhaps not counting the countless consultantas like me who were there on short trips). Monumental!

So you have these access controlled doors, revolving doors, electronic barricades (reminded me of those at Kolkata Metro stations) amidst lush lawns with himalayan fountains, wide clean roads, covered approach roads insides the blocks and cute green Golf-carts to drop you at your work-place. You see the place and you quip,”who says the golden pre-dotcom days have gone”. Needless to say for the staff there it might be merriment all the way, sadly (may be owed to my short-sightedness too) very few seemed to be actually working there. Frankly, with gigantic food courts with all assortment of delicacies avilable at your disposal, who would like to.

P.S. Hey! I spotted Ram Jethmalani at the Airport during my return while I was going for the security check. Not that I am any great fan of his but getting an autograph from him wouldn't have been bad either 😉