Down the Memory Lane....

Down the Memory Lane… 17 Years Later

Some places don’t just hold memories—they bring them back to life.

I joined IndianOil in August 2009. Soon after joining, our induction programme was conducted at IIPM (IndianOil Institute of Petroleum Management), Gurugram—then Gurgaon—the apex Learning & Development centre of IndianOil.

Exactly 17 years later, I found myself back at the same institute.

Same institute.
Same month.
Same accommodation.
But a completely different feeling.

The moment I entered the premises, memories of my very first day at IndianOil came flooding back.

I still remember my parents dropping me at IIPM for the first time. I was excited, yet nervous. Excited because, as a Chemical Engineer, I had always wanted to work in the core industry. And I felt truly fortunate to have been given the opportunity to begin my career with India’s largest energy company.

Walking through those familiar spaces after 17 years felt almost surreal. It was as if time had folded back on itself.

Time really does fly.

It feels like it was only yesterday, but in reality, almost two decades have passed. So much has changed over these years—professionally, personally, and around us.

Life at IIPM during our induction was much simpler. There was no internet, no Wi-Fi and certainly no constant stream of notifications demanding our attention.

Our entire batch was one big group of friends. After classes, we would play carrom, table tennis or go swimming. We talked, laughed, played and simply enjoyed each other’s company.

We didn’t have smartphones to capture those moments.

But perhaps that’s why we remember them so vividly.

Looking back, I realise that those were not just days of induction. They were the beginning of friendships, experiences and memories that became an integral part of our journey at IndianOil.

And returning to IIPM after 17 years was more than just a visit to an old workplace.

It was like meeting my younger self—the young Chemical Engineer who walked into those gates in 2009 with excitement, nervousness, dreams and a whole lot of hope for the future.

17 years later, the place is familiar, but the person standing there has changed.

The corridors may look the same, but the journey in between has made all the difference.

Grateful for the journey.
Grateful for the memories.
And above all, grateful to IndianOil for a journey that continues to add new chapters.

Some journeys take us far,
Some bring us back to the start.
And some places never really leave us—
Because they quietly live in our heart.