All work and no play makes jack a dull boy. But IIM-B makes its students work hard and also play hard, making them all-rounders was the unanimous opinion expressed by its medalists for the year 2007-08.

For 23-year-old Sahil Barua, who bagged the gold medal for best all round performance in Post Graduate Programme (PGP), IIM-B is unique because of its focus on all round development of its students.

"I do not think you could get a better peer group than this throughout the country or even abroad".

Sahil, who plays the keyboard, guitar and was a member of the "TSEPAK" (volleyball played with feet), feels the opportunities at IIMB "for a person to evolve are fantastic".

Sahil, who has received a job offer from Baine and Co, Consulting firm based out of Boston, has opted to work in their Gurgaon office as he feels "India is the place to be now".

"It is an exciting time to be in India, the global focus is on India, salaries are good, working atmosphere is stimulating", he told PTI.

Son of Prof Samir Barua, director IIM-A, Sahil has been working for a start-up firm catalyst ventures which is into Micro venture capital funding for the last six months.

The 26-year-old Amit Gupta, who did his mathematics and computing from IIT Delhi, won the gold medal for securing first rank in PGP. He opted to work for Mckenzie and Co in their Gurgaon office, though he interned with Lehman Brothers in New York because he wants to give back to his country what the country has given him.

On his experience at IIM-B, Amit said "it was better than what I expected. I got to interact with a diverse age group, from people in their twenties to those in their late thirties. Opportunities here are umpteen for you to pursue co-curricular activities, which really develops you as a person".

Meanwhile 25-year-old Abhishek Agarwal, who bagged the gold medal for securing second rank in PGP, has opted to work for the Blackstone group, a private equity frim based out of London and US. "Though I have opted for the Mumbai office, the company has asked me to work in London for an year".

"IIM-B is the best place to be in as the focus is not just on studies but making you a well-rounded person, capable of facing any challenge head-on". Abhishek, who interned with an investment banking firm, wants to be in his home country.

For 33-year-old Srisankar Swaminathan Kunniyur who has bagged the gold medal for obtaining first rank in PGSEM (Post Graduate Diplama in Software Interprise Management) and his working in Motorola, "the faculty in IIM-B is great. It is on par with institutes abroad. It induces you to put your best foot forward, making you an all round person".

Srisankar, who moved to India over three year back after working in the US, wants to start a company of his own.

"There are a lot of opportunities in India now. There is no need to go out. India is a happening place".

For 30-year-old Amit Agarwal, who has bagged the gold medal for all rounder performance in PGSEM and his working in Infosys [Get Quote] as chief solution manager, IIM-B provided the best opportunities to evolve as a person. It is a very enriching programme".

"I got the best support from my seniors at Infosys and also IIM-B faculty", he said. Amit, who is married, had to do quite lot of balancing and time management since he got very less time to spend with family.