Anniversary Number 37

Sounds like a lot, doesn't it? 

Started in Pune, continued to a stay in the U.S. till we returned to India in 1991. Then, we went places within India. Bhubaneswar, Hyderabad, Harihar, Lucknow, Kozhikode aka Calicut, and on to Bangalore, Nagpur, Indore. Then, back to Bangalore and a second stint in Indore. Possible last stop is now Kolkata, for work.

Two daughters came along the way, and both are now grown-up young ladies with minds of their own. We are growing old and heading towards a sunset, but it has been an enjoyable time on the whole. Whether to marry is a personal choice that you have to make. If you do marry, you will more likely than not have kids, and take care of elders in either family at some point. Also make friends, and keep some.

It's an Endurance Test of a kind too, as there will be ups and downs of various types. But through it all, you have an assurance that you are not alone. That is a comforting thought, and makes it worthwhile. Just my view..

Why IMT Nagpur Was Magical

 Can't put my finger on one thing, but I think the place had a vibe that was special. It included the people, and the way they interacted with each other. The students, the faculty, the staff, and also some of the inanimate objects. That may sound strange, but tangible inanimates do play a role in our lives. The grass, the trees, and the rocks. The design of some rooms, colour of the walls (Red Bricks in this case). 

Most of all, the people. Kirloskar Institute in Harihar (where I worked a few years before IMT) had this vibe too. In addition to a very tangible Golf course, but that's another matter.

The students had a mix of IQ and EQ that put them in a unique category, with a high total score. Other Qs too, perhaps. After all, we are multidimensional. So I would say that people brought their uniqueness to it,  being from different corners of the country. The faculty were actually global- many had studied or worked abroad.

Diversity makes a campus more vibrant, and we saw it in all IIMs I was at- to study or to work- 4 in all. We had it in good measure. I am still able to meet alums in Ahmedabad, Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai, Pune and Hyderabad if I visit these places- so many years after I stopped working at IMT. Many faculty have stayed for 15 years or more! Another sign of a good place!

The autonomy we enjoyed in running the place was also a contributing factor. Which meant student and faculty needs could be met without looking over our shoulder. 

Oral and Written Communication

 Our (Indian) education system, in school particularly, stresses written communication much more than oral. As a result, when we get into higher education- college or beyond, our spoken skills are limited. Except for a few students who get into debating or speaking classes.

What I observed in the U.S. is that spoken skills are a lot better among undergrads. Maybe among school students also. Their society needs some socialising skills among opposite genders for dating and so on, which are accepted forms of getting to know potential partners.

Whatever the reasons, our students need a lot more prepping for communication skills. My MBA was the first time I was expected to really participate in a class discussion, and that was when I was 22 plus!

Some training, and opportunities for all through curricular and extra-curricular activities- drama, for example, may be great to develop these skills. Schools and colleges, and individual teachers, can do more in this respect, I think.

Not sure what the impact of social media is, on these two forms of communication among youngsters.. a research topic, maybe?

Mumtaz and Her Films

 Her early films were probably forgettable, though she started pretty early. Acted as a heroine opposite Dara Singh in a few films too, but really came into her own when she starred opposite Shammi Kapoor in Bramhachari, where she had a great song- Aaj kal tere mere pyar ke charche kar zabaan par. It was om everybody's zabaan, for a long time. Also, another song in that period, Zindagi ittefaq hai, opposite Dharmendra and Feroz Khan was very popular.

Ater she teamed up with Rajesh Khanna, the pair had quite a few successful outings. Like Aap ki Kasam, Roti and Do Raaste. The song Bindiya chamkegi was a huge hit. Dushman also. 

And with Dev Anand, she starred in hare Rama Hare Krishna, the film in which Zeenat Aman made her debut as the hero's sister. 

Khilona opposite Sanjeev Kumar was another great role. 

I also liked her in Apradh, made by Feroz Khan, where she had two good duets, Tum mile pyar se, and Hamaare siwa, tumhaare aur kitne deewane hain? 

From Roti, her duet Gore rang pe na itna gumaan kar, ..main shama hoon tu hai parwaana, was memorable.

Jeetendra was another hero she teamed up with successfully, in a couple of hit films. Himmat was one of them. 

The link below

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPAUcrwAO6o&list=PLKDYJsLRnRIP2ZTxjvbWW9FfYtsA5ZjWy&index=4 has some info about her life and times, for those interested in more.

Memorable Moments 2009-2011

 Nine eleven, so called by Americans for the date of that attack on the World Trade Centre, was good for me- the years, I mean. 

I joined IMT NAGPUR as Director. Flew in a six seater private plane with the promoter, to be introduced to the faculty before joining. My former colleague Anwar Ali was with me too. 

I was interviewed by the student team that ran our newsletter- probably by Gowri. 

Met a lot of new colleagues, and Jayasimha, an old one.

Planned out a few things, and ran into a hunger strike by students in early 2010, over placements. Replaced the head of placements (faculty), and also MDP chair. 

Taught a Seminar course called Seminar on Thought Leadership, for the first time, with 40 students- one was an exchange student from Austria, Laura.

Met a lot of bright students through various functions, committees and events. Some of the best!

With Prof. Ravi Gadgil, built a green to play Golf on. Played Golf with him and others.

Taught a class on how to use the case method of learning, for students during orientation.

Started Alumni chapter meets in 4-5 cities

Conducted a Case conference planned by Harsh Halve and Jayasimha in Goa, for three consecutive years, at the International Centre, Dona Paula.

Conducted our first independent convocation in 2011 with Mr. Sunil Mittal as Chief Guest. Second with Mr. Mukesh Ambani, and third with Mr. Azim Premji.

Got IMT Nagpur into the top 50 B schools as per a major survey.

Recruited Anant Ram, TK Chatterjee, Vijaya Kumar and Smita Dabholkar, who have been around for many years. Also Rajnandan Pattnaik.

Guided Naveen Das through his Ph.D., jointly through NLU Jodhpur and IMT.

Helped students start F 'n F on campus.

Ate a lot of Oranges.

Memorable Moments- 1992-1995

 I was in Hyderabad most of this time.

Reconnecting with Alok's family in Hyderabad. We lived in the same building. Alok was my friend and mentor through college, admission to Clemson University and through my Ph.D. 

Meeting interesting colleagues like Thomas, Dayakara Rao and Sudha at Vignana Jyoti Institute.

A shoot we did for the first PGDM/MBA brochure. Set the stage for later ad material we did at KIAMS.

First batch of MBA- teaching them was fun. Deepa, Deepthi, and Ranjana Rudra are still in touch. Giri too, on fb.

Pooja was born, in December 1992. Daughter no. 2.

Saw a couple of good films, like Roja and Prabhudeva starrer Humse Hai Muqabla (remake of a Tamil original). It had an amazing dance sequence, Mukkala, muqabla, laila.. 

Also saw Darr, and the remake of Sleeping With the Enemy (shot in Greenwood, USA where we lived), which had a song 'Iqraar karna kushkil hai, inkaar karna mushkil hai, sung by Manisha Koirala on stage-my daughters' favourite). Nana Patekar starred as the villainish husband.

Memorable Moments USA 1989-1991

Pic- Leslie with Anu in Greenwood. 

 Moving from Clemson in a U Haul which I drove. Mini-truck.

Meeting the diverse faculty in my department at Lander, and Leslie Price Bennett and her husband Bob. We really hit it off. 

Went to Yellowstone, and saw Mount Rushmore in 1990 in a trip with my parents. 

Visited Sheelu, a cousin, Jayashree, another cousin and their families in New York Staten Island, and Warren, Ohio. Prakash Kenjale in Detroit, and Kiran in L.A.

Made new friends- Athena and her family, and the Sonis, and some Gujarati families in Greenwood. Wilma Reeves from Home Science, Samrendra Singh and his wife Annie- we are still in touch.

Stopped in Europe, visited Greece for the first time and was captivated. Corfu, mentioned in Gerald Durrell's My Family and Other Animals, was on the route our Ferry took from Brindisi to Patras.

While we were in Amsterdam, heard about Rajiv Gandhi's assassination from a local newspaper.

Joined Xavier Institute in Bhubaneswar, on return to India.