Remembering Good Times

 There were lots of them at Indore. Professionally, I got to teach some nice people (though I wish the classes could have been smaller). Some students I have met after they finished too, and remembered our good times. Sapna, Anam, Bhuvneet, Shatakshi, Harshad, Tamros, Ruminder, Arshia, are a few names that readily come to mind. 

I started with teaching Advertising, but moved on to Digital Marketing along with that staple, Marketing Research. Also added Tourism and Retailing for Ph.D. students. And co-taught a Seminar on Thought Leadership with Shweta Kushal, and one on Data Analysis for one-year EPGP. Last time around, also taught a Capstone module on Marketing. Interesting mix. Had many academic associates along the way, all very helpful. Saumya Sharma always remained in touch, even after going to work in M.R. companies.

Ph.D. students also I had many, and continue to be on the committees of a few. Co-wrote a case with Sanket. Also co-wrote a few papers with Srinivas Raghavan and Shweta Jha, and presented many more at conferences. Worked with students (Aradhya, Ayushi, Satchi, Juhi,..) of the 5-year IPM as well, on a few papers in independent study courses. Also came to meet a few talented IPMers like Avik, Sanjana Rao, Jasmine, Shrunga, Philip, during their play directed by Shweta. (My Kaur competence got a boost with Ruminder, Barleen, Harshdeep and Jasmine helping me build it). Later, Shreya too, who starred in The Merchant of Venice. And Prachi.

In my MDP Chairmanship, it was Pradeep Kerketta, Bhupendra initially, and Manas and Hemendra, along with Neha who worked hard behind the scenes. And the same during my tenure as a Dean, where the Director's office staff (Santhi in particular) and our secretaries (Abhishek, Arun) worked really hard to help the Deans. Prof. Ghosh was a great support, and so was Prof. Rishikesha Krishnan. Also the various program office staff (PGP and FPM in particular), some of whom also came to admision interviews at different cities with us.

There was a big conference by our area we did in 2017 and 2019, where the energy of Abhishek and Veenus (and Rajhans in edition 2) which saw us make it really international. I also visited a few in Bali, Beppu (Japan), Phnom Penh (Cambodia), and Hanoi (Vietnam) and Bangkok, and learnt a few things from interacting with global audiences.  

Not surprisingly, the marketing area faculty had a few parties, from the time Bhagyalakshmi was a part of IIMI, and a couple at Mashal after that. Will miss all that. Also enjoyed a couple of impromptu ones where we did a Singathon for IPM students with Pawan Singh, me, Shweta, Venkat etc.

Tried teaching Golf to some of my colleagues and one alum, Akash Gupta, on our cricket ground-some MDP participants too. Our admission yatras across India gave us a chance to catch up with alumni of Indore and other schools we'd been a part of. Teaching at the Mumbai campus, ditto.

The 4th edition of my Marketing Research text came out in 2019, and also a co-edited book of cases on Indian Digital Marketing cases that I am proud of. This also contains an award winning case (live) by a group of students. As usual, student-authored cases formed a part of my M.R. book too.