Undergraduate Programs in NMIMS

 We have quite a few innovative undergraduate programs in all the campuses including at Bangalore, where I now work. Not just a B.B.A., the younger cousin of M.B.A., but a program in Applied Statistics and Analytics, a B.Sc. Economics (Hons.), an integrated B.A./B.B.M. + LL.B. and a B.Com. (Hons.). Some of these are potentially job-oriented. All of them are rigorous, and add value to the plain vanilla courses offered routinely by others. Except for the Law courses, all others have an entrance exam conducted by NMIMS. 

We also have Post-graduate Executive programs at the Koramangala campus, specialising in Banking and Finance in partnership with CRISIL, and weekend programs too- one in Analytics, as well as a flagship MPE, an equivalent of the MBA for executives.

Bangalored Once Again

Having been here several times before, on work and study stints, it's not a new place, except that the city continues to be a growth magnet for all types of industries, not just technology based ones. It's the new Bombay/Mumbai, if you will, and additionally has the best weather among all metros. 

My new stint here is as Director, Bangalore campus, with a reputed deemed university..Narsee Monji, or NMIMS for short. I started on the 25th, and already had a couple of Zoom meetings, and a couple of  physically distanced meetings on site. We have two campuses, at Bannerghatta Road (saw bus nos. 365 and 366 which were familiar sights in 1982-84 when we lived at IIMB) and Koramangala. 

We have some undergraduate departments (Commerce, Law, Economics and Science) as well as an MBA program. About 1200 students in all, though due to COVID, they are not here at the moment.

View from my office at Bannerghatta Road, the main/bigger campus.

and a view of the other side, from another floor.

Parting Shots of IIM Indore Nov 17

 Nov. 17, 2020, my last but one day on campus. Naturally, I tried to make the most of it, like graduating students do. I may visit again, but it won't be the same,... here are the results of my attempts to pack in some good shots..

Above- Sunrise from behind the ER-3 or EPGP Mess. I had dinner at this mess most of my years and some interesting conversations with Srinivas, Bhavanishankar, Bhavana, Abhishek and Rashmi and daughter, and Joyshankar. Also a couple with Swatantra.

Above. From the sports ground, looking back at Hostel SR-15 and the climb up.

Top down view of the same staircase and cricket ground.

This is how the pre-sunrise sky looked, with my tea mug and without, from my terrace..house no. 40.

Below- This was a day earlier, at Choral Dam, my first visit.

Parting Shots Part 2 (IIM Indore)

 Some more shots.. 

These two are sunset shots, the rest are of Sunrise 18th Nov. 2020.

My Favourites From Bollywood

 There are probably more, but this is a short list.

Dev Anand. I am fond of all his films up to Des Pardes. After that, his films were not great, though he continued making them regularly. But his films are only one part of why I like him. He had a charm that transcended the world of films, and spilled out into his life. His work ethic was great, and his zest for life, memorable. He also regularly introduced new talent in his films, particularly heroines like Zeenat Aman and Tina Munim. Many of his films from the 70s or earlier were romantic, and had great music. Except Guide, which was also serious and had great music. Some of the songs are eternal favourites, like Wahan kaun hai tera, musafir, jayega kahaan, or Yeh dil na hota bechara, Dil aaj shaayar hai and Phoolon ke rang se..

Kishore Kumar. My second favourite is Kishore Kumar, born in Khandwa. M.P. (not in Bengal), and a great all-rounder, to use cricketing terminology. (Incidentally, Salim who co-wrote Sholay, is also from Indore, and so is Johnny Walker). He was so talented that he could sing, compose music, direct films and perform almost any kind of role. The movies he produced were sometimes extremely serious ones. His first innings was known more for acting, but he skyrocketed to his zenith in his second as a singer. Aradhana under S.D. Buman's baton as music director proved to be the rocket-launcher. He never looked back, and produced gems for many music directors including R.D. Burman and Laxmikant Pyarelal. My favourites include most songs of his, in many moods. This blog gets its anme from one of his songs in Kati Patang.

Mehmood. Another immensely talented actor, producer and director. Made many significant films, like Kunwara Baap, Sabse Bada Rupiah, and Ginny aur Johnny, besides rollicking comedies like Bhoot Bangla, Padosan and Bombay to Goa. Acted against all the top heroes and sometimes overshadowed them. His Hum kaale hain to kya hua dilwale hain role in Gumnaam was imitated by Amitabh Bachhan in a later film song. He was good at emotional roles too, which he proved in many of his films.

Nonlinear Memories- Indore

 Our memories come and go when they want, or are triggered by something happening in the present. Presenting a few random ones in pictorial form..nostalgia for the past and the future. 

Pics around the campus can be interesting..

Karaoke party to celebrate the GOMC win..these were the winning team.

Sunny and in rain, the road to my office.

Above- the cast and crew of The Merchant of Venice, the third play staged at IIM Indore during my stay. Directed by Shweta Kushal. Below..my bosses come in for an inspection.

Guava Chronicles

 The guava tree in my Indore home has been pretty bountiful this year, maybe as a farewell to me. Anyway, here are some shots, along with a Guava thief caught red-handed :) 

Peacock Sightings

Ok, I am not their favourite person, because when I chase them, they run away, without so much as a hello. But the last few days, i have become more palatable to at least one of them. These are some pics I managed in his brief visits..

Unexpected Bonanzas

 A peacock sitting on your wall is least expected while making your morning cup of tea. But this is exactly what I saw a couple of days ago. He did not seem perturbed by my camera and posed for a pic or two before walking/flying away. Also met Saumyaa Sharma who used to be my (favourite) academic associate for 3 years. Now she works in Marketing Research up North, after similar stints at Bangalore and Mumbai.

Another bonanza from nature, was this fabulous filtered Sunrise which arrived where I was sitting, in my study. All I had to do was turn around and click.

An older pic of the same three as above, a few years ago at Mashaal.

That was a farewell for Saumyaa.

Behaviour and Leadership

 I think if you wanted to study contrasting styles of political leadership, you only have to look at New Zealand and the USA in the last few years. No idea where Jacinda Ardern came from, but for me, she symbolises what leadership is all about. Of course, economic growth is important, but it's not everything. We are human beings, not robots. 

Even robots may not be too happy with the kind of crass behaviour that the last POTUS put up, I am sure. He posed as a successful businessman, but I am not too sure that was also misrepresented like most things about him. Of course, he was legally elected, and had a right to his political and economic views/policies. My point is more about the human angle. Maybe if COVID had not shown him up for what he was, he may have won again. In a way, Biden must thank the virus too for helping his cause.

Hope the Biden-Harris era reminds us more of the gentlemen of the past.

Three IIMs As a Professor

 I will shortly complete my 7 year stint at the third IIM I have worked in. Lucknow, 2001-03, Kozhikode or Calicut (2003-05), and now, Indore (2013-2020). I have been frequently asked why I did not stay too long in some workplaces. I will instead try and tell you why I did stay here for 7 years. 

I had visited IIM Indore a couple of times for different reasons, before I came to work here. Always found the attitude of the staff to be helpful on my visits. Indoreans are, without exception, nice people-probably extends to the rest of the state..I have recently made some friends in Bhopal/Dewas too, which reinforces this belief. Also visited Khandwa, Mandu, Patalpani, Maheshwar and Omkareshwar a couple of times at least. My interactions with the housekeeping staff, the drivers and attendants at the offices, were cordial, and they were always helpful when we needed help. 

Students, I had a variety of- one year EPGP, 2 year PGPMX at Mumbai, PGP here and at Mumbai campus, and the crowning glory- PGP regular. Occasionally, IPM and Dubai programs. MDPs, in-company,, and GMPE were some others. We designed a couple specifically for Whirlpool, Tata Trent and HPCL. Most were memorable.

I learnt a lot about the new kid on the block, Digital Marketing, while teaching it and writing cases about it, or sourcing them from students or alumni. Also developed a course on Tourism Marketing for PGP and Ph.D. Very interesting for me!

A few international conferences enabled me to interact with global researchers, from Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Korea, etc.- enriching. Wrote cases on international marketing retailing, tourism etc. Wrote research papers on Social Media, B to B marketing and Faculty Branding, some of which found outlets in journals of repute. 

Ran a couple of conferences with NASMEI with young colleagues. Also guest lectured at multiple places, went for faculty selections at IIMs and NITIE, and FDPs at Belgaum's Gogte Institute. All in all, an action-packed, satisfying 7 years, I must say. Hope the victims of my teaching feel good about my attempts as well! Will remember lots of them.

Zany Films

 Not sure if the word zany prevails, but my gen. might understand what it means. There are a few films which are a lovely ride and make you forget yourself and your worries, if you had any. Mostly, it has to do with editing, not the story necessarily. Some fun films of this kind-

Satte pe Satta- I think it was baed on Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Well-adapted, and all the actors did a good job. The songs were also good.

Finding Fanny- I liked it for its quirky humour, and Shahid Kapur's dad- he is awesome. Pankaj Kapur.

Gol maal- with Amol Palekar and Utpal Dutt. Plot, direction, acting, all superb.

Angoor- Based on Shakespeare's play, Sanjeev Kumar and Deven Varma added zest.

Albela..Just for the songs and the unlikely lead pair (Bhagwan Dada and Geeta Bali), this gets in my list.

The Indian version of Irma La Douce was Manoranjan. Very entertaining. Sanjeev Kumar, Zeenat and Shammi Kapoor excelled.

Hum Kisise Kam Nahin..the foursome of songs, and in general, an entertainment-oriented plot. Bachna ai haseeno was also a chart-buster.

Hathi Mere Sathi was one of the biggest hits of its time. Novel plot and great songs.

Photography - Changing Your Perspective

 When you change the angle (perspective), you get a view you never thought about. I tried that today on campus (IIM Indore), and got these unusual pics. You may have seen the usual ones, so I am skipping those.