Review of the Last Few Months of 2025

 First three or four months of 2025 were spent in retirement- turned out to be a break. Because by end- April, I was back working full time, in a new place. JIS University, Kolkata, a 10- year-old private university. The pluses- an established university, unlike Prestige, my last workplace where I was the Founding VC.

Another plus was that the top management team including the VC and the other Pro VC, was new. So we could view things differently.

Of course, legacy issues were there- a closed loop view of West Bengal for admissions and some of the placements. Affecting diversity and output, to a certain extent. The campuses being spread out also affected coordination at times. 

Some achievements during this period- improving processes, accountability and governance structure within the university. Establishing a structure with new Deans for Research, and Student/alumni interaction, for example, will have a long term impact. Regular discussions on how to improve diversity in admissions have been taking place, with some actionable plans from the team.

A couple of good FDPs and conferences have also happened, across departments. Student participation in placements is looking up, and so is the faculty participation. Ph. D. admissions in most departments have a good demand. Admissions in B.Sc. Agriculture have gone up. Entrepreneurship related events and cultural activities have picked up steam. An MoU with a Malaysian Tech university (APU) has been signed.

The Medical college under JIS University has got permission to run Post Graduate courses recently. The brand is bound to make its presence felt in many ways, beyond the state. 

Karnataka - Part 3- NMIMS and More

 I had another innings in Bangalore from 2020 end till October 2022. This was as Director at NMIMS Bangalore campus. Eventful 2 years, which started with online classes due to COVID still being around. Slowly, we started offline classes, and I was able to meet many students in person. We had a lot of good times, a couple of Convocations, etc. and a few Golf sessions too- in our backyard.

Student Golfers (Mahek Singhal and others) and Emcees (below) for a convocation- Sreelekha and Divya.

More students (above- Rakshita and Avnii among them, and Tanya Sardana with Ekalavya below, at a placement party

Faculty groups at an event above, and at an FDP, below.

Colour Yellow, as per theme for a day, above, and Prerona and Tanmeet at our Golf session, below

A woman umpire from cricket, Gayathri, got introduced to Golf. With Preeti and Narayani.

Foursome of friends from past lives.

Below, Anshita organised an IMT Nagpur alums get together at the Orchid.

IIMB alums parties- above and below. 

Pooja Varun from PES, and Savitha from KIAMS-alums who met me

Placecom Yearend Party

 At NMIMS Bangalore, it is a tradition that we host a party for the senior placement committee members at the conclusion of the placement process of their batch. Since I joined, this is the second one, and this year was a record in terms of early completion of the process for 2022 MBA graduates.

Some pics from the outing, posed and candid. Ayesha, Divya Anand, Sreelekha, Mehul, Reshma, Sneha, Vasu, Rishika were some of the members

With Ekalavya in the centre.

Some of the goodies- fondue etc., that added to the fun!

Campus Blues

 Actually, that should be Leaving-campus Blues. Most freshly minted grads, including MBAs, go through this phase where they have just left their 'home away from home' and just got out into the big bad world. Could be for a job, in the case of some. Alien place, new colleagues, fewer friends.. you get the picture. And a boss!

No wonder, many get into a mini-depression- if not clinically- and wonder what happened. Songs like Koi lauta de mere beete hue din, start sounding loudly in their brains. Or if a Jagjit Singh fan, his ghazal -Woh kaagaz ki kashti wo baarish ka pani.

These are the Blues - true-blue blues. They don't match with the Reds, or Greens. They persist well into the first few months after the exit. So now you know how the U.K. feels after Brexit. Kyunki, har friend zaroori hota hai.

Why this piece? Because our MBA students are poised for their exit in a month or two, having placed in jobs that they had applied for from the Bangalore campus. Just empathizing. It happened to me in 1984, a long time ago.

Placement Masala IIMB 1984

This is vintage stuff from our wall mag during placement of our batch -circa 1984, but worth a look even today.

Overheard- On The Placement Front

Usha Mohan- Hoechst. What Next?

‘Banker” Sridharan (after Lovelock Lewis’ abortive interview)- With most people, it is Lovelock, then Wedlock and finally Hemlock. With me, it was Wedlock, Lovelock and then Hemlock.

‘Big-Bong Chakki’ (after his 25th interview)- What shit yaa! They did not ask me a single question! (legitimate question. But not after the 25th interview, Chakki.)

‘Monto’ Hemant- Only BEML, Only BEML, Only BEML (what about Only Vimal fans?)

Alka Mehta (after the Ulka interview)- Why didn’t my parents name me Ulka? I could’ve walked in!

‘Big-Bong Chakki’ (before an interview with a Bombay company)- I have visited Calcutta and Delhi. Now I want to visit Bombay.

Usha Mohan (after Usha Microprocesors Interview)- My husband has 50% equity participation. The ‘Usha’ part.

Shobha Iyer (during Godrej & Boyce Interview)- I want to know why it is Godrej and ‘Boys’ mfg. co.

‘Grand Chacha’ Sarma (after offer from HPCL)- I wanted Projects. I got it! I wanted Chemicals. I got it! What about the public sector, chacha?

Thanks to my classmate: G.S. Pai, Author.

Shaw Wallace Placement Process at IIMB

This was a piece written during our MBA placement season after Shaw Wallace had visited campus (IIMB, circa 1984). Enjoy!

Managers 'Pygmalioned'

George Bernard Shaw happened to visit IIMB yesterday, since he was passing through Bangalore. With him had come the irrepressible Eliza Dolittle. The news of their arrival spread like wildfire. In no time at all, a line of twenty-six 'suitors' was ready, asking for her hand. The elite of IIMB were invited, and the rites were to be performed by the placement officer, in the event of Eliza falling for one of the eligibles.


Contrary to tradition, Eliza's creator made a 'proposal'. Said he, "Anyone willing to marry my sweet girl will get Rs. 1,500 a month."

Many eyebrows came up. Mistaking the sentiment behind these, Shaw continued, "Also, you will get Rs. 200 per month..for tiffin."

Now, a few (not less than 15) of the suitors got up from their seats. Bernard Shaw moved forward, to try and contain their glee at the unexpected bonus (200 bucks). He was somewhat surprised when the 'free-wheeling fifteen' made for the door, ignoring his placatory arm.

"Well, to each his own," he said to himself. For, he was a reasonable man.

The rest of the process continued in Room no. 5 in strict confidence. What went on is typified by the following exchange-

SHAW: You see, you are 'experienced'. But we can offer you only 1500 rupees-

SUITOR: Dowry is anti-national.

SHAW: And Rs. 150 for tiffin.

SUITOR: No, I cannot stain the reputation of this institute, our society, our nation.

SHAW: You'll always have Eliza.

SUITOR: What about Tiffin for Eliza?

SHAW: She's on a diet. See her figure!

SUITOR: And lunch....and dinner?

SHAW: Sorry, but my hands are tied. But I can transform you from a country bumpkin into a prince.

SUITOR: Talk sense. Who can afford the lifestyle of a prince? Being a manager is difficult enough.

SHAW: Well, what's your answer?

SUITOR: Only if you pay the dry-cleaning charges for my suit.

SHAW: Actually, Eliza prefers an 'inexperienced' husband. She has her reasons.

SUITOR: Yeah, the chief one being that they come CHEAP. (Walks out in a huff)

Question to ponder: What should Eliza do?

Supplementary: What should (ponderous) Shaw do?

THE (not-so-sweet) END.

Placement Diary

ICICI Bank picked up 28 students yesterday- a big haul indeed. Crisil is on campus today, and SBI Life expected this week too. Sentiment seems to have improved a lot in the Indian corporates, compared with last year or two. Good news for everybody. Otherwise, a 2 year effort looks wasted. Placement team has worked hard, and will be happy too.

Lots of former students are getting back in touch. Feels good, and nice to watch their progress through albums and scrawls on facebook. Leads to occasional meetings too, in different places.