Not Just Presentations -Pedagogy

 Learning Methods are many, and a professor can invent or modify some existing ones too. Assignments that include a presentation are a good tool to build communication skills, but other objectives can be served by using other methods. A few I have used-

Blogging

Role Plays based on short cases

Just role plays to learn about Qualitative Research Techniques such as Focus Groups or Depth Interviews. Each of these requires a different skill-set. 

Questionnaire-building or modification to suit changing times. Can be a group exercise done in class.

Bidding to simulate auctions of different kinds, in Negotiations, or in Digital (Paid) Marketing 

Shooting a small video/reel to advertise a product/service

Captioning a post with attractive copy.

In addition, you can use exams as a learning tool by being creative in designing questions that test thinking ability or application orientation.

MBA Inauguration of Batch 24-26

 At Prestige University, we inaugurated Batch 24-26 of the MBA program. Incoming students and parents had the opportunity to listen to Mr. Vikram Gulia, former MD and CEO of A.P.P.L., a Tata Group company which manages its plantations. Most of these are in Assam and West Bengal. 

At the inauguration. Snehal Singh, visiting faculty- above.

Mrs. Gulia took a tour of the campus..

Some senior MBA students were also present.. above and below, with Divya, Program manager.

Above- Mr. Vikram Gulia, Chief Guest. He is the former MD and CEO of APPL, a Tata Company.

He narrated interesting stories of how he got his first job, and challenges faced as a rookie assistant manager in remote locations, brushes with wild elephants included. Many career and life lessons were a part of his welcome address to this group of students.

Some senior students also spoke of their experience. The Chancellor of P.U., Dr. Davish Jain, and Director PEF, Mr. Ketan Jain, also motivated the incoming students through their talks. Divya Sairam was the Emcee for the function, which concluded with lunch at the campus.

Meeting Long-lost Relatives

 Ok, not really lost, but meeting some after long! My paternal cousins who grew up in Belgaum area (Nandgad, to be precise) along with my Dad and his brothers, and I have kept in touch. One branch of the family is global, with Hyderabad as a base. And the second, is also global, with Bangalore as a base. So we met the Bangalore branch with a couple of cousins, and their offspring and also the next gen. It was great catching up - some pics.

On the right is Veena, my nephew Pushkar's wife, now settled on the US West Coast. 

Tiyasi, my nephew Rohit's wife, left in pic above, runs an online business at oagh.in, selling sarees from different parts of India, some custom-made for them by weavers. Samples below. You can visit the website for more, if interested. Or their insta page https://www.instagram.com/oaghindia/

My cousin Prabha, on the right above, with her grandson Raghav, who is Veena's son.

My favourite grandkid is Tiya, who is Rohit and Tiyasi's daughter, above.

We last met at her 1st birthday 2 years ago, but that is not a problem in reconnecting. She tries out her painting skills on my hand!

Why Singles Are Important

 Marriage is considered a given, in most human societies. People have elaborate ceremonies around it, and event managers and pre-wedding-shoot shooters galore make enormous profits from these. Poor singles are often ignored by those who celebrate Doubles. 

But in my view, Singles are as important, if not more important. They are often thrown into leadership positions or start new movements, or cults. Sometimes after abandoning the spouse, but still..

They are free spirits, not burdened by what society demands of them. They have an independent opinion, and frequently express it too. They drink a lot of tea at tea stalls, improving the economy.

They usually have parents who are not happy about their being single, and have to ward off attempts to get them hitched. Dating sites and matrimonial spaces in newspapers do what they can to help the parents, or the few Singles who want to enter holy matrimony.

Jorhat Museum of Ahom King

 This is a beautiful place on the outskirts of Jorhat. Well worth a visit to understand the history of Assam and its various tribes.

Huge Statue of Ahom king, Sukapha.

Photography is not allowed inside the Museum, so all pics are outside, of the various buildings, the impressive gate, and a lake.

Above- leaving Jorhat on a rainy day. Only one flight to Kolkata.

Below- at TOCKLAI, Jorhat- a research centre for tea, jointly funded by Tea Growers and the Govt.

India Wins a World Cup

 Not bad, and congratulations. But to put things in perspective, only around 12 countries regularly play cricket. Most cricket boards have no money these days. The rest of the world plays other games. I am not sure of the count, but Soccer (football for common Indians) might be a more popular game, by miles. Others too, I am sure.

I propose that we concentrate more on Golf. We already have a champ or two, like Aditi Ashok, who played Olympics twice, and came within a stroke of winning Bronze in her second Olympics. The men are not bad too, and make a mark from time to time. I know the joy of getting a Hole-in-one. It beats multiple world cup wins..

Or, we could promote Gilli-danda, our ethnic game, since we have the money. How about it? Every galli already has the equipment needed, and I am sure we can dominate the world, after teaching them how to. More inclusive, environment-friendly, and fun to play. I have played it when young. Marbles too.. no, I am not losing my marbles!

Reading Habit and Authors

 Nishka Rathi introduced me to a new author a couple of years ago. In a bookstore I have explored new authors too, for instance a couple of Japanese authors unknown to me, such as Kazuo Ishigara. Liked some of the new stuff too.

But I generally prefer a few known authors of fiction, such as Rex Stout, Agatha Christie, AA Fair aka Erle Stanley Gardner (he wrote under two names, for two sets of characters he created). And the Japanese Haruki Murakami, whose writing is surreal.

For humour of different kinds, my preferences are Dave Barry, PG Wodehouse, and in Marathi, the incomparable Pu. La. Deshpande. Also intergalactic humour from Douglas Adams.

In non-fiction, I like biographies, and thoughtful people like Osho and J. Krishnamurti who write about philosophy, and life's meaning.

My book collection has not stopped growing, and I am scared I may be buried under a pile of books some day.