Carpe Diem kicked off with much fanfare on the 3^rd of February 2012. The event was inaugurated by the Dean Prof. Ashok Banerjee, who appreciated the efforts of the students who were part of this festival, and also promised more support in the future.

This was followed by a play produced by the Dramatics Cell of IIM Calcutta, The Devil Within, which tackled the issue of communal hatred. Directed by Khushboo Kaushal, Ravi Bhushan and Gaurav Jindal, the play had performances that left the audience spell-bound. It concluded to a standing ovation from the crowd.

Bandish, featuring grammy nominated artist Shubhen Chatterjee, enthralled the audience with their fusion music, producing a unique blend of Indian classical as well as western music. The auditorium lawn was the perfect venue for the large crowd, a large part of which had just arrived from other colleges.

The mime performed by Mr. Niranjan Goswami was one to remember and cherish. The Padmashri award winner kept the audience spellbound with the lively act, be it the role of a dentist or of a master playing with his dog. The depiction of a woman getting ready; putting makeup, dressing up, waiting for someone, was surely one to savor.

 Mr. Niranjan, who keeps experimenting and redefining his art gave us an evening to be remembered. The act beautifully depicted how little we value the things we possess and our fixation with beauty. The crowd rose to the occasion, greeting them with a well deserved and thunderous applause.

 With such a great start on the first day, Carpe Diem promises to only get better.

For more photos, click here.

Whether it  was  the JBS Jam session on the Jetty at 4 in the morning ,  or the thrill of  being a wholly different character “Kiran” as part of The Muggy Night in Mumbai, or all those evenings doing Random bakar at the NC, the culture of Joka surely cannot be attributed to a single moment. Now waiting for the last leg in this line of celebrations-Carpe Diem!!

More on Carpe Diem at http://www.iimc-carpediem.com

Press Reports say that his visit was aimed at promoting peace. What kind of peace?- I fail to comprehend. The internecine warfare between the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) and LTTE ended a good 30 months back, in May 2009. There hasn’t been any major unrest since then. What sort of a peace process is our former president trying to broker?

In a war that had more collateral damage than direct, the SLA wiped out LTTE. News reports indicate that the northern region of Sri Lanka saw Tamilian killings and forced evictions at the hands of the army. In what can only be called a fiendishly orchestrated genocide, the SLA murdered dozens of thousands of innocent Tamils, with the Indian Union Government turning a blind eye. Many European countries including the U.K vehemently condemned Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksha for unleashing a run of terror on his own subjects. What did Dr. Kalam say about this genocide?

During his Presidential stint, scores of Indian fishermen were murdered by the Sri Lankan navy on specious grounds that they ventured into their waters.  If not as an influential Tamilian in office, at least as the President of the world’s second most populous nation, he could have done something to alleviate the miseries of poor fishing folk. If my memory serves me right, he did not do anything great. The former President is no stranger to the ordeal suffered by fishermen. Having born into an impoverished fishing family, Kalam did experience himself all the pain during his early days. However, he never took a concrete stance when it came to the slaying of Tamil fishermen at the hands of Sri Lankan Navy. Also remarkable was his muted silence about the Godhra pogrom. He assumed office barely six months within the riots, riding on the support of the party whose C.M was allegedly behind that national shame. He didn’t utter a single word against the then Union as well as Gujarat governments.

Two and a half years have elapsed since the war got over, yet there hasn’t been any respite to the Sri Lankan Tamils. Sinhalese from the southern parts were relocated to the original Tamil strongholds of north, thereby displacing the locals, condemning them to the sub-human conditions of IDP (Internally Displaced People) camps. By visiting the island nation, Dr. Kalam has no doubt endorsed Rajapaksha and his barbaric acts.

sources:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13772407

http://www.thehindu.com/news/article2828241.ece

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/kalam-proposes-pura-for-lankas-rural-development/223273-3.html

http://transcurrents.com/tc/2009/08/monsoon_miseries_of_manik_farm.html

http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/article2470599.ece

http://groundviews.org/2009/04/17/sri-lankas-idp-camp-manik-farm-is-what-it-is-but-what-is-that/

The most encouraging aspect of this match was that all our bowlers bowled to their fields, piling up immense pressure on the opposition. All our frontline bowlers picked up a wicket apiece. On a personal note, it was a satisfying performance by me as I settled into a nice line and length, scalping 1 wicket for 6 runs in 2 overs. I have to admit that our bowlers were duly supported by a wonderful fielding effort that effected 3 run-outs. Murtuza was a real live-wire in the field, covering the entire region behind the bowler. Also noteworthy was skipper Joyjit’s vigilant wicket-keeping that played a vital role in two crucial run-outs.

After excelling in two aspects of the game – bowling and fielding – the onus was on the batsmen to make short work of the moderate target. Our openers, Murtuza and Lawesh displayed incredible sense of poise in their approach. The first over of our innings yielded 2 boundaries, and this set the tone for our chase. The openers, in a perfect blend of caution and aggression duly dispatched poor deliveliries to the off-side boundary even while collecting singles regularly. The match winning partnership of 31 ended with an unfortunate run out; Lawesh’s powerful drive ricocheted after hitting a post, resulting in Murtuza’s run out. Though we lost Lawesh in the next over, we sauntered home in the 7^th over, completing a comprehensive victory in our first match. By thoroughly outplaying Punjab in all three aspects of the game, we have sent a strong signal to all the participating teams. We have 2 more league matches in as many days, and our goal is to top the table by winning all the matches. In a mouth-watering encounter tomorrow, we take on Lucknow Nawabs with the winner bagging the bragging rights, getting into the next round. We are looking forward to another clinical performance from the entire team.

The team owners

My Intaglio story as the Overall Coordinator

When it all started a few months ago, I used to wish for 30 hours a day and 10 days in a week. I felt it would be better no! More time to call up sponsors, more time to call up speakers, more time to think about what can be done. More is good, no? Trust me, when you dont have to dowload from DC or sleep the day off, you really really want to use the time you have, it is never enough. Today, I thank the makers of the clock that thereare at least 24 in a day and 7 in a week.

It starts tomorrow, and its been a roller coaster of ride, high on emotion and adrenaline. Being silly and organized, angry and excited, freakish and relaxed – we have lived off each other. I would like to thank CV, Tripathi, Siva, Avadh, Vinay, Doc, Mahato – Guys! Lets not see each other for a week. I am tired of your faces!

In retrospect, I think I entered this college exactly an year late.. some things that would have been in order -
1. Convocation on the day that India got its World Cup Victory

2. An year with corporates having waaayy too much money to spend, meaning easier… way way easier Intaglio Spons

3. That girl in the senior batch.. oh wait.. lets talk abt this after the sunday party!

Intaglio, IIM Calcutta’s Annual International B-School meet, is the biggest B-school summit in Asia.
More at http://iimc-intaglio.com/

My Intaglio story as Event Coordinator (Modulus)

December 20 – 9 : 50 pm.

I get a call from a student based out of FMS, Delhi – ‘I did not register yet’, he said, his stricken voice hardly concealing the panic within. ‘Please, please look into this – I really really want to participate!’ – This was the first time when reality hit me, and hit me hard – the simple reality that I was part of Team Intaglio, part of a team which was in almost 2 weeks time going to organize one of the largest B-school fests in the country. This was the time when I first realized how hundreds of participating students in other colleges were looking up to us – our events, our workshops, our talks, our organization. It took me more than a few moments to let this realization sink in!

Organizing events has its dual sides – on the one side you have the creative freedom to design something unique and create something unique that will transport the participants to a different level when the whole thing unravels. On the other hand, you also get in touch with 100s of outside participants – you become one of those who is taking calls, who is talking – in short, the way you deal with situations comes to be identified with the way you and your organization is – in this case Team Intaglio specifically and IIM Calcutta in general. The added responsibility of putting your best foot forward only serves to egg you on all the more!

No description of any story can be complete without a mention of the team you are working with – in my case, it being Avadh and Siva and of course Vaibhav by the transitive property of team heads (wow, I can display my nerdism even in this).

As I write these final lines, 5 hours before the unraveling of this spectacle called Intaglio 2012, a feeling of nervousness, excitement and thrill is filling me – last year I was on the other side (being just a participant) but I distinctly remember not feeling the butterflies in my stomach then! The journey leading to this day has been amazing to say the least – a fun filled ride to say the least, hope you have as much with the show as we had planning and executing it!

The clock has begun its countdown – its time to welcome Intalgio 2012, the biggest spectacle on campus!

Intaglio, IIM Calcutta’s Annual International B-School meet, is the biggest B-school summit in Asia.
More at http://iimc-intaglio.com/

The last season had been of both trial and turbulence, with a disappointing outing with the bat and the ball. And then there was that infamous nap after which people questioned his drive to play the game. “I don’t think I did well in last year’s match” – he said very often. Perhaps to remind himself.  The virtue that separates the good from the great is the uncanny ability to read their own game, better than anyone else.

Flaws in his action were being pointed out. The trademark arched delivery, the position of the hind leg at the point of release, all were questioned. Little did anyone know that those were his biggest strengths. The arched release gave the ball more spin, and his speed did the rest. In a game dictated by short boundaries and rubber balls, Prof Basu’s biggest contribution is his imagination. With complete mastery over swing and seam, he can make the ball do a mujra if he wants to, they say.

The intent was always there. On Friday, as the best batsmen of the campus faced him, Prof Basu threw down ball after ball, most of them landing on the same spot and still going different ways. Some deliveries were just beyond imagination, doing several things at once. Like the one which took Joyjit. It swung inwards for a while, then outwards, pitched in the off, straightened for a milli second, and then took a flight of its own from the bat to Prof Sinha’s safe hands. (Joyjit almost cried, and was quickly registered for Prof. Leena Chatterjee’s sessions.)

For all the gawping at his ability now, no one knows of the long hours he put in at the nets, hitting the lone stump, and at times, the coin on the pitch. To him, most things didn’t matter – the roughing up, the beamers, the stare. Accuracy is the name of the game. You make the slightest mistake, and suddenly you lose sight of what’s happening. Very much like a transportation problem.

To the man who stepped out and hit our best bowler out of the ground. Just to make a point. Even if he didn’t have to.  Hehe.

mobbed by his female fans

Watch this space for more. We’ll be back, hopefully with a bang, for the IIM Calcutta Premier League. 

The cricket match is an annual event at IIM Calcutta. Outsiders call it an innovative model to improve student-faculty interactions. We? We just laugh at the idea. Coz we’ve never felt the need to.  Its always been awesome here. Click here for Photos

Defending a total of 142, the fast bowlers of the faculty team ran through the student middle order, generously helped by some irresponsible shot selection. Joyjit Gorain and Varun Khullar opened the batting, and did well for the first few minutes, preserving their wickets and seeing the new ball off. What followed was absolute carnage. The first to feel the heat was Joyjit Gorain, who, unable to read the swing in Prof Sumanta Basu’s deliveries, got hit on the pads and other such unmentionable parts of his body. He eventually fell to the same bowler, attempting a square cut when the ball was coming in, and making a mess of himself at the crease. Prof. Anup Sinha was quick to respond, taking a brilliant catch at 2^nd slip. Joyjit failed to score a run, and in the words of Anil TN, a senior citizen of the student body, “simmbly wasted too many balls”.

With the spinners coming in, and tactful field setting by Captn Mishra Sir , runs were choked, and the pressure was built up. Prof. Balram Avittathur, called a left arm spin magician by many, sent down some flighted deliveries, inviting Varun Khullar to make a move. Khullar, however, chose to defend, and seemed to have wooden legs. For a period, the student’s team showed signs of a strategy. As Vsax mentioned later to a hostile crowd, “We wanted to see their best bowlers off”. Looking at depth of talent in the opposition, one can only call it a poor decision. This is despite the fact that Prof VK Unni didn’t bowl a single delivery. “Unni bowls too fast at times. It is unsafe.” said the Captain. Such is the travesty facing fast bowlers from Kerala these days.

The student batsmen led a procession to the pavilion, some falling for scorchers, some others just intimidated. Khullar was stranded at one end, as Sumanta sir and Prof Sista, the best fielders of the game and Men of the Match, saved runs and orchestrated run-outs. Yuvraj Singh, who had made such huge statements before the game, was left in a complete daze, as he could not hit a single boundary during his 20 ball innings.

It was now up to BBG, considered a very talented batsman by his parents, to save the day. Clearly angry at the allegations raised against him, BBG hit out against the faculty bowlers, taking Prof Sougata Ray, ex-Dean, to cleaners on two occasions. In the end, Ray Sir had the last laugh, as he had the ex-Students Union member caught at cover, reading the bounce wrong. BBG batted extremely well for his standards, scoring 17, and taking his career strike rate to 34.46, which is now notches above his Body Mass Index of 32.

Earlier in the day, the professors just walked over the student bowlers, dealing in fours and sixes. Prof Suren Sista was the pick of them, scoring a quick fire 37, decimating the already weak attack. To add to the insult, Prof Preetam Basu too hit a few lusty blows. Both professors almost ended the career of Varun Khullar, who went for 51 runs in 3 overs. The owners of “Lions of Punjab”, of which Varun is the captain, were not very pleased.

In the post match press conference, Prof Sougato Ray expressed  his concern over the quality of the  opposition. “ I hope this is not the team you are sending to the ABCL meet.” Prof Mishra was even more aggressive, saying  ” Sabak to tumhe mil gaya na; ab comment bhi chahiye kya? “. This summed the event up for all present at the venue. One of the high points of the match was the brilliant commentary by Adrit Mishra and Arpit Verma, both 2^nd year students, helped immensely by Prof Mishra’s one-liners.

Contributed by Adrit Mishra, Jandeep Singh and yours truly.

Photos by Santosh Ponnuswamy, Karthik Addagarla

Late night discussions on how to alleviate poverty. Heated debates on how best to propose to a girl. Arguments on the next prime ministerial candidate of India blowing up into near fist fights.  These would be the fond memories of Joka that would linger in the minds and psyche of every IIM Calcutta student. It is not just that Joka firmly believes in your right to own an opinion and to express it, it indeed expects you to do so. It is this unique aspect of life at Joka that ‘JokaSpeak’ aims to capture. It aspires to take these opinions out to the world – to be seen, to be appreciated, to be condoned, to be debated, to be questioned and sometimes even to be ignored!

Click here to download a softcopy of JokaSpeak

A consensus seemed to emerge on experience-based education and more emphasis on humanities as Directors of the six Indian Institutes of Management and heads of other premier business schools discussed the future of management education in the country at a Directors’ conclave at the Indian Institute of Management here on Tuesday.

Professor Pankaj Chandra, the Director of IIM Bangalore, said that there is need for a far bigger “learning ambience” at the IIMs. Pointing that the time for “standalone institutes in the country is over”, he said that the American management schools have also failed despite they were located in university set up from where they could have drawn enough.

“We have to learn from sciences, but also from social sciences. But as of now this element of integrity is lacking in our institutes,” said Professor Chandra at the Directors’ conclave at IIM-C.

Stressing on the same issue, Professor M J Xavier, Director of IIM Ranchi, talked about lopsided approach to education. He said that with excessive emphasis on one kind of education managers would be “a man with huge head and small torso as everyone wants to get a job in investment bank and develop analytical skills”. Professor Xavier said that at IIM Ranchi the students are taught to have interest in liberal arts and electives like Indian History .

Insisting that there should be more diversity in the students who join IIMs, Professor B S Sahay, Director of IIM Raipur, raised the issue of low percentage of female students making it to the IIMs.

The discussion, organised to mark the golden jubilee celebrations of IIM Calcutta, had as its theme ‘Management Education for a Sustainable Tomorrow’. The panellists called for inculcation of sustainability in the management teaching across the premier management institutes.

Prof. I. M. Pandey, Head of the Department of Financial Studies at Delhi University, said that management education the way IIMs are offering is compartmentalised and not integrated and suggested “sustainability” should be imbibed in all courses the institutes offer.

Professor Paul Shrivastava from John Molson School of Business, Concordia University, Montreal, who was present during the discussion, urged the Directors that the students be sent at least for two weeks in villages to learn what sustainability is. Professor Srivastava said that the experience based learning brought significant changes in the mindset of students.

“It is a brilliant idea that students will spend two weeks in the villages and face the realities there,” said Director of IIM Calcutta Shekhar Chowdhury.

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-otherstates/article2631934.ece