IMT GHAZIABAD
The Perspective Volume 1, Issue 1
Inside this issue:
Culnyt
From the Director‘s Desk What it takes to be a winner-Deepika Jindal Tomorrow to fresh woods and new pastures Orientation week @ IMT Ancient Astronaut Theory
16-July-2011
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The Perspective
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Foreword The Perspective, the official newsletter of IMT-Ghaziabad, has evolved over the years to a dynamic form assuming different themes and becoming a platform for aspiring writers, to showcase their creativity pouring their minds, into this melting pot of ideas. In keeping with this tradition this month‘s issue revolves around the new entrants to IMT-G. We begin this issue with an address from our beloved Director, Dr Bibek Banerjee welcoming the newest members to the IMT Family. Various aspects of Management and facets of IMT Ghaziabad are explored. The batch was also enlightened about various challenges that lie ahead during their 2 year stay and set on their path of Management education at IMT. Articles from various juniors have been included as they explore the culture of IMT-G and become a part of this rich heritage. Being a two-year course IMT-G more than makes up for the interaction between the juniors and the seniors in the first week itself, more about these experiences are enumerated rather vividly in the articles to follow. There have been many stalwarts in IMT-G in its more than thirty year-old history and it makes us all proud to hear from one of the recent pass-outs Deepika Jindal, she talks about her experiences in the placement processes and she also shares some useful tips which I am sure the current batch will learn from. She also narrates how the training received in IMT-G has helped her deal with professional obstacles and set new milestones for each IMTian. Another well cherished face in the IMT faculty ranks is Dr. Surinder Batra and he provides us a glimpse of his venture CRICKET and also gives us sharp insights using his rich experience into the chances of India making a breakthrough in cutthroat global competition. Dr. Brigid Milner a luminary in the field of HRM has shared her views about the evolving face of human work ethics and culture and her experiences working with students of IMT-G. The various events showcased this month is the start-up event of E-Cell ‗Concepto.exe‘ and the CulYug organized by the Cultural committee of IMT-G. We end this issue with a delightful little article from one of the juniors displaying the bubbling enthusiasm amongst the juniors and a queer article again from one of the juniors that broadens our horizon and tries to liberate our thinking. I sincerely hope that you will enjoy this month‘s issue we will be back with yet fresher pastures and more perspectives in the upcoming issues. Regards, Nikhil G. Pai, Chief Editor
Nikhil G. Pai PGDM 2010-12
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The Perspective
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From the Director’s Desk The mark of any school lies in the quality of values it delivers to the rest of the world. These values must always be solid, professional and positive. That is what you were looking for and that is why you have come to the right place. So what makes a particular B-school stand out from among the crowd? Topclass faculty and contemporary teaching methods are some of the fundamentals that attract top-quality students like you and ensure that when you complete your education, you earn the most rewarding jobs. This, quite simply, is what we offer at IMT Ghaziabad. And that is what sets us apart from the crowd. We have an enviable global network of faculty from across all continents, and we continue to add to that network. We leverage this linkage to create an environment that nurtures educators, enables them to focus on research and promotes out-of-the box delivery systems. There are huge challenges in today‘s global and highly competitive market and we have to ensure that you are ready for them. As a Professor of Marketing, I can say that though Kotler has amazing insights when it comes to marketing, they are only theoretical concepts. And so in addition to this you will find far more practical learning in the curriculum. We will also use technology to sharpen and guide your knowledge creation towards creative directions. When it comes to earning rewarding jobs, at IMT Ghaziabad we create a talent pool that the corporate world demands. We spend time with the corporate world to customize our education to their needs thus creating value for both our students and the corporates. And that is why placements at IMT Ghaziabad have been a consistent achievement. Every academic year sees not just traditional recruiters head for our campus but new companies are also impressed with the talent we repeatedly produce. We have been perceptive to the changing times and constantly explore fresher avenues and invite innovative companies as well, thereby offering you a diverse number of rewarding job opportunities. You are now embarking on a great learning adventure and you may face challenges of varying degrees and nature. But I am also sure those challenges will inspire you. There is little doubt that you will all be achievers at the end of it and once you pass through the portals of IMT Ghaziabad, the road ahead will be open. I also know for certain that you will lead the change of tomorrow for tomorrow and that the world will seek you out proactively. As the Chinese philosopher Lao-tzu said: ‘A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step’. You have taken that step already…
Dr. Bibek Banerjee— Director, IMT
“There are huge challenges in today‟s global and highly competitive market and we have to ensure that you are ready for them.”
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The Perspective
What it takes to be a winner—Deepika Jindal A middle child, Deepika Jindal, is a high achiever from Punjab. An electrical engineer by qualification, she decided to go back to acquiring an additional qualification – an MBA. Her interests included both marketing and HR.
“My activities helped me learn time management. I have learned to lead a team, be an effective team member and to keep my personal and professional life separate.”
Marketing it was. It definitely took precedence over writing code in her job. She put a lot of thought into the next step and put her papers in. Going back to study it was. Choosing to do so at the Institute of Management Technology (IMT) was one of the best decisions she took. Her job working as Associate Software Engineer with Fidelity Investments ended and student life began in earnest.IMT was an obvious choice as the institute is known for its marketing education. Several of the top marketing brains in the country and abroad have developed here, thanks to the faculty IMT carefully employs and the exposure offered during internships. Adding to her repertoire of achievements, Deepika is the IMT gold medalist, 2011. Her career in marketing began with a bang in July.
# What are the job profiles offered to you and how well prepared do you think you are to take on the roles? I got placed with P&G – the first company I interviewed with. However, all the marketing students at IMT had many company profiles that were offered. They included designations like Key Account Manager (for which I have been recruited), Relationship Manager, Brand Manager, Associate Consultant, Senior Consultant, Technical Consultant and many more. I firmly believe I am well equipped to handle the profile I‘ve been selected for – both personally and professionally.
# What is most exciting part of your placement? I believe that the most exciting part of my job would be the travelling involved, since so far my exposure has been limited to only north India. Apart from that my job would involve interaction with customers. I was looking for a profile which offers me work that is more people oriented and less of desk job. And this profile matches the criterion. # Could you help us in understanding your job role at P&G? I haven‘t joined yet. However as stated to us during recruitment interview and the files circulated when asked to apply for P&G, I
would share my understanding. The profiles offered to us would be a sales profile but it would be more of B2B sales. The job would involve travelling, handling existing clients in the area assigned and finding new opportunities for the company. # In what way has your academic experience at IMT helped you, professionally and personally? And do you think it helped you bag these plum jobs, why? My academic experience in totality has been very good at IMT. I have seen myself growing both personally and professionally. Now I understand management jargon
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Now I understand management jargon which never made much sense earlier.
made me right fit to P&G culture. This eventually helped me in my selection.
I was class representative, member of RACE (i.e. Research and Consulting Enterprise at IMT -G), and had many projects every term. My activities helped me learn time management. I have learned to lead a team, be an effective team member and to keep my personal and professional life separate. The course offered is a completely residential program. It was my first hostel experience and has definitely added value.
# Do you think in today’s competitive world, it pays to do courses like the one you studied and w h y ? Well, yes. I have personally seen almost three times hike in my salary. In terms of academic value add: I came from a complete coding background. Today, I see myself more apt for business world with enhanced understanding. If you look at the overall experience that such a course provides, it is immense learning. I felt myself growing every day, with each experience.
Managing events like International Conference on Strategy and Organization gave me exposure. Such large scale events taught me the skill of effective handling and management and gave me the confidence to handle last minute problems. I strongly believe that whatever I have learned at IMT has helped me get the job. Given that P&G interview was mainly HR, with the personal value add done during my stay at IMT had
# What do you think you said or did in your placement interview that set you apart? Any words of advise for those who follow? The few points that helped me crack the interview are: •••• My firm stance on
ethics My
desire
to
go
ahead and explore new destination. My ability to handle
clients and events. The exposure gained
at IMT through various extra-curricular activities. The advice that I generally give people who ask for it is just be yourself during an interview. If you are fit for the job, you will be selected. If you aren‘t, it is good because getting selected for a job which doesn‘t suit you will create trouble sooner or later. # What is the one singular/distinctive aspect that you think you will be bringing/taking to your jobs? It would be hard-work with a continuous focus on goals. I strongly believe it will never ever be the time of only smart work. Given that we are all looking for sustainable and constant growth, hard work can never be replaced by smart work
“The advice that I generally give people who ask for it is just be yourself during an interview.”
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The Perspective
IMT gives new academic direction —Dr. Surinder Batra
“Knowledge
Decades of experience have shaped Dr. Surinder Batra into the personality he is today: dynamic, youthful and forward thinking. His career has grown from strength to strength. A highly motivated individual, he is one person who believes that learning never ends. To him, learning is a daily process. Achievements and accolades flock on his shelves, vying for space, but he strides on, teaching young minds, mentoring them. He plays his role in shaping new careers with aplomb. The responsibility is immense, but his commitment to the future of India motivates him to stride on.
Village” as a unit of analysis for benchmarking knowledge-based development in contrast to “Knowledge Metropolitan Region” and “Kn owledge City”.”
Wow! So many medals, so many qualifications! You must have had many offers. What made you choose IMT? I joined IMT in 2007 after a long innings with the industry. I chose IMT because I saw an excellent opportunity for giving a new academic direction to my career here. IMT as an institute par excellence falls into the same league as other institutes like FMS, Delhi University and IIT Delhi where I studied; and employers like TCS, with whom I worked. IMT is dedicated to the cause of grooming meritorious students into high caliber business managers. Naturally it most suited my purpose of sharing my life-long learning with the new generation through teaching. Can you tell us about your research project and how it led to the concept of CRICKET? Also can you elaborate on CRICKET, its vision and how it is
going to contribute to the management education at IMT. CRICKET is a new initiative which we have taken up at IMT with the inspiration and vision of our esteemed Director, Dr. Bibek Banerjee. CRICKET stands for a centre which promotes rural innovation; aims at capacity building; facilitates social entrepreneurship and adopts knowledge management and technology to promote its objectives. It is an acronym for Centre for Rural Innovation, Ca pa city Building , Knowledge Management, (Social) Entrepreneurship & Technology. The research project on which I have been working has conceptualized ―Knowledge Village‖ as a unit of analysis for benchmarking knowledge-based development. This is in contrast to ―Knowledge Metrop o l i t a n R e gion‖ and ―Knowledge City‖, concepts common internationally and relevant in the urban con-
text. But for a country like India with over 800 million rural population, it is inconceivable not to have the focus of knowledge-based development on rural India. This thought of Knowledge Village was one of the triggers that established CRICKET as a new platform for action research at IMT. CRICKET would be focused at vital but often neglected segments of the Indian societysuch as rural innovators, micro and small enterprises. It will provide them professional guidance in managing the commercial aspects of their innovations through support in market research (with the help of PGDM students), developing business plans, refining business processes and thereby nurturing sustainable business. The lessons learnt through such engagements with the target group would be then channelized into action research based case studies and other research publications.
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What would you like the IMT student to do differently from what they are currently doing? Most of IMT students are on the right track in so far as their ambition and hunger for excellence is concerned. Their personal goals are laudable and they have the power to achieve their goals. One dimension to which they can direct their energy more is to strive for social relevance. This is best exemplified by the following line of thinking: ―Having established myself in my career, how do I thank and pay back society?‖ This thought should be ingrained in their mind and should encourage them to deliver on this promise as effectively as prudently as possible. Do you think India is ready to take on the rest of the world in business? What are India’s strengths and what are the country’s weaknesses? I don‘t see this as India versus Rest of the World business issue. Globally, it must be a win-win situation for all countries, with each country deriving from its strengths a unique position in the global economy, which we conveniently call its competitive advantage. A case in point is India’s ITBPO industry. Ac-
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cording to NASSCOM Strategic Review, 2011, India is the top global offshoring destination with 55%share of global IT Services & BPO market in 2010. This industry has helped India transform to a knowledgebased economy, providing direct employment to 2.5 million and indirect employment to 8.3 million people. We are a diverse country and this diversity reflects in our strengths and weaknesses as well. The enormous talent pool and demographic dividend of the country are clearly our strengths. Capability to innovate at grass root levels, at corporate levels and at workplace is a source of immense strength. Our emotional attachment and passion for causes of national prestige is a great strength. The greatest weaknesses are our tendency to allow the gains be dissipated through leakages and neutralizing our achievements by working crosspurpose with each other. Why does it take so long to see something work on a village level? Is it because the rural areas of India are uneducated or is it because they still live in an era gone by? What is the
solution? There is obviously a gap between rural and urban areas, which is the main reason for migration from villages to cities. The mindset in the villages is to move out for better employment opportunities, better education and better standards of living. The last one is unfortunately not necessarily true because the quality of life in most urban areas for lower income groups is abysmal. But as the grass is greener on the other side, the village communities tend to overlook the need for making their local environment more dynamic. The solution is to provide urban amenities in rural areas and thereby provide all forms of connectivity to the rural population. What is your message to the students at IMT? My message to IMT students is that you are batting against adversities and challenges. Each day is like a bowl you are facing from the opposite team. Don‘t lose your wicket; allow no ―dot bowl‖; and score fours and sixes at every opportunity. This is a game you have to win
“Enormous talent pool and demographic dividend of the country are clearly our strengths.”
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The Perspective
Culyug- A Night to Rediscover Fun
“We are all pretty lucky to see talented artists in IMTG year after year, this year being no different “
People feel it is tough to expect students from B-Schools to indulge in events related to pure entertainment of the masses but tell that to a student of IMT-Ghaziabad and he will quick to point that the entertainment never stops here at IMT. ‗We work hard but party harder‘ is a well-used tagline around here and is applied with good reason. The proof of this was seen with good measure in Culyug the first cultural event of the brand new academic year organized solely by the junior members of the cultural committee. The event slated to start at 9.30 pm eventually started an hour late but the excitement in the air was visible, people thronged the amphitheatre expecting a night of some serious fun. The event took some time to warm -up but it was up and running soon after. First thing on the agenda was the junior band of IMT-G and their introduction to the seniors and the juniors. I must say we are all pretty lucky to see talented artists in IMT-G year after year, this year being no different; the song ‗Naagin‘ played with a twist was the highlight of the performance. The opening showcase was a great start to the night. Impromptu saw various groups from the different sections of the junior batch compete in an event where innovation and street smart thinking was the norm. Each group performed well but the ever eager crowd was easily drawn into the main arena each time their group participated hogging most of the limelight. Seeing the enthusiasm assured us that we were in IMT-G. After this round three teams were shortlisted and were supposed to give a performance on some pre-selected themes. The eventual triumph of Section-B did not dampen the spirits of anybody in the crowd; all of us knew that it was our talent that was on showcase here. Brilliant concept and excellent execution are some of the words that come to my mind for the next event ‗Flushtration‘. Bringing people out of their bathrooms to reveal their true abilities was a fine idea but the implementation was even better. People came from the most unexpected quarters and sang from their hearts on a theme that was handed to them on the stage itself, a proper impromptu actually. The hidden capacities in each of us are really remarkable and all of us should try to bring this out once in a while and events like CulYug help in doing that. Dedication songs were played in between the main events, although most of them were for fun some songs were dedicated with intent. The audience appreciated all of them, many people also got some painful birthday bumps out in the arena, but the overall atmosphere was still jovial. Finally no cultural event at IMT-G ends without a DJ spinning out some party numbers. We should appreciate DJ-Daga for all the fun we experienced in the arena. The entire batch needed this dose of fun badly going into quizzes and presentations and endless case discussions we all rediscovered the fun inside us all. Truly amazing phenomena and a night to remember; the cultural committee or the Culcom as they say has really
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Ideate. Generate. Dominate - Concepto-exe
Concepto.exe- the name says it all! Build a concept; execute it. The event is organized by E
Cell at IMT-G with a view to promote entrepreneurial spirit among the students. It is as an inter-section competition where every section has to work as a composite business unit. The teams take care of every aspect of the business starting from the inception of the idea to the marketing, operations and logistics of the finished product or service. All the teams have a five day window to sell their products and/or services within the premises of IMT-G. The emphasis is on innovative ideas which can provide end-products that can aid the students of the campus in leading a more comfortable life during their stay at IMT. The event is also seen as a major team building exercise as it gives students of the fresh batch an opportunity to know each other better. Some of the concepts that were presented this year included ‗Delivering‘, a doorstep delivery service for daily-use items, roses and even breakfast in the morning; ‗Alfresco‘, providing services of homemade chocolates; ‗Dhandha Pvt. Ltd.‘, providing a gamut of services including healthy food items and ‗Begane Gabbar‘s Ltd.‘, providing midnight services for tea and coffee delivery as well as facilities for pest control and cooler services in students‘ rooms. At the end of each business day, the teams provide the daily transaction records along with the cash earned. After the implementation of their ideas for five days, the teams present their ideas for evaluation before the judges elaborating on their implementation and marketing strategy, finances and the sustainability of their ideas in future. The team which is able to fulfil the Concepto.exe mantra of ‗Ideate. Generate. Dominate‘ in its true sense stands out as the winner!
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The Perspective
Guiding the way : Dr.Brigid Milner
“I am a strong believer that a business education should also seek to develop the key management competencies
Human Resources Management has undergone enormous changes in the recent past, nationally and internationally. Pink slips, pay cuts, frozen recruitments..these were just some of the downsides of the recession that the world and people faced stoically. Employees were left with little choice but to perform their tasks and while stress was high, motivation was often low. Though things are getting better slowly, it will still take a long time for things to go back to where they were. The MBA graduate of today needs to be prepared for all of this and more. It was with this goal that IMT Ghaziabad invited Dr. Brigid Milner of the WIT School of Business-Ireland, a luminary in HRM and a Visiting Professor at IMT to offer her perspective and share her experience and knowledge with the students of IMT ―While I hope that I have enhanced their knowledge of international HRM, I have also had the pleasure of learning from them by virtue of their sharing some of their experiences and views of the subject area,‖ said Dr. Brigid Milner.
Q. Could you describe your experiences with the students of IMT? What according to you are the strengths they must capitalise on, and what weaknesses do they need to work on? A. The first-year students that I have been working with are extremely smart as is to be expected given that IMT is a top-ten Bschool and only attracts the best and bright applicants Given that most of the students commence with the programme with 1 -3 years of experience, in technical roles and this provides a useful reference point from which to explore and discuss key business issues. In terms of their
strengths, the students have certainly displayed the drive that is essential to career progression post graduation. It is also clear that they are committed to contributing to the IMT life in a wider sense, evidenced in their membership of various committees which demonstrates that post-graduate education is not limited solely to the purely academic experience. Q. From an HR perspective, are the students of IMT ready to face the challenges of the times? Why? Is there anything that will help them be better prepared to face the trials and tribulations of a constantly changing/evolving economic scenario?
A. I believe the PGD M/MBA pr o gramme certainly captures the central general and specialist areas of business and m anagement, and frames them in both a domestic and global context which is crucial in the rapidly changing world. I am a strong believer that a business education should also seek to develop the key management competencies (e.g. social and networking skills; selfawareness; empathy, etc.) that allows for academic knowledge to be used effectively in the organisation both in a domestic and/or an international context. I believe that most business schools struggle with this challenge. However, the
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IMT programme has ‗the edge‘ in terms of the provision of the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) profile for all first-years which enables them to gain some insight into their preferences and also the dynamics of their interactions with others. Q. How have HR trends changed and how can a student of IMT adapt to them? How does the HR manager of tomorrow keep up with the times and the ever-evolving HR needs? A. HR is now about being a ‗business partner‘ — as professionals and as a function — who can really make a difference and in turn, impact positively on profitability, for the organisation, be it the private or public sector. The provision of a common first year which includes the key business subjects coupled with a range of industry-relevant second year specialist HR modules ensures that IMT HR graduates are well-prepared to assume this ‗business partner‘ role. To keep up with the times, HR profession-
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als need to be committed to their continuing professional development which is achieved through further training, self study, networking and also attending HR professional conferences. Membership of a HR professional association is also particularly useful. Q. While this is certainly an extensive topic, in a nutshell, how different is it to work for a multinational as opposed to a local business? A. I believe the key difference is one‘s perspective — is it domestic and hence all factors in the business, including people, are local; or is it international/global — where the drivers and influences on the organisation are often outside and external to the subsidiary. As a result, in a MNC, one‘s ‗view‘ needs to be much broader and one must be able to handle and respond to the complexities that go with this. Q. What do you think is unique to the Indian student of today? A. Their drive is particularly evident as is their willingness to
contribute, individually and collectively, and outside of their academic programme, to the life of IMT. Their awareness of global business issues is apparent but what sets them apart is that they are still rooted in Indian traditions while they have a modern and global outlook Q. What are the lasting impressions of IMT and its students that you carry back with you? A. There is a vibrancy within IMT, generated by both the faculty and the students, and it has been a pleasure to contribute to the academic programme during my time here as a Visiting Professor. I have really enjoyed my interactions with the first-year students and while I hope that I have enhanced their knowledge of international HRM, I have also had the pleasure of learning from them by virtue of their sharing some of their experiences and views of the subject area. I will always remember the very warm welcome I received from the staff in IMT — both academic and administrative.
“HR is now about being a „business partner‟ .”
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The Perspective
Tomorrow to fresh woods and new pastures
Sanjukta Mukherjee PGDM 2011-13
“I could almost imagine the shouts, the laughter, the busy frenzy, the vitality and enthusiasm that the place would exude when filled with students. It is like the place has taken on an entity and energy of its own”
Standing at the end of one voyage, and at the beginning of a new journey, this interim period is the time filled with tremendous trepidations, jubilations and expectations. The simultaneity of emotions that pass through the heart every moment are difficult to identify and describe together without reflecting on the myriad experiences that accentuate these sensations. Like all enduring relationships, it has been rather a turbulent journey with respect to IMT so far. The personal interview was an intense roller coaster ride. I distinctly remember trembling in my shoes even before I went into the interview room as the two individuals who had been in before me had come out red, trembling, dazed, sweaty, disoriented and almost in tears. In the midst of a somber and serious discussion about the merits and demerits of teamwork and leadership, one panel member abruptly cut me short and asked ‗So when was the last time you cried?‘ Imagine such a bolt out of the blue! I almost blurted out ―I‘m about ready to burst into tears now!‖ and it was all I could do to salvage the interview from turning into a total wreck (which, however, it eventually did). I remember waiting with bated breath for the results and the glorious elation and triumphant gratitude of prayers being answered as the second list welcomed me to IMT. The next phase, which is in continuum, has perhaps been my favorite so far- the chance to interact with peers and seniors who have come forward and extended help and encouragement. All this to ensure that the transition into the B-school experience becomes as smooth and as seamless as is possible without actually detracting from the essence and curious quality of IMT which leaves us wanting for more. As they say: ‗IMT aao…khud jaan jao…‘ In the midst of all this exhilaration and anticipation, I had the opportunity to visit the IMT campus once. As I stood in the middle of an empty room in one of the girls‘ hostels, I could almost imagine the shouts, the laughter, the busy frenzy, the vitality and enthusiasm that the place would exude when filled with students. It is like the place has taken on an entity and energy of its own, inspired by those who inhabit it, assimilating the life that throbs through its passages, lobbies, rooms, fields and canteens and now exists as a testimony to this verve and vigor. The Kolkata meet which I was fortunate enough to attend, was one of the defining moments prior to my entry into IMT for two specific reasons. Firstly, the sincerity, patience and care with which the seniors explained to us every pertinent detail of our queries in the dreary lull of a sultry summer evening. It was perhaps the best and first-hand experience of what it means to be professional. The smiles never left their faces, and they never complained for having to answer the queries, however insane, of a score of eager juniors. Secondly, looking around and observing the faces and reactions of my peers, I felt a curious and satisfying sense of déjà vu. It is the same look I see on myself when I think about all that is to come and brace myself to face it. It is the look that speaks of fear mingled with excitement, defiance coupled with joy, tremor combined with a quiet confidence, zeal merged with ambition, playfulness blended with maturity. It is the look that signals a new beginning.. T.S.Eliot said ‗What we call the beginning is often the end. And to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from.‘ So, I will end my post here, and look forward for the beginning that awaits me at IMT.
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Orientation week @ IMT I had heard the phrase ―IMT never sleeps‖ and at the end of my orientation week here at IMT I actually understand why. Life here is totally different from what most of us would have experienced till now. And right from the Director‘s address to the Culnyt, the experience has been awesome to say the least. The week started with the Director’s address to the new batch. It set the expectations in terms of the DNA, blood group and the attire expected from us at IMT in the upcoming 2 years. Throughout the week there were sessions where the IMT alumni addressed the new batch and shared with us their unusual yet valuable experiences. It was really special listening to these people, their experiences and their achievements. A poignant pride overcame me as the thought that they were at one time a part of this institute too, flipped into my mind and stayed. Then the thought that such interactions were indeed lessons. They taught us, in subtle ways, what IMT seeks to inculcate in us. The magnitude of the responsibility was a little overwhelming for me. The presentations by the various clubs and committees made their mark next. It‘s really encouraging for a fresher to see that everything here is managed by students and that really makes IMT what it is. We got an insight of every aspect that goes to make IMT. I wanted even more to be a part of this institute and then I realized I was already there. And it was truly amazing to see how each and everything was handled by the Student Affairs Council. Hats off to everyone in the council for having made this first week as smooth as it could possibly get. A new introduction in this year‘s orientation programme was the “Art of Living” sessions. I believe that quiet a lot of people would have been apprehensive about the authenticity of such a program including me. But at the end of the last session I really feel that this is one of the best things that have happened to me in my life. Art of Living didn‘t teach us anything that we did not know already. Yet, it actually taught us was to implement all those things. The question that arose in my mind was, ‗Why did I have to wait for such a course to realize what it taught, when I had it in me all along?‖ I guess I am among those people who do need a push in their lives every once in a while. There could not have been a better end to this week than the Cultural Night (although by the time it ended it was almost morning). It was the time for the junior batch to showcase their talent in front of their batch and the seniors. There were some really good performances. Adding to the fun, we had a DJ towards the end. Mad dancing followed. An onlooker would have never guessed some of the dancers had slept very little in five days. Their fatigue vanished into thin air as they moved their bodies to the music. Next week is a new beginning. I don‘t think anyone from the 2011-2013 batch will ever forget the last few days. It was like living an entirely different life over the past week. This Orientation Week packed layers of unforgettable memories for me, for us.
Abhishek Dixit PGDM 2011-13
“To catch the reader's attention, place an interesting sentence or quote from the story here.”
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The Perspective
Ancient Astronaut Theory
Amit Nayak PGDM 2011-13
“Albert Einstein are some exemplary ideals of ordinary people who have challenged the convictions of their time and ventured into the unknown only to set benchmarks for others.”
The curious case of human evolution is inspiring but mysterious at best. We have gone on to achieve so many technological advances from our primitive cavemen ancestors, in less than a blink of the eye compared to the timescale it took for the emergence of life on earth or the creation of the universe, we have announced ourselves in the universe. If we compare this timescale to a 24 hour clock, humans have been in existence for less than a second before the stroke of midnight. I ask how did we achieve this staggering progress? and in such a short amount of time? Is it because the of the curiosity that dwells within each of us that compels us to find the truth of things? The notion of challenging the most basic of notions and clearing the path for a new order has many examples in history. The vision of King Chandragupt Maurya to unite India whereas others would have been happy just by parts of the whole to the conquest of Gravity, Spacetime and Sir Isaac Newton by Sir Albert Einstein are some exemplary ideals of ordinary people who have challenged the convictions of their time and ventured into the unknown only to set
benchmarks for others. The one feature which distinguished them was an open mind which I ask of you all right now. Are we alone in this universe and if yes for how long ? In 1961 researcher Frank Drake of SETI ( Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) came up with a mathematical equation describing the odds of ‗Intelligent‘ life in the cosmos.
The equation is probabilistic in nature with N giving the number of intelligent civilizations with whom contact could be possible. Its significance can be seen from the fact that it provides us with numbers, numbers that describe our chances of meeting with an alien form of life in our own lifetimes. It may all be true and contact could have been established already.
The first picture is one of the many gold trinkets found in the ruins of central America. They have been dated to be at least a 1000 years old. The gold trinket shows astonishing resemblance to today‘s modern swept wing fighter aircraft like the Mig-21 or the more modern stealth fighter Lockheed F-117 nighthawk. What beckons the logic is how did these ancient race of people ever come to think of such forms ? The answer is not at all straight forward. You might argue that the artifact looks like a bird or some species of ancient fish. The fact of the matter is no type of bird on planet Earth has a vertical tail fin. Even though evolution might have played dice sometimes the evidence should have shown in the fossil record. Also consider this evolution has a limited number of variations to play with, it cannot spring up anything just like that. If I throw a pair of dice and multiply both the face values, I can get a series of variations from 1 to 36, but I cannot expect to get a number like 49..
Volume 1, Issue 1
So as for the fish theory, the artifact has many inaccuracies, and for a gold trinklet crafted so delicately to make such mistakes like this is a glaring blunder in the artisanship. Moreover this artifact also has a sort of a cockpit near its neck that seems to be hollow and the seat of its alleged pilot. Whatever you might say you cannot deny the fact that it is odd. Another puzzling fact is that we began flight with a straight winged plane (remember the Wright brothers‘ flier or the World War II hero the British Spitfire), the swept wing design is a relatively modern innovation. You might say what's
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our take on all of this ? The point is that humans don't just create art. They observe nature, the environment and in a spurt of inspiration try to recreate what they have seen (just the figure 6). These ancient people saw these types of ancient planes soar in the sky, play out epic battles out there and they tried to give us a glimpse of what they had seen. There is a theory going around first proposed by writer Erich von Däniken in his book ‗The Chariot Of the Gods?‘ in the 1970s. The theory is simple enough to grasp on but radical and at best controversial, it proposes that we were visited by not one but many ancient races of aliens in the past, they helped us build civilizations and affected us
with their ancient technology being percieved by us as being divine, as Gods !! They came from heaven they said, descending in their beautiful and shiny chariots which would reflect much of the Sun, surrounded by golden and yellow flames and the sky roared like thunder, is the common theme of many visitations of Gods and Angels on the described across many of the ancient and the relatively modern cultures today. I would like to leave you here with another very interesting picture taken from the hieroglyphs in one of the tombs in ancient Egypt.
“The truth is out there, you just have to open your mind.”
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