The batch strength of IIM Indore has increased from 180 to 240.
The participants were addressed by Dr. Harsh Vardhan. Dr. Vardhan remarked that he was always keen on going back to schools and spoke about his experience of teaching in business schools in the US for 3 years. He compared this inaugural function to his first day at IIM Calcutta and remarked that the IIMs have come a long way since then. Addressing, the incoming batch, he remarked that the students were joining the institute at a very crucial stage in economic evolution of India and that, in spite of the current situation of the markets, the incoming batch has come at an extraordinary time.
Having recruited students from campuses all over the world, Dr. Vardhan said that he had been observing a certain pattern. Students from campuses might be brilliant when it came to analytical skills and problem solving capabilities, but what he clearly found lacking was the depth and the maturity. He did not find students involved in broader reading, even if they might be going in depth with their subjects.
At this crucial juncture for the incoming batch, Dr. Vardhan reminded them that the competition did not stop at getting through CAT but rather, started after it. The most important strength that he felt should be developed is the ability to make friends with those who they compete with. He also encouraged the students to go with their gut feeling, rather than peer and monetary pressure. Throughout his experience, he had seen people make mistakes when having chosen the latter.
Dr. Vardhan felt that entrepreneurial skills have not been developed in India. The MBA institutes offered students a relatively risk-free way to a decent middle class style of living. This was the groove that students were falling into and therefore were not preferring to take up a profession that was filled with risks. Moreover, he felt that in the past years, India has not seen the kind of creative spirit that would be necessary for an entrepreneurial venture. He felt that the IIMs could play a huge role in changing that.
