G li MP se

V O L U M E 2 I S S U E 1 1 5

The XLRI GMP Newsletter

S E P T E M B E R , 2 0 1 1

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

XLRI Leadership Series Diary of a GMPian Diversity and Medicos Beyond the Classroom XLens Photography Contest Village Trip Agripreneurs Alumni Interview Adventure Trips and Team Building Cloud Computing Breathe Rendezvous with Reality Whats up at GMP? 23 18 20 21 10 12 14 16 9 7 3 5 2

From the Committees desk...

Here is the first issue of GliMPse for the year 2011-2012. GliMPse was conceptualized as a newsletter by the batch of 2010-11 to capture the essence of life at XLRI GMP variety, experience and some spice!! We are trying to sustain and uphold that enthusiasm, make it a tradition and also create new ones during our time here. This newsletter is an attempt to tell stories that are relevant, present a compelling and honest description of this important phase of our life here establish a connect with the faculty and alumni and in the process strengthen the GMP brand. We have tried to package distinct and periodic types of information - such as GMP News/Events, faculty and alumni interviews, smaller stories about areas of special interest, such as sports, batch accomplishments and other developments. We also have some viewpoints/special-interest articles on entrepreneurship in the fields of agriculture, cloud computing and breathing as a potent tool that any living being possesses. Whats new this time: We have a section with special focus on GMP Alumni containing information on alumni profiles and activities. This edition has an interview of Girish Hukkeri (Class of 2006), an entrepreneur and founder of embryoFund, the enabling ecosystem for early-stage entrepreneurs. We encourage our alumni to contribute to this section, to renew and reinforce their association to their alma mater, the GMP brand and the current batch of students. Overall we have made every effort to represent and capture the great diversity of interest, opinion and background inherent in the current batch and among GMP Alumni. There is no big theory, it does not say anything profound, just a simple and concise look at what we felt really matters in our lives and times here - but we do hope that it leaves an imprint and you find it as a refreshing change from the usual business school case studies and the course reference materials. We hope you enjoy this edition of GliMPse! And do drop in a line or two at glimpse@xlri.ac.in to let us know what you think!

SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST:

Diary of GMPian

XLens Photography

Cloud Computing

Event Snippets

The Magazine Committee Aditya Jha, Ankana Mehra, Deepak Khandelwal, Hrishikesh C, Ipshita Ghosh, Kaustuv Dasgupta, Rajeev Shahi, Shreya Kohojkar, Vinay Mudgil, Vipul Patki

XLRI Leadership Series - Saumen Chakraborty

What is the mantra of success for any manager? More than anything else its their can do approach and readiness to learn which pave the way for higher accomplishments. This was the message echoed by Mr. Saumen Chakraborty, President & Global Head of Quality, HR & IT, Dr. Reddy's, during his visit to the campus on 7th August. Mr. Chakraborty was the Inaugural speaker of the "XLRI Leadership Series", an initiative of the GMP batch of 2012 where eminent industry experts share their professional life journeys and insights into the industry with the students. As can be imagined, the session was highly rewarding as the students were able to relate the management concepts learnt in class with real-life implementations of those concepts. An IIM-A alumnus, Mr. Chakraborty has over 23 years of experience in both strategic and operational aspects of management: as a management consultant, line manager and as an HR facilitator. In his illustrious career, he has also donned diverse roles in portfolios such as Finance, Operations including manufacturing, sourcing and customer service, TQM, IT, Corporate Communications, Strategic planning and executed projects in various assignments spanning across CMC, C-DOT, Eicher, Tecumseh and now Dr. Reddys. Mr. Chakraborty talked at length about Dr. Reddys and its transformation into a global organization. He spoke about Dr. Reddys inspiring yet unassuming leadership style and, taking a leaf out of his own experiences, enlightened the students on some important aspects of leadership: subordinates

Aditya Jha

Awareness of yourself and your strengths and the

ability to leverage them

Being open to experiments and the capability to

smell opportunities

Everyone has tremendous inherent potential and

performance is not directly influenced only by potential. Potential is inhibited by external factors in cases and a leader has to identify those and alleviate the influence of those factors

Understand what creates value for

the organization, one of the key contributors to performance and growth

Leadership or the lack of it can be a

constraint to opportunity growth He discussed at length about the impact robust and clear processes can have on organizational growth and how adherence to safety, quality and efficiency leads to flawless delivery and brand building. He also emphasized on the increasing cross functional nature of a managers job and asked students to develop leadership qualities to be prepared for challenging roles. Appreciating the diversity of GMP students hailing from diverse sectors such as Media, Healthcare, Energy, Manufacturing, IT, FMCG, HR, Mining, Finance, Textiles et al, Mr Chakraborty urged all to make the most of the curriculum and the peerlearning. The captivated audience listened in rapt attention and expressed their gratitude to Mr. Chakraborty for being a source of inspiration. It is but human nature to warm to somebody with whom we can relate, and there was as much food for thought for all of us after the address as there was admiration for the man.

Being humble and honest. Listening and taking

cues and willingness to learn even from your

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Diary of a GMPian
Vipul Patki
June 9: At last reached XLRI! Dr. Prashant Karajgi, a fellow GMPian and I had chatted almost non-stop from Kolkata airport to our destination. CorrectionI chatted, while he listened; very much like that unfortunate blighter trapped by the gaze of the Ancient Mariner. I must admit, the medical profession trains its sons well. He was courteous enough to give me company even in the campus. A less gallant person would have avoided me at the earliest opportunity. I see a lot of familiar faces who already happen to be friends on facebook. The usual hey-there-nicet o - s e e- y o u - i n - p e r s o n , Sorry-what-was-yourname-again and WHATyou-too-from-TCS stuff. I get a mild shock to see Amit Raj Singh, however. I mean, if you are friends with Royal Enfield for two months and suddenly see a perfectly normal person introducing himself as Royal Enfield, you are entitled to stare at him incredulously for a few seconds. But a pleasant cove he turns out to be. Prasanna, the spammer extraordinaire of our facebook group, too seems a lot different from his facebook profile and a lot older. I get a feedback from the junta that my profile picture and my actual face are also vastly different, so I guess that makes us even. June 10: Breakfast at Fr Enright mess. Another round of hey-there-nice-to-see-you-in-person, Sorry-what-was-your-name-again and What-youtoo-from-TCS? stuff. First visit to Bistupur. We get our sim cards a plain vanilla prepaid card for me. But whats with the rickshaw wallahs? Crazy charges! I am beginning to suspect that Nitin Rai has been making secret visits to XLRI for the past ten years. He seems to know everything about XLRI. I would peg the odds at 100:7 that he can walk blindfolded from the Admin building to our hostel. I wont be surprised if he is elected as the CR of our batch. Tomorrow is an important day. In fact, a very important day. I have been worrying myself half to death over the contents of this orientation course. Did I make a mistake in not learning basic statistics or accounting while I was throwing parties the entire month of May? Oh yes, Ive made acquaintance with a few pretty faces which always grace any batch of any B-school. June 11: The College looks almost deserted until I learn that BM and PMIR students are enjoying their break. Probably the hardest thing over the next few days would be remembering the names of 119 students. During the lunch, I sheepishly ask the names of my fellow GMPians for the third time. Lectures from 9 AM to 9 PM, but the two lectures by Prof. Sengupta literally took my breath away; partly out of laughter and partly due to the gasps I let out of sheer wonder at his brilliant way of teaching. I take a look at the next days schedule and after several re-looks, headshakes and an arm sore from pinches, the reality sinks in: The day will begin at 7 AM with Yoga classes, and of course, end at 9 PM. June 14: Batches have been formed. I am in batch B. Its a throwback to my school days where roll numbers were based on first names. Its been a hectic day. The new academic year would be inaugurated tomorrow and I must sleep now. By the way, five doctors this year in our batch. Can I afford to fall ill and get treated free of cost? June 15: Prof. Pranabesh Ray inaugurated the new academic year. Verses from The Gita, The Quran, and the Bible were quoted during the ceremony. Fr McGrath, at 90, still retains his charm and

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humor. We (GMPians) realize we are the only ones in formals. June 16: Fr Jesurajan seems to know everything about everything. He even knows Russian. With each Managerial Communications (MCN) lecture, I am wondering more and more how my woeful communication was tolerated by my company. Then I think about my boss and his I-hope-we-are -in-sink communication and I dont feel so bad. His boss in turn was even more abysmal. Its a lucky day for me that I am finding time for my diary entries, and I feel such days may be numbered. We are going to a place called Patamda near Jamshedpur for a three-day visit to an NGO working there. June 19: Excellent, if a bit sobering, visit to Patamda. Food served was superb. I got to know at least 14 batch-mates better in these three days. No internet. I never knew staying away from the digital world would be such fun! June 21: On an average, five corporate myths of mine are being busted every MCN lecture by Fr Jesurajan. Some of my friends have reported an even greater number. At this rate, we might as well apply to companies as fresh graduates, albeit smarter graduates. Making summer while the hay shines. I am enjoying a rare luxury today: free time. June 23: Back from the adventure trip. Wow!!! Rappelling, rock-climbing, river-rafting and much more, all in three days. I started back as I saw myself in the mirror for the first time in three days. I am tanned by several degrees. Thank God, my parents arent here. But whos complaining?? It was a revelation of sorts that great sleep without a fan on a humid night is possible. June 30: A few unfortunate ones among us had to give a speech in the MCN lecture. Gussie FinkNottle would have been proud of some of them. Worse, Father let them know in the class itself what exactly he thought about the speeches

and what he thought certainly wasnt nice. I guess it was only his shock and disbelief at our performance that stopped him from berating us further. I have an appointment with God tomorrow to thank him for keeping me out of this exercise. He deserves a treat. Rs. 51 seems to be a good amount. The lark is on the wing, the snail is on the thorn, the God is in his heaven and all is well with this world July 14: I see the cruel joke Cosmos has played. Two weeks of break from the diary-entry-ing routine and what am I writing? Essentially the opposite of the June 30 entry. Is there anything going right in this world?? M/S Pain Begins Ltd and M/S Pain Escalates Ltd. Aargh!! Yes, these were the names of firms in our MANAC test today. July 17: Life is currently one interminable series of quizzes and assignments. July 20: Dear Diary, it pains me to write this but I feared for this day ever since I got the offer letter from XLRI. I am tired of this hide-and-seek game between the two of us. Every night, I come home, get an alert on the laptop about the diary entry and almost daily, I cancel it even as I cast an almost furtive glance at you. It doesnt help that you are a dull gray in color. It only adds to the poignancy of the situation. May be youll feel better if you know that what spiritual agony I am myself going through. Its not just the lack of sleep that burns me I am too strong for that. Whats killing me is the fact that I am too busy to appreciate the crowd as I trudge back from Daddus to my lecture hall, wondering instead whether we would have a surprise quiz in MHB. If there exists a more painful opportunity loss, I am not aware of it. Just last night, I dreamt that I have been suddenly asked by Fr Jesurajan in the class to introduce myself and I am unable to let out anything more than a few gurgles and gulps, more like a frog clearing his sore throat. I suspect this is going to be my last diary entry in XLRI. I hope that someday a tear or two would probably bedew this page as readers are moved by the pathos contained in it.

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Diversity and Medicos...

Ankana Mehra and experiential learning. The eclectic mix consists of students who bring along core domain knowledge from different industries such as Media, Medical & Healthcare, Energy, Manufacturing, Information Technology, FMCG, Human Resources, Business Consulting, Telecommunication, Steel, Mining, Apparels, Banking, Textiles & Fashion. Yes, thats what the current GMP batch is made up of! Dynamic markets demand that its frontrunners possess a sound knowledge of various subjects ranging from operations research, strategic management, management accounting, and to sustainable development. But is this theoretical knowledge enough? The same management concepts could be applied differently to the workings of each industry sector, and actually provide a platform for lateral thinking and innovation. Doesnt this give us enough reasons to reject the dogmatic views on who and why one needs management education? An enlightening glimpse of the multifarious General Management Program (GMP) 201112 batch at XLRI revealed the importance attributed to business management education across different industries. XLRIs admissions philosophy is also based on attaining a right mix of students belonging to diverse industries, which in turn provides first -hand learning through peer-to-peer information exchange. The current GMP batch comprises students from close to 13 different industries and provides the perfect combination of management education through pedagogy Page 5 A closer look at the relevance of management education to the healthcare industry uncovers some of the incentives that attract doctors to management schools. India has seen a tremendous growth in the healthcare industry, mainly through privatization fuelled by the deficiencies in the public health delivery system of India. The advent of corporate hospitals was a result of the change in the orientation of the industry from welfare to business, supported by the various policy level initiatives made by the government. Consequently, and rightly so, the need for business management burgeoned amongst the practitioners of medical profession. As the healthcare industry corporatizes, we will continue to observe doctors transitioning from specialized medicos into senior executives sensitive to the specificities of the corporate world. Be it managing people, building strategies, analyzing financials or marketing a service, doctors would be able to take critical corporate decisions without depending on external agents.

Though, as compared to the west, we are witnessing a slow emergence of this requirement in India, the interest is quite evident with doctors comprising approximately 4% of total GMP batch strength. One of the interesting profiles is that of Dr. Vinod, enrolled for the GMP at XLRI.

Backed with 10 years of substantial work experience, Dr.Vinod joined GMP to gain insights into the While its challenging to resonate business workings of corporates, with the intricacies of business with a focus on rural health-care, education and relate those to the medical marketing, and medical mechanics of a human body, products. After completion of the Dr Vinod doctors view business education as program, he plans to pick up critical GMP 2011-12 a platform to broaden their healthcare projects, and eventually perspective and to leverage their start-up his own healthcare business firm. soft-skills. Doctors at GMP have not only In his own words, he deemed the importance managed but have shown their mettle in of a management degree as fulfilling the areas left undiscovered earlier. Kudos requirement of doctors with expertise in docs! marketing, clinical research, administration & management of time bound health care projects. He said medical profession has slowly metamorphosed itself to be called as health care industry. There is a huge requirement of creating a talent pool for this rapid growth in the health care sector. On a lighter note, he said its been a gruelling journey fighting the not-so-common medical subjects, starting from GMAT to hard core statistics and management accounting. Dr.Vinod secured his MBBS from MKCG Medical College after which he went on to pursue post graduate diploma in Human Rights under Indian Institute of Human Rights, for which he received Global Human rights protection award in 2008. He also holds a Fellowship (FCGP) with General Practitioners under Indian Medical Association and Professional Diploma in Clinical trials

from Catalyst Clinical Services. He worked for Marketing & Sustainable rural health/ medical projects for Philips Electronics India Limited for 3 years, and led a project for innovative spectacles for the base of the pyramid children, with the objective to cut down the huge refractive error problems in developing nations such as India, Latin America and Africa (www.u-specs.org).

Your backbone has deteriorated. how long have you been a manager? To self: Gosh, what am I getting into!

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Beyond the Classroom..

Ipshita Ghosh Shreya Kohojkar
Much has been written and said about how MBA programmes are steeped in diversity when it comes to selecting the right blend of students from different walks of life manufacturing, healthcare, IT, marketing services, commerce, nuclear engineers and so on and so forth. It is not often that a Business School can boast of diversity within its staff of faculty members. Dr (Prof.) Tata L. Raghu Ram teaches Environmental and Natural Resources management at XLRI and also facilitates a core course on Introduction to Sustainable Development and Corporate Sustainability for the executive GMP programme. His passion for the cause is admirable and stands out in his classes, which in themselves are innovative in their pedagogy. Besides what we see of him on campus, Prof. Raghu Ram has quite an impressive resume and accomplishments to boot.

A tete-a-tete with Prof Tata teteL. Raghu Ram

Currently, also a consultant to the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India The GliMPse team caught up with Prof. Raghu Ram and got in touch with his personal side. We present excerpts from the interview: On what caused him to go off the beaten track

Limnology is taught at only one university in India i.e. Bhopal University. After completing my BSC, I came to know about this from my uncle. I found this subject interesting and hence took it up.
On life in the water

Masters degree in Limnology and PhD in biodiversity impact assessment 16 years of academics with The Wildlife Institute of India, Dehra Dun, Indira Gandhi Institute of Development and Research Mumbai and IIM Calcutta National Project Coordinator of Protected Area Network Cell at the Wildlife Institute of India (1994-1995) Fulbright Environment Leadership Fellow at Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University Co-editor of Reconciling Environment and Economics (IGIDR, Mumbai 2003) and editor of Uttar Pradesh Environment Monitor-2003 (World Bank, New Delhi 2004)

Since childhood I have a fondness for water and associated life. I like watersports.mainly enjoy watching them!
If not a teacher at XLRI

I would have been a sportsperson. Since childhood I have been very fond of cricket. My favorite cricketers are VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid, G Vishwanath and Mohammad Azharuddin.
On hobbies and other interests

Nowadays I play Badminton. Other hobbies are bird-watching and photography.

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The camera can photograph thought and mind - Prof. Raghu Ram is an avid photographer and we are featuring a few of his pictures that capture his passions -nature, birds and plants.

Are you a day person or a night person?

I am a day person.
Given a choice would you like to set up classes at 8 in the morning?

Yes definitely. Thats when the mind is freshest.

On music and movies Given a choice to watch Wimbledon final & Cricket world cup final?

If India is playing then I would definitely watch Cricket world cup otherwise I will go for Wimbledon.
Are you a mountain person or a beach person?

I am a mountain person anytime.

Best vacation spot till date

Himalayas.
On being environmentally conscious in day to day life

I try to reduce my carbon footprint as much as possible.

On the usage of air-conditioner when the temperature is soaring

I like Carnatic music. I tried to (learn). After two months my teacher asked me to leave! Once in a while I do watch movies. I enjoy intelligent as well as light-hearted movies.
Words of advice for the GMPians

I will first explore the other options such as taking bath. I try to use fan as much as possible instead of continuously using a/c. I use A/C sparingly - may be for an hour or two - then when room is cool I switch it off

Follow your passion.

Prof. Raghu Ram is also the faculty judge for our XLens Photography Contest and helped the GliMPse team evaluate the photographs on the basis of visual impact and portrayal of the ethos of XLRI.

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XLens Photography Contest

We invited students, faculty and alumni to dig into their memories of the times spent @ XL and share with us pictures that captured the ethos of XLRI . Here we present you the winning entries for the XLens Photography contest.
Bodhi Tree | Live and Exclusive Since years, its bringing people together, soothing their agony of abysmal grades, sharing their angst of fallen romances and at the same time, celebrating their exceptional talents! It has given us hymns to relate to every occasion, to look back and relive every moment! XLRI gives you Bodhi Tree!

The Melancholy Bench

Once you were that new born child, in distant far Now you are a GMPian , eyes ajar ; Soon, you spread your mighty wings and off u take, I remain ever rooted here friend and wish : plow ahead ,yet lets meet at soonest break

Rays of Wisdom & Hope

The photo captures the true spirit of the XL er, who doesnt hesitate to burn the midnight oil in pursuit of the gleam of dawn which is filled with a bright future. The girl is engrossed in the wealth of knowledge. The boy is being insightful and basking in the rays of knowledge. Both of them are awaiting a well deserved and a promising future.

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Life, seen through a different lens

Sripathi Chakkravarthi Some of us from the General Management Program actually presumed that the Rural Exposure Program at XLRI, would be a relaxed affair with plenty of time to catch up on our overdue rest and sleep. Little did we know that our minds and hearts, hardened by the hustle and bustle of a life in the city and in the corporate world, would undergo such a profound transformation. A mind blowing metamorphosis! with us, which proved to be vastly useful. Though Patamda is only 50 kilometers away from the XLRI campus, rains and bad roads played spoilsport and it took us a good 2 hours to arrive at TSRDs gates. Mr. Akash from the NGO passed on a copy of our itinerary for the next 3 days to us, and the realization that the visit was not about fun and sleep, sunk in slowly.

Mr Akash had an infectious enthusiasm Every year, XLRI together with NGOs funcwhich instantly tioning in the rubbed off on villages of Jharus. We started khand arranges by visiting the for batches of Dhadkidih village students to be which had a sent to different population of villages, accomclose to 800 panied and guidpeople. The ed by rural deschool was our velopment sociefirst point of visties. The objecit, and we spent tive of this protime talking to Visit to Patamda Village gram is to expose us children and their to a lifestyle that very (Collage by Venkatesh Iyer) interests. It was also few of us have witobvious that the nessed firsthand. We get to see the cooperaschools found it quite difficult to attract tive functioning of a village, the hardships children. The midday meal scheme was and struggles faced by the residents, the very much in existence and played its part aspirations of the next generation within the in ensuring that the children stayed in the village and the ideas supplied by an enterschool at least till lunch. prising few. There were two things that struck us alOn a damp Friday morning, 15 of us left for most immediately when walking through the Tagore Society of Rural Development the village. One was the lack of electricity, located at Patamda, East Singhbhum district. and the other was the prevalence of moThe village was originally a part of West Benbile phones (despite the unavailability of gal and the local language was Bangla. Luckelectricity) and the occasional Airtel Dish ily, we had a couple of Bengali colleagues

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TV connection. We later understood that the village did fall under the electricity grid, but the availability of electricity was dismally sporadic. To our disappointment, there was just one single determined girl from the whole village who was pursuing her Masters at Jamshedpur.

watch the raindrops was cut down by our curiosity to visit every nook and corner that the surrounding villages had to offer.

Other eye openers were visiting the farmers market (where one could get anything from vegetables to local liquor and The day progressed open cooked chickwith meeting the en), meeting the Village Panchayat school teacher and and also underthe Anganwadi standing the econorepresentative, my of the village. walking one kiloThe highlight of the meter into corn day was the inaufields that were guration of the Kisdestroyed by the an Club. The Kisan rains, understandClub is a perfect ing the NREGA example of the cosystem and its operative system in problems, and fithe village. Memnally the talk with bers of the club Mr Bakshi who TATA Steel Rural Development Society pooled in money spearheaded the (Collage by Samarjit Mazumdar) and resources to proactivities of the NGO. cure equipment of better technology which could be used on a The change that had come over us at the end of the visit is hard to put into words. need basis by all members. The day ended We left TSRD with reluctance, with a feelwith all of us analyzing the supply chain foling of leaving a task incomplete. Days lowed by the villagers for their vegetable and after, the feeling still lingers on. poultry produce trying to see if there were options that resulted in better margins for the villagers. The next two days were spent in visiting the Public Health Centre and the village of Sundarpur. During the time spent there, Jharkhand experienced torrential rainfall and the Suvarna River swelled threateningly. Interestingly, none of us felt like staying back because of the rain. Contradictory to our original plans, our inclination to rest and The end result is that each one of us has turned more socially conscious in one way or the other. We had always been blinded by our wants, even as the needs of many deserving people went unfulfilled. The urge to bring about a change in the system finally awoke in us. Thanks to XLRI and selfless organizations like TSRD, our eyes have opened to a completely new India!

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AXOM AGRI: A Value-added Vegetable Biswajit Bordoloi Supply chain

Entrepreneurs are simply those who understand that there is little difference between obstacle and opportunity and are able to turn both to their advantage. Niccolo Machiavelli In a country like India where more than 9 million people are unemployed, entrepreneurship is not only an option but a necessity in order to meet the socio-economic needs. Government of India recognised this need and therefore started investing in entrepreneurship development programs. For instance, Entrepreneurship Development Centre at XLRI is one such noble initiative from the government of Jharkhand. budding entrepreneurs.

What is AXOM AGRI?

Owing to high perishability, shelf-life of vegetables/fruits is very low. On top of that, the supply chains in the present scenario have no contemporary mechanism to address this issue, which is the prime reason that India incurs a colossal loss of 40% of total fruits and vegetable grown every year. It has been observed that an innovative arrangement to re-

Agriculture the next big thing!

Agriculture provides the principal means of livelihood for over 58.4% of India's population. It contributes approximately one-fifth of total gross domestic product (GDP) and accounts for about 10 per cent of the total export earnings and provides raw material to a large number of industries. A study says that 1% increase in agricultural productivity reduces poverty by 0.65%. However, low and volatile growth rates and the recent escalation of agrarian crisis in several parts of the Indian countryside are threats not only to national food security, but also to the economic well-being of the nation as a whole. And the entrepreneurs in the field of agriculture (known as Agripreneurs are the need of the hour. Nonetheless, with the launch of the National Food Security Mission, myriad avenues in this sector have opened up for Agripreneurs; from supply chain to logistics to food processing to cold chains to warehouses and many more. Government has come up with plethora of financial subsidies to augment the growth of the agriculture sector. All big business power houses like TATA, Reliance, Mahindra and the likes are shifting their attention to the agriculture sector which is a healthy cue for

duce such losses can result into a viable business proposition. On the same tune, AXOM AGRI - a company based on socio-capitalistic business model, aims at establishing retail network of food (raw, processed, and frozen) for Class I/II/III towns (population of 20,000 and above). It conceptualizes existing traditional markets by setting up micro retail and other contemporary retail concepts and introducing an efficient supply chain.

Operation of Axom Agri

AXOM AGRI intends to establish an efficient supply chain by bridging the gap between farmers and markets in an organized way.

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It will procure farm-fresh vegetables from farmer groups at a fair price by forming self-help groups and will sell it to hotels, hostels, restaurants, local vegetable markets (sabzi mandis). It will also sell vegetables with the help of its makeshift retail outlets and multi-utility push-carts. Once the supply line is established it will go forth with the export of high quality farm produce. AXOM AGRI in return will channelize the government schemes and subsidies and provide essential farm inputs to the illiterate and poor farmers. This will not only alleviate the income level but also increase the productivity of farmers in the region. The same will be implemented to vendors, who will get vegetables a tad cheaper from AXOM AGRI. Thus the two hands of AXOM AGRI will function simultaneously - one to supply vegetables (The Farmers club) from the farms directly and the other (the Vendors club) to sell it to the consumers.

The value proposition by AXOM AGRI:

It has been observed that a substantial farm produce is wasted due to improper postharvest management and lack of proper transportation and supply mechanism. Vegetables, in particular, need special attention while transportation owing to their high perishability. Maintaining appropriate temperature and humidity in the storage of vegetables is a key area of focus. AXOM AGRIs USP is to increase value by maintaining the freshness of vegetables throughout the supply chain by incorporating cost-effective refrigeration mechanism in all levels. And also reduce loss by using proper transportation and storage methods.
Biswajit Bordoloi is a student of the Post Graduate Programme for Certificate in Entrepreneurship Management (PGP-CEM)

Ego Alter Ego

Balchandra Kemkar Ego: I want to be in the Placement committee Alter Ego: Why? Ego Ego: I want a job Alter Ego: Everyone wants a job. So should everyone join Placement committee Ego: No. Not everyone. Only RIGHT people Alter Ego: well who decides on RIGHT people Ego: May be a bunch of RIGHT people Alter Ego: Then why don't these right people form a Placement committee on their own? Ego: This is like asking why Sonia Gandhi is not our PM Alter Ego: [No Answer]

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Embryofund Sowing Seeds of Entrepreneurship

What prompted Mr. Girish Hukkeri (GMP Class of 2006) to quit the cushy job of a senior sales manager post MBA and venture into an entrepreneurial journey? And that too form an organization that enables early-stage entrepreneurs to realize their dreams. GliMPse teams Rajeev Shahi caught up with Mr. Girish Hukkeri, founder of embryoFund (http://www.embryofund.com) to talk about entrepreneurship experiences, challenges and the road ahead, and also his times at XLRI GMP . Here are some edited excerpts:
Hi Girish. Firstly we thank you on behalf of the entire batch. Could you please share your personal and professional experiences prior to joining GMP? In 1989, after finishing my engineering, I joined the IT sector which at the time was still in its infancy. I started as a software engineer and eventually moved on to delivery as well as sales and marketing management roles in IT: Senior Sales Manager at Aveva and Area Manager at EDS Technologies. Before joining GMP, I had the opportunity to work in various leadership roles and I realized the importance management education has in shaping ones perspective. What motivated you to leave your job and venture into the risky proposition of Entrepreneurship? After spending some time in the industry, I realized that I was restricting my skills in a regular routine job and that my potential lay elsewhere. The internet and mobile boom encouraged me to start something on my own. Despite not having management education, I set up a software company with a friend. However, the venture didnt work out well. Then, I got admission to the General Management Program (GMP) at XLRI. The program helped me

GMP Alumni Interview - Girish Hukkeri (Class of 2006) By Rajeev Shahi

to develop myself as a thinker and a manager with multiple viewpoints. After completing GMP, I took up a job to prepare myself financially. And at the right time, I founded Embryofund. Embryofund is a way to vent out myself and also to help out entrepreneurs like me. How did you conceptualize the idea of Embryofund? Who are your target customers? I had been thinking of trying to start my own venture, however, there were problems at various stages while trying out the available options. I also tried to seek help from friends and acquaintances of mine. However, I realized there was no professional body to consult and guide an entrepreneur. I saw this problem of as an opportunity. Through a professional consultant body, I felt that I could share my personal experiences and also use my management acumen to guide a budding businessman. And thats how Embryofund happened. What makes your company special? What are the most important advantages your customers get when working with your company? Embryofund is a company to consult and encourage individuals looking to start their own ventures. Now, entrepreneurship in itself is a big risk and a company to promote that risk is an even bigger risk. Thats the best and the most special thing about this company. My customers are those individuals who are willing to break the bonds and fly, to take a dip in deep waters rather than those waiting at the shore for the water to subside. I provide facilitation to my customers with life-sustaining equipment when taking this dive into unknown

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waters. I provide them with the necessary framework employing various strategic consulting methodologies as well as some from my personal experience. Did you start alone or you have some partners? Was this idea with you even before you joined GMP? During the digital boom in India, I had tried out my own start-up. However, it was not successful due to a variety of reasons including a lack of holistic view. GMP helped me mature as a person with a 360 degree viewpoint on a number of business and management areas. I interacted with world class faculty at XLRI and the best of students in India. My confidence was immensely boosted with this exposure. There was a small entrepreneurship drive named Grab-On started by BM and PMIR students in the campus and I could really relate myself to the same. This idea was there with me in a very nascent stage while at GMP. Once I got the opportunity to free myself from financial worries, I did what my heart always wanted to do. What were the most difficult things to overcome when starting a company? Finding an idea? Making the first steps to transform the idea in a real business? Getting your first customer? I think Confidence and Optimism are the two very important qualities which are needed for stepping into any kind of unknown area. Difficulties like funds, support and guidance, recognition, customers are all conquered with these weapons. I believe in Hope for the best and prepare for the worst. So, I am ready to face challenges and failures while constantly striving to succeed and make a mark. My first customer came my way much before I had thought and things are on track by Gods grace. However, I as mentioned earlier, I am ready for the worst. So, my motivation levels are always very high. What do you like the most about being an entrepreneur? Not having to work from 9-6 and the freedom to be my own boss. Also I get an opportunity to explore various unconventional avenues which I might not

get enough time to look at in a conventional job. What about the legal part? Is it difficult to comply with the business rules? Starting a venture involves multiple interfaces with the government. Many a times, some of us dont proceed because of red-tape and various other bureaucratic hindrances. However, I didnt have to face much of a problem and I was satisfied if not delighted with the speed of the turnaround from them. What would be your advice to GMPians who are looking for entrepreneurship ventures? Believe in yourself. In joining XLRI, you have positioned yourself among the chosen few within the country. XLRI and GMP in particular open up many paths of wisdom for you to explore. So, take a small step further and experience the freedom of being your own master. What role did GMP, XLRI play in shaping your ideas, career and risk appetite? I always had thought about undergoing formal management education. Exposure to various academic methods of doing a task helped me to strengthen my basics which I could apply with my instincts to reach a decision. I met the best management gurus in the country and best of the minds willing to go that extra mile all the time. This encouraged and inspired me to shed all my inhibitions and listen to my heart. Is there anything you think, you did not get a chance to do during your GMP days but would advise the current and forthcoming batches of GMPians to focus on? Even though the GMP schedule is one of the most hectic ones in India, try to participate in national level management events where you are pitted against the most competitive minds. Message for current GMPians? Believe in yourself and stretch yourself beyond your own imagination!

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Of team building, adventure trips and Kaustuv Dasgupta unexpected challenges

Belief-defying obstacle courses, man-made and natural, belief inducing team building exercises, imagination stimulating games, life in the rural wilderness, a fierce unexpected storm and tough decisions. These pretty much form the outline of a part of the adventure trip embarked upon by the students village Tumung, the group of around sixty students set up camp with the aid of the RMWT instructors and launched into a host of adventure sports. The proverbial lap of nature threw up a challenge or two as teams of students tackled group tasks that tested leadership skills and trust lev-

of XLRIs GMP batch 2011-2012. This compulsory trip, organized this year by the Raymond Memorial Welfare Trust, is a part of the General Management Programme and is aimed at fostering team spirit, increasing familiarity and bonding between the relatively new faces in college, bringing out the leaders the group, overcoming fears and instilling belief in oneself and to get out there and take in whatever life in the greenery and the earth has to offer. Having arrived in the rustic outskirts of the

els within a team, imagination, spontaneity through group tasks, the ability to overcome apprehensions and fears as the group egged each other on through incredible natural and artificial obstacle courses. It didnt matter that age was not quite on the side of many of the participants; the enthusiasm in the group was infectious, energy rubbed off among the members. The nature-made challenges, however, werent restricted to the obstacle course. On the first night at camp incessant rains

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ISSUE

PAGE

10

and cyclonic winds swept the camp relentlessly. Security and health concerns began to crop up as some of the tents were rendered unusable by natures fury. The inhospitable tested

into the next day and the activities had to be called off prematurely. However, the truncated trip was not without its lessons in management for the students. The trip was a in: first-hand experience

conditions

the batchs ability to deal with unexpected Some crises. enquiries t ha t school in the

Realizing rural goes the

what India when wild Working with what you have

and a quick survey re ve a le d ernment building there was a gov-

t h r o u g h weather runs

vicinity that could be used as temporary shelter until an alternative could be figured out. As there was some uncertainty about availability of shelter for 60 adults, some of

Prioritization moving people with health concerns to the temporary shelter first Work as a team, coordinate with each other When the going gets tough, it becomes all the more important for a team to keep the bigger picture in mind at all times and work towards a best possible solution under the circumstances. The importance of clear thinking

The adventure trip may not have fulfilled its immediate purpose, but the students the members volunteered to stay back in the tents and thus help ease logistical issues. Conditions unfortunately did not improve did take away equally significant lessons in management. The students learned what it took to deal with a real situation the hard way; something that cannot be fully learnt in a classroom or from books!

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In the light of Cloud

Venkatesh S Iyer
THE PAST THE PRESENT A troubled man to his friend (an IT consultant):

There is no way that company exists in a year [Tom

Siebel (Founder, Siebel CRM Systems) in 2001, referring to Salesforce.com] The computer industry is the only industry that is

My daughter smokes, my son is in jail and my wife ran away with my girlfriend. Do you have any advice for me?
IT consultant to the troubled man: Cloud.

more fashion-driven than women's fashion. Maybe I'm an idiot, but I have no idea what anyone is talking about. What is it? It's complete gibberish. It's insane. When is this idiocy going to stop? [Larry Ellison (CEO
and Founder, Oracle Corp.) in 2008 referring to the term cloud computing in Oracle OpenWorld 2008 speech] Technology predictions have not always been correct and the above statements testify that! Salesforce.com (NYSE: CRM) an enterprise cloud computing company, best known for its ability to provide on-demand Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software generated revenues of US $1.657 billion in FY 2011, and has 6000 employees as of 2011. Within a year or two (following Ellisons colourful extravagant declaims about the cloud), Oracle today offers a range of on-demand cloud-enabled products. Microsoft has taken its Office online, SAP has put its heart and soul into SaaS (Software-as-aService), and HP has moved on beyond infrastructure. In more than one ways, cloud computing is the new reality in the IT marketplace. While it may not be the answer to everything, for instance the solution to the troubled mans problems, it certainly does provide numerous solutions and new perspectives for looking at on -demand computing. So, what exactly is this cloud-computing all about? This question somehow never seems to fade-off. There are umpteen numbers of definitions none of which have been accepted universally. So, why add one more definition? Instead, lets start by asking a few basic questions to reach to an understanding of cloud computing. Companies across the globe have big ideas to streamline their businesses and drive the sales revenues, operating incomes, and profits through the roof. But to implement these ideas, companies need to have the right technology in place. So what do they do? They buy consumer and business applications (like Oracle, SAP, Microsoft and many more). These apps beyond doubt are expensive. Besides, the licensing, annual support and maintenance costs, they bring along with them a world of com-

Moral of the story: A good IT consultant is always on duty.

plexity. Buying and installing these apps (at an enterprise level) is not an easy job. Therefore companies buy huge racks of application servers and storage servers. To host these servers, companies need office space, bandwidth and network. They also need a lot of power and cooling to keep them running. Did you know that on an average, data centers consume 40 times more power than the offices they support? Add to this, a growing concern about environment and sustainability, where rampant power consumption certainly raises quite a few eye-brows. Lets say, the data center is in place. Is the job over? Certainly not! The companies need a huge software stack which would run on these data centers. A team of experts, to install, configure and maintain them. They need development, testing, production and failover environments, and personnel to monitor them. And what if something goes wrong? Companies need to contact tech-support and they take all the time in the world to respond. Suddenly, new versions of the software come out and vendors stop tech-support for older versions. Willingly, or unwillingly companies must upgrade to newer versions. Oh wait! What about the risks associated with the upgrade? This is the story about most of the big players, who can afford to allocate millions to technology budgets. What about SMEs (Small and medium enterprises)? They stand nowhere. Its easy to visualize why CIOs spend restless nights when they are asked to cut down on tech-costs. With cloud-computing, organizations do not have to worry about the above problems. All their apps would be hosted and operated

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by a company which provides cloud-services. The employees, in the organization simply have to remote log-in to the shared cloud-app, customize the app and start using it. Their IT departments do not need to worry about software upgrades, hardware failures, data center costs etc. All of these headaches would belong to the cloud services vendor. The data and the application itself are hosted remotely. There is no need to install any software locally excepting an internet browser. Lets give a fancy name to this new way of computing Zero footprint IT. To deepen our understanding of this concept lets take a very simple example Gmail vs. Microsoft. With G-mail would a company need primary mail servers, storage, backup servers, failover servers, upgrades and technical teams? - No. But with Microsoft exchange services the company would need most of these overheads if not all. Now, take this idea and extend it to business applications such as CRM, HR management, etc., and the obvious advantages of cloud-computing over conventional inhouse computing would be visible. When the idea of cloud computing is taken from a consumer app. level (emails) to a business app level (CRM, HR, Accounting etc.). it is called enterprise cloud-computing. With this basic understanding of what cloud-computing is, lets attempt to answer the why cloud-computing question. Imagine running a new business, and being up and running with all the right apps, and support teams within a few days or weeks. This can be unheard of in the traditional software world. But with the cloud-power this is perfectly possible! The cloud apps cost less as the companies do not have to pay for the people, products and the infrastructure facilities. Cloud-apps are also more scalable and reliable. Why? They follow something called a multitenancy architecture (this fancy term again deserves an example). Imagine, a scenario where your company, a nearby bank, and retail store next door, all use cloud services from a single vendor. Multi-tenancy architecture in this context would mean that they share a single highly customizable app, and the vendor would not furnish these users with their own separate copies of the same app. What does this mean? Simple! Increased scalability. Now lets talk money! How do you pay for all this cloud power? Think of these payments as relatively predictable monthly payments. When enterprises need more power, they pay more and, they are free to cut down when they need less. This is a huge advantage over traditional method where application and storage servers once bought cannot be returned back for the money paid earlier. What does this mean? For readers, who are inclined towards costing and financial jargons, here is the conclusion In a public cloud delivery model the capital expenditure is converted into operational expenditure. For all others (including me) the conclusion is simple! Increased flexibility given the pay-as-you-go provision. No wonder why, three quarters of the firms with the largest and most specialized operations are using cloud computing either partially or fully. 70% of them plan to expand to usage to cover more apps. This means that they have figured out the best use to which they can put the existing cloud services. So, how does an enterprise go about moving to cloud based IT operations. A hasty step towards cloud adoption would mean several IT failures and severe operational bottlenecks. The enterprises must first look into themselves and identify who they are. So it is important to recognize and understand the risks involved. Cloud computing follows a relatively predictable adoption cycle in the IT marketplace. It penetrates into the market slowly, gets evaluated and is either accepted or rejected by organizations. Whatever be the firm type, some standard steps followed for adoption of cloud computing are awareness (understand), interest (seek

opinion), evaluate (accept, or reject), try (test), adopt (move) and finally the most important step for any upgrade Adapt!
Enterprises must remember that the above mentioned guidelines are directive in nature, and the adoption decisions must be judgment-based rather than rulebased. In many scenarios adoption might not be worth the effort involved. In such cases, the enterprise can sit back and relax! As with any new technology there are certain key issues that inhibit adoption of cloud computing. The most obvious one is that of privacy. The regulatory compliance policies also have a long way to go, in order to allow for such data movement outside the organization in a shared environment. There are a multitude of topics which deserve a detailed explanation; however, the whole purpose of this article was to leave us with a fair understanding about the dynamics of cloud-computing. So, the next time someone talks about cloud computing, do not wonder whether the data would be lost if it rains!
i. The quotations in the beginning of the article have been taken from www.technopulse.com ii. References Gartner research on cloud computing. iii. References Facts, figures and adoption stages have been taken from publication made by Marquis Research LLC. (IT Leadership brief, 4-May 2010)

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simple, as Buddha first recognized observe your breath each moment. It is the easiest way to be in the present moment and hence relieve your mind from being in the state of past or future. The mind can exist in either, but cannot really accomplish anything. If Buddhas teachings on breathing are more on spiritual level; today the best of the weight trainers and coaches across all sports around the globe emphasize on focusing on breath while playing or working out. I would like to quote the saying by Perry Como (American Singer and Television Personality) to emphasize the role breath plays in ones success- Acting coaches in Hollywood were always telling me to use my hands and body more. But that was never me. I just breathe and sometimes it doesn't look as if I'm doing that.

HEALTHY MIND
How can you feel if you cant BREATHE!
Naga Abhishek Godavarthy Before you venture to read this article, do as I say. Close your eyes and take a deep breath. How do you feel? Did that feel like living? One of the meanings of Breathe as per standard dictionary.com is to live. It struck me the other day when Hrithik Roshan responds to Farhan Akthar (about how to live life and be fearless) in recent Bollywood flick Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara by saying BasSaas lethe raho. It just cant get any simpler. Breath is a potent tool that any living being possesses, but it becomes that much more powerful in the case of a human for his ability to observe. And when a human keeps observing his breath every moment of his life, he attains salvation. If you are surprised, then refer to the books/teachings on how Buddha attained Nirvana. Such is the power of being aware with your breath each moment. On a day to day basis we undergo a lot of stress; professionally as well as personally. For example, too much work on a Monday morning, big presentation before a major client, traffic that is making you late for a crucial meeting, emotional turmoil in relationships et.al. But if you observe closely, it is our inability to stay in the moment that makes things that much stressful. The concept of life is very simple- stay in present and experience the life to the fullest, rest falls in the place. But how to stay in the present? It is pretty

Breath is the only thing that remains with you until your last breath. So dont alienate it, keep breathing and your every moment will be filled with its own life. PS: If you are interested in practicing meditation which focuses on breathing, visit-http:// www.dhamma.org/. Also I will continue with my endeavor to organize yoga sessions with Professor Sarin; and make you breathe through pranayama. Happy breathing!

Theres only one way to breathe right!

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Rendezvous with Reality

Shreya Kohojkar
Oh! Another assignment! That was the unanimous sigh we let out when we heard that one more group assignment was on its way and with a heavy heart we started reading through the instructions. But voila! To our surprise and rather a pleasant one, it was not like those usual assignments where we have to do loads of number crunching or have to go through big fat management books. So what was it? Assignment simply read Socially useful live project. Not a penny more, not a penny less. And thus ten brains brimming with creative ideas and hopes to make an impact on society started brainstorming. After hours of discussion which could at times fall under the category called arguments, we decided upon some ideas and after doing feasibility check, zeroed on one. Finally consensus was reached! Before I start talking about our project I would like to mention a famous quote by Abraham Lincoln. The quote reads, Give me six hours learn or operate one. Apart from providing computer education, we decided to setup computer centres in nearby villages so that students can apply the knowledge and make full use of what they have learnt. Classes were scheduled every Sunday. Initially there were some reservations from the students side but as we showed them what computer is all about and what one can do merely sitting in one place, everyone was excited and by the end of that first session they were actually looking forward to the next class. The interest and happiness that was reflecting on their face

to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. In todays
world of Information Technology, computer is that indispensible axe. And for the young generation, computer literacy is an absolute must. But where many of the villages are still struggling for basic amenities such as sanitation facilities, electricity and roads, computer knowledge and internet access are still a distant dream. And thats where we decided to make our impact. With the help of the NGO, SEEDS (Socio Economic and Education Development Society), we reached out to XITE (Xavier Institute of Tribal Education), Gamharia, around 20 km from Jamshedpur city. At XITE, we started classes, educating people on computer basics. There were around 20 students, majority coming from villages where there was no electricity, no connectivity to mainstream city, no schools or colleges nearby. Many had basic knowledge of English and for many their highest level of education was matriculation. Some had heard of computers but had not got any opportunity to

was so palpable that every Sunday we used to get up early and with loads of enthusiasm used to go there to teach them. As days passed, the number of assignments, studies, quizzes tended to infinity and sleep tended to zero, but our zeal to impart computer education remained intact. So what was driving us and making us push our limits? To travel for an hour on a dusty, bumpy road in scorching heat just to reach there on time? It wasnt just the thought of making an impact on society, but what was driving us was the kind of joy these students displayed at the prospect of learning. Now that I reflect on it I realise how many things we take for granted. A good education, a comfortable lifestyle, loving parents, helpful friends there is so much in our life that we think is our basic right that we tend to miss out on small pleasures of life. Another experience I would specifically like to mention is that of the only girl, who also happened to be the brightest student of the batch. After completion of course, when we asked them questions to brush up on their knowledge, she was far ahead of the boys, answering most of questions fluently. As we clapped for her, her eyes lit up and she said that she would like to learn more and would ask other girls

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spunk and desire to take along other girls with her, especially in a culture where girls are still restricted to household chores. As we were teaching them computers they were in turn teaching us how to value those small surprises of life. And hence in the process boundaries of assignment faded and what remained was a melting pot of experiences generated out of interactions with people from different social, cultural backgrounds.

and

economic

Weeks passed by. Students had picked up really fast and could now handle computers on their

own. They were now well-versed with basic uses of computer such as making documents, handling files and most importantly browsing the internet, their key to explore outside world and tap into vast knowledge pool. And finally the day came when we realised our mission of setting up computer centres at Sonaltand and Dhunaburu villages. The event marked a new beginning for those students as new doors of knowledge opened up for them. This event also contributed in increasing overall awareness about computer education as students from other villages also participated in the event. And as I write the last sentence I hope the spark that we have generated through this mission, will turn into a blaze which will enlighten many more minds.

Anti-Alcoholism Drive

- By Samarjit Mazumdar

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a small step - Lao Tzu

Picture this: A mining labourer whose family can barely make ends meet, more often than not shows up at home drunk. Most of the days hard earned money gone in a trail of drunken stupor and up in smoke. Alcoholism is one of the prime and deep-rooted issues in the mining belt of Jharkhand. Not only does it impact their health directly, but it also has a long standing social impact by jeopardizing the moral values of the affected society. So, as a part of the socially useful live project, our group collaborated with the NGO, SEEDS (Socio Economic and Education Development Society) to help the alcohol addicts in the villages in Jadugoda Block of Jamshedpur district. The group took the bull by its horns, and headed out to Jadugoda over a weekend with everyone in the group buzzing with ideas to convince the villagers to give up alcohol. The bull won the first round though as the miners didnt want to give up alcohol and didnt realize the evils of it - no amount of counseling could compel them to give up alcohol. Their logic was simple and attitude aggressive its our money, our health who are you to intervene? Disappointed and a bit disheartened with the attitude of the villagers, the group played its last card and visited the local police station to meet the inspector and convince the authorities to put a check on the rampant illegal bhattis places where alcohol was sold illegitimately. With heavy hearts and no tangible signs of accomplishment, the group decided to call it a day and started its journey back to XL. Things took an unexpected turn when we got a call from one of the members of the local Mahilasamity of the village with a message of caution. Do not come to the village till you hear from us again. This seemed to us like a matter of concern, but we came to know that the police raid in the village had created a stir among the villagers and the situation was no longer conducive for us to make any future visits. But wasnt this a sign of changes in the right direction? Werent we creating a positive impact? Encouraged by this unanticipated success, we decided to re-visit the village after a week. This time, the group first visited the police station, to convince the officers that it was imperative that they continued the raids on a regular basis. Next, we met the Mukhia and the local administration, to take the initiative forward. The villagers genuinely thanked the group for their efforts to drag the men out of the stupor that had completely engrossed their lives. As we headed back to campus that evening, we took back with us a strong feeling of achievement, solace and the satisfaction of having tried to do something worthwhile that would touch the lives of the people in the village and make a positive difference to them in the long run. The valiant group consisted of Abhijeet Baban Gavi, Amit Raj Singh, Gaurav Moolchandra Agarwal, Jalaj Chhalotre, Ravi Kumar, Sandip Bhattacharya, Samarjit Mazumdar, Shashi Prakash, Sudhanshu Vardhan and Vineet Vishal.

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Whats up at GMP?
Prarambh 2011
On 2nd July, 2011, the habitually silent lawns in front of the GMP residence took on a different look. The inviting artistic paraphernalia at the entrance, the cheerful lighting, the white drapery - all indicated that this was not just another ordinary day. The GMP banner proudly proclaimed the beginning of a new year of experiential learning, of interactions and friendships, of living-up to the name of brand XLRI. The stage was set for Prarambh the first official get-together and the annual welcome bash of the GMP batch. The occasion brought together the GMP batch with the teaching faculty as well as some of the non-teaching staff and a good number of GMP alumni, all of whom got the opportunity to informally interact and know each other better. The ambience for the evening was set by a heart-touching rendering of a Rabindranath Tagore song. This was followed by an address to the students by the Director and the Dean. The event slowly picked up pace and there were a number of individual performances including skits, impromptu musical renditions and quizzes. The performances brought to light the hitherto unknown talents of the GMP batch and made the overall experience an extremely enjoyable and memorable one. As the evening progressed, drinks flowed as fast and strongly as the conversation did. After dinner, it was time to rock the dance floor and the stage was opened for one and all. The GMP spirit took over and the night came alive as most of the students danced to the beats of lively music and set their hearts free to revel in a feeling of pure ecstasy. True to its name, Prarambh or commencement signified the beginning of an eventful academic year and promised many more such evenings where the entire GMP batch could forget the burgeoning pressures of assignments and exams and give in to the enticing call of carefree enjoyment. - Ipshita Ghosh

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Independence DayTree Planting

The Independence Day celebrations were conducted in front of the Learning Centre, with flag hoisting by the Director, Fr Abraham, followed by an address by the General Secretary and Prof. Santanu Gupta. XLRIs own band, Bodhi tree performed a few patriotic songs to mark the occasion. After the celebrations, all the GMPians headed back to the park in front of the hostels, to carry out their own event to mark the Independence day, a tree planting activity (an idea by Prasanna Chandran - one of the CRs of our batch), to recognize the day and to remember it for generations to come, as a symbol of our GMP Batch of 2011-12. Hopefully the trees add more beauty and grace to the GMP community setting and make life more peaceful, relaxing, and offer a rich inheritance for future generations. Wouldnt it be great to have the future GMP batches, ten-twenty years down the line, doing their assignments or conducting their meetings sitting under those very trees? Wishful thinking!! These trees are lives representing our life at XLRIleaving an enduring legacy behind. We enjoyed planting them and a few of us look out of our windows every couple of days - merely checking on how much they have grown. There is an old Chinese proverb - The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second best time is now." So true!! - Hrishikesh C

Sports MeetXaviers, IIMs

Its a beautiful campus, with lush green football and cricket grounds, inviting basket-ball and volley ball courts, enticing tennis court, an irresistible table tennis room and badminton court and much more. But, wait a minute, all this a war-zone?! Yes, thats exactly what the scenic views turned into during the inter-collegiate sports meet held from 4th to 7th August. We invited one and all but, ahem, defeated one and defeated all! We welcomed our guests, from XIMB, IIM Lucknow, IIM Calcutta, with inviting verbiage but bid farewell with celebratory XLRI mottoes. We made our mark, yet again, in football, volleyball, tennis, table-tennis, swimming, carom, badminton..you name it, and weve won it! And of course, we kept the trophy back home. Our guests came with a competitive spirit but left only with the hope of performing better the next time. 6 of our own GMPians not only participated but made us proud by winning gold's in the categories they played for. GMP is a compact program which makes it even more difficult to eke out time from a 10 hour, 7-day schedule; but that didnt pull down the sports enthusiasts such as Achin Kishore and Jacob Zacharia, who won gold medals for volley ball or Sunil Mohta and Rajat Ranjan, the carrom champions, or Somdeep Deb and Ankana Mehra, who won gold in table tennis. Thats the real sports spirit, no matter how hectic the terms are, the spirit to defeat and conquer will never die! - Ankana Mehra

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A Tryst with CSCMP

XLRI has been a pioneer in many fields and recently added one more feather to its cap - It is the first b-school outside the US where a student body has been formed for CSCMP Council of Supply Chain for Management Professionals. A body which is synonymous with Supply Chain and can be called as the Facebook of networking in the world of supply chain for Management professionals. The first roundtable was held in the month of July under the able guidance of Prof T.A.S. Vijayraghavan and now the XLers are all set and ready to be a force to reckon with in the world of supply chain. On 3rd August, Mr Neil Basu who heads CSCMP, India visited XLRI, Jamshedpur and commended the efforts of XLers and appreciated the efforts of the GMPians in participating in this drive which will help the world of Supply Chain world become smaller and more accessible.

Kumar Shreshtha

XLRI GMP is a One year full time MBA Program for executives with a minimum of 5 years of experience. The batch strength is 120. Candidates have varied backgrounds and excelled in their respective fields. Admission is through GMAT/XAT scores, Essays & Interviews.

The GliMPSe Team

Send us your suggestions to: glimpse@xlri.ac.in

Statements and opinions expressed in articles, reviews and other materials in GliMPse are those of the specific author and do not reflect the opinions of XLRI or any employee thereof. We have made reasonable efforts to ensure the accuracy of the information throughout this newsletter and XLRI is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information supplied by the students.

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