Hola GIMites, The bustling streets of Goa interspersed with the lively souls of our college truly define the homeliness that one perceives from just being here and breathing it all in. True camaraderie helps strengthen the bond we have with this place. In literature, bards and authors have time and again described the concept of 'Home' as a vibrant house atop the green hills or in a nostalgic neighbourhood too familiar to them, always surrounded by friendly faces and positivity. Artists, on their masterpieces have shown a sunbathed happy white picket fenced home exuding countless memories and stories woven into the very strand of the canvasses used to depict them. And that is the very essence of ‘Home’. Home is more than the physical structure it is constructed of. It is the basis of happiness, stability and the sense of belongingness that we experience every day, no matter where we are. It is for this very reason that we call this institution, GIM 'Our home away from home'.
So here we are, presenting the October Edition of the Kshitiz Newsletter themed 'Home'. Thoughts and creative work from you talented folks make it a wonderful assortment of home and it's umpteen definitions. And well that’s not it. Our Economics maestro and favourite professor - Krishna K Ladha sir shares his experiences and thoughts as we interview him for this issue. Tell you what, there's so much more to him which we were alien to all this while.. OK now, enough of the preamble. We know you can't catch your excitement and it's about time you seep it all in.
Happy Reading! Cheers!
Q1. Please tell us about your background, your schooling, your college days and your journey. I was born in Rajasthan. We moved to West Bengal when I was four-year old. Life was smooth! Till I found that I had become weak in Mathematics, in Class X. Luckily I met my Class XI teacher Mahatoji. He systematically isolated my weak points and fixed them by helping me understand the concepts. In less than three months, Math had become my favorite subject. B.Sc. at St. Xavier’s College Calcutta followed by M.Sc. in Pure Mathematics at Calcutta University led the path to IIM Calcutta. My Econ professors drew our attention to economics, politics and the issues of development, an interest that continues to this day. Professor Barun De taught us economic history of India. He taught us why did the history unfold the way it did. No one has taught me a complex subject like history with the clarity of Barun De. I joined Department of Atomic Energy after IIMC. It was an internal management consultancy group set up by Dr. Sarabhai. My learning continued as the job required it. A good thing I did at this time was to read great authors – well outside my field. I met Rani (also an IIMC-alumnus, not a classmate), we got married and decided to go to Carnegie-Mellon University. After my Ph.D., I joined the faculty at Washington University in St. Louis. It was here that I did some of my work that I like. Along the way I met many great teachers and researchers. I am immensely grateful to them for their help.
Q2. When was the moment you realized that you wanted to be a teacher? Teaching seemed beyond me. However, IIMC, as part of its policy, appointed me as a tutor of Operations Research. My task, as a PGP-II student, was to take the problems assigned by the Professor, go to the classroom and solve them on the blackboard for PGP-I students. Thanks to my juniors for putting up with me because I must have been terrible. Yet I enjoyed the experience and looked forward to the next weekly session. IIMC paid me Rs.1000 for Term IV. It is one of my most treasured income. For reference, my tuition was Rs. 550 per term. Q3. Enlighten us of what your favorite topic in Economics is. Why? I realized that economics and politics go together: A good idea does not automatically get implemented because of politics, as the potential losers, acting in self-interest, oppose the idea. One topic stood out for me: How to design a political system that is long-lasting and delivers good things for the people, even as people act in selfinterest? Turns out a democratic constitution has that capacity. So here is my favorite topic: theories and ideas that underlie constitution design, and their applications. Many of these design issues are discussed as part of game theory, especially under mechanism design. Interestingly, the ideas underlying constitution design apply to governance and corporate policymaking. Q4. What is one thing that you like about the students at GIM? One can teach them and reason with them.
Q5. According to you, students of which generation had/have a tougher life - The ones from 2 decades back or the ones today? This is a difficult question. Life was tough on some dimensions in the past, it is so in some other dimensions now. Consider the difficulty of today’s student: mobile phone! How can one study with the mobile phone, with all its apps, sitting there? My heart goes out to today’s students!
Q6. What is that one thing in your daily routine that makes you happy and that you look forward to? Wake up and walk to my study for work, with a large cup of tea. Q7. The theme for this edition of the newsletter is 'Home,' which could be anything - a person, a hobby, an emotion, a place, etc. What does 'Home' mean to you? Home means quiet, calm, safe, fun, no compulsion to say anything, and no negatives. Q8. Where would you like to spend your retirement days and how would you choose to spend your time? I will never retire. Q9. Who has been the biggest influence in your life? What lesson did that person teach you? One person changed my thinking dramatically: Kleisthenes, the architect of the constitution of ancient Athens. The DNA of modern democratic constitutions may be traced to the Athenian constitution. I have tried to understand – in game theoretic terms – the astonishing work of Kleisthenes. If asked, I would be happy to explain it.
Q10. Tell us of your most memorable classroom experience at GIM. Recently, during the last Microeconomics class for Section C (2018-20 batch), I thought the class ends at 11am whereas it was to end at 10:45. So I went on and on. The striking thing is that all students remained seated, no one budged, and allowed me go on till 11am - forgoing their break and perhaps breakfast. I think such respect would not be shown anywhere else in the world. Amazing! Q11. How late is it to start pursuing something new in life? Have you ever experienced such a feeling? Never too late. My interests changed/expanded from Mathematics to economics and management, to politics and philosophy, to history and constitution design. I began reading Plutarch after my Ph.D. and it changed the things I want to do. A google search for “people who changed career late in life” would have you surprised.
Q12. What is the biggest thing that life has taught you over the years? Several interconnected things:
· Excessive
self-interest is no good because collective action (teamwork) can serve our self-interest even better!
Today’s leaders, many of them, at the organizational and national levels, are willing to sacrifice the greater good for small personal gains or ego.
It is not too difficult to establish in India top-class educational institutions, and top-class organizations. Thus we can accelerate economic development.
Rapid Fire! Favourite
Colleague at GIM?
Quite a few really. Cat
person or Dog person?
Neither What
word would you add to the dictionary if you could, what would it mean? I would add a phrase: leadership by gali-galouj. It captures the idea that often leaders are the core weakness.
You
find Alladin's magic lamp one fine day, what would be your 3 wishes? GIM students Ki Kismat Mein Chain Se Jeena Likh De (Make their lives peaceful), so that they are well-rested, make rational decisions, come to class wide awake, and examine life before living it. GIM students ko immediately first job de de – so that they can focus on education relevant to their careers, and I never ever hear from the Placement team stating that (a) 100 of my 120 students will miss class to attend process by a company (probably with a couple of jobs), and (b) I need not worry about the abstentions because the Placement team has advised the students to work harder to make up for the missed class.
GIM students ko wo tablet de de ki they acquire mastery of quantitative and qualitative methods. Ideal
name for your biography?
Work-in-progress
A
quote that you live by? “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
A
celebrity you would like to dance with? Waheeda Rehman
A
quote that you live by? “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
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HOME -Satrajit Sahani Home is where the heart is, no, home is where your heart stops fighting your mind and returns to pumping blood instead of doing the thinking. You say you know of home? By the way, I appear to you, by the way I look at you, by the way time flies when you’re with me? No sweetie, and I wish what you think had been the truth, for your sake. But no, abandoned ‘bus stops’ are hardly homes, they are, at best, temporary relief centers to the lost, shelter to the homeless, and a pit stop in your case. You wouldn’t understand this, not after 6 months you won’t, not when the passion has given away to routine and your calls are now time table more than desire. Soon you’ll move out of this home and seek the comfort of walls that are suited up and come with swanky cars and a healthy bank balance. No darling, you don’t know how homes are, and I don’t blame you. You know what familiarity is, a rookie mistake, and home isn’t where the heart is, because yours has left with an abandonment that I am familiar with.
In exactly a month from now, you will say the same words to another and talk about the curtains that decorated us. Your tenancy would have ended and I would come to remember what happens when you turn yourself into a home for someone who is looking for an ‘airbnb’. I would remember how not all homes are built out of love, how some are made to be left and switched as per convenience.
You say you know of home? Close your eyes and listen.
Can you hear your heart and mind separately? If yes, then take me with you.
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HOME -Kirti Prabhu What is home ? It is the simplest of pleasures, Be it sleeping in your bed, Or relishing on mom's recipes Or secretly doing things with your dad which your mom disapproved of. Home is a feeling. A feeling of comfort. A feeling of belongingness. ———————————————————————————————
HOME – Supreet Kaur I'm near yet far away from all the hustle bustle I'm at peace seeing the busy home lights I'm alone and yet I can feel the memories compassing me I can see the road less taken and most used by It's dark and full of lights at the same time It's all wet around and I'm dry by My vision is blurred and I don't know where I'm This place is home now Home for next two years atleast Whether it's the parking lot, terrace or parking area I don't love this place always But I know I'll miss this The experience of a new home. ———————————————————
MOM -Gyananjay Prateek I don’t remember much
Had just started to walk And Mom already wanted to say
Don’t go too far I fell, got up This loop went up I was now perfect with paddling Looked back to check for Mom And her smiling eyes said Don’t go too fast First day of school from home First day I went out of home alone First time when I knew, not to cry First time when I heard, the question why
All through this, she always but Said,
Don’t grow too fast Few days back, she came to drop me to airport
The last time I left home Worried, bothered, with tearful yet dry eyes
Her silence was shouting all around Now that you grew up too fast
Please, Don’t go too far… ——————————————————————————————————-
ALL THINGS HOME -Chetan Pangavane The crisp mornings with early sunshine The bustling corridors with familiar faces Friends queuing up in the assembly line And Mischievously untying each other’s laces (Yes, "School" is the second best home to me) From jealousy to egoism And from empathy to compassion I get to feel all that without any criticism Here, I am the master of every moral decision
(Yes, "Solitude" is the home where only I can reside) The rapid breath and the pulsating heartbeat And the ground beneath my feet fading away The sheer sight of self doubt accepting defeat Heralding the arrival of impending new day (Yes, Running keeps all things not home, at bay) The blessing that repels everything foul Where every embrace infests nourishing care Its mere existence satiates my soul At the sanctum of which I'll always find a pair
(Yes, home is the only place where I'll always be me) ———————————————————————————————————-
3 MAHINE 7 DIN 18 GHANTE AUR KUCH MINUTE -Esha Monga Aaj 3 mahine 7 din 18 ghante aur 21 minute ho gaye mujhe Sharan se door rehte hue Ye 3 mahine 7 din 18 ghante aur 21 minute, 3 saal 7 mahine 18 din aur 21 ghante se kam nai lagte Ab aap soch rahe honge ki ye Sharan kaun hai. Sharan mere ghar ka naam hai Aaj 3 mahine 7 din 18 ghante aur 22 minute ho gaye mujhe apne makaan mein rehte hue Ab mujhe apne ghar mein rehna hai Vo ghar jaha maa mujhe subah subah sar par bade hi pyaar se hath fer kar uthati Maano jaise unhone mere se pyaari koi cheez duniya mein dekhi hi na ho
Aaj 3 mahine 7 din 18 ghante aur 23 minute ho gaye mujhe apne makaan mein rehte hue Ab mujhe apne ghar mein rehna hai Vo ghar jaha mein apne papa ki pari bankar kuch bhi mangti toh mujhe vo mil jata Par jab mein bahar se late ghar par pahunchi toh unka mooh ban jata Jaha vo mujhe maa ki har daant se bachate Par akele mein le jaa kar maa ki hi baat pyaar se doharate
Aaj 3 mahine 7 din 18 ghante aur 24 minute ho gaye mujhe apne makaan mein rehte hue Ab mujhe apne ghar mein rehna hai Vo ghar jaha bhai ke saath din mein ek baar na ladu toh din adhura sa lagta Aur jab vo pyaar se baat kare toh “Kahi ye bimar toh nai?” , ye shak hota Jaha vo TV ka remote apne sath kitchen mein lekar chale jaata taki mein channel badal na pau Aur wapas aakar meri hi pasand ka channel laga deta Aaj 3 mahine 7 din 18 ghante aur 25 minute ho gaye mujhe yaha rehte hue Bas ab mujhe apne ghar mein rehna hai Bas ab mujhe apne ghar mein rehna hai —————————————————-
FAMILY -Tannya Babbar A blast of cold air hit my face as I entered the bus. The interiors looked beautiful and comfortable. Surprisingly, there was a washroom at the rear end. We went and rested on our seats, exhausted from the day’s events. I looked outside the window at my brother , standing at the bus stop. A part of me wanted him to come and sit next to me. That is how it has been for so many years. Vacations meant leaving home, together as a family and coming back together.
Tears streaming down my face, I looked at my mum almost begging her to not leave a part of me in this unknown country but to no avail. My mother too was quietly crying. My eyes turned towards my father who was sitting silently, trying to accept the fact that this little boy was not coming with us. It was time to depart. The bus started moving slowly. I wanted to shout to my brother to get inside before it was too late. I controlled myself. During the fight between the heart and mind, I let the mind win. He had come to London to pursue graduation. I kept reassuring myself, it was the right decision, it was his dream. We landed in Mumbai. The place seemed different. The excitement of coming home was missing. To me, there is always an eagerness and thrill to visit Mumbai. I look forward to coming home and spending time with all my loved ones. However, this time, I felt lost. The enthusiasm was missing.
We reached home.That is when it dawned upon me that home is not where one resides. Home is where family is. With any member missing, it doesn’t feel like home anymore. ———————————————————
EK GULDASTA UN GALIYON KE NAAM -Utkarsh Rangnekar Sooraj Ki kirnon ne jab jhanjoda, Uthne ko main majboor hua| Ajnabee is chaardiwari mein main, Jaane kyun ghar se door hua|| Galiyon Chaubaron mein firta main, Kaagaz ki Naavon ko dhoondta rehta| Chamak dhamakti Imaraton k beech, Aam k Baagichon ko tarasta rehta||
Rimjhim Barkha Jab Maati Mehkati, Har saans ek pag ghar disha mein uth jaata| Thamti baarish mein jab sheher roshan ho uthta, Ye haseen sapna zehen se toot sa jaata|| Fir us pagdandi pe kadam padenge, Fir tairegi talaab mein kagaz ki naav| Fir baagichon mein ghumoonga main, Jab mujhko milegi Ghar ki Chaanv|| ———————————————————-
PAPA -Reema Barretto It's passed midnight while I toss & turn If only you'd be here to tuck me in & make the monsters run I must be brave now, I know For I'm not a little girl anymore
Ready to take the flight, I watch you standby You put up a smile but your eyes say otherwise You pass your worries, anxieties & troubles To pave the roads that won't let me stumble Your stories of all the animals, birds & trees Tricked my mind to see beyond the ordinary If you'd fall in to the tantrums I threw It'd pain me when the world said, No! Papa, now I'm wise I'll survive through the lows and the highs I'll climb the mountains and swim oceans I'll dance by the rhythm, too But in the stillness of the night Would come to drive the monsters until it's alright? ——————————————————
AN ODE TO THE SWEET ABODE -Utkarsh Rangnekar The Night oh so playful speaks to me, The celluloid plays a star studded feature. As I drift off no distant land is my destination, For what could be dreamier than my oh so sweet abode. They say dreams fade so does their memory, But while it lasted I lived it all.
But in those Noir reels of my mind, I did miss on thing, I missed seeing me. ———————————————————--
GHAR -Arushi Ek aur ghar bhi hai mera Jismein rehti thi kabhi main Ek aur kumba hai mera Bacchon bado k darmiyan Ek aur hasti hai meri Kuch rang hai, kuch khaab hai Maujood hai jo aaj bhi Vo ghar jo thi basti meri Ye ghar jo hai basti meri Usmein bhi thi hasti meri Ismein bhi hai hasti meri ———————————————————
HOME - Karan Sharma "Yeah, though I don't quite fancy this job,
I await the weekends for the leisurely throb." "I see, isn't that 5 out of 7 days? Isn't that 70% of your 'life' in unpleasant blaze? I say, why not take up 'that' hobby to a level berserk?
And wear a sparkle each morning before work? Why not earn the pound with that ideal vibe?
Why not 'live life' each day of your short life?" ———————————————————-
Artwork by
-Saloni Narang
Click by - Priya Patil
Click by -Sushmita Saha
Artwork by - Kale
Click by -Sushmita Saha
Artwork byAnshu
Artwork byPreeti Kabra
Artwork byAnshu
Artwork byVinayak Bhat
Artwork byVinayak Bhat