Receiving criticism isn't new at all to IITs and their alumni. Is it a coincidence that such criticism almost always comes from people who did not go to IITs themselves? I think not. Anyway, when someone as eminent as Mr. Narayana Murthy speaks on a subject like this, people pay attention. To be fair, he did raise a few valid points. However, most of what he said was BS, and it is simply unacceptable for someone who is considered a potential future President of India to make such strong statements in public forums without thinking everything through.
Let's step back and examine some facts.
In the 60s and 70s - the time he talks about - the IIT JEE was taken by less than 50,000 students, for less than 2,000 seats in 5 IITs.
The complexity of questions asked in exam was very high.
English was one of the subjects candidates were tested on.
There were virtually no quotas or reservations.
In reality, this meant that you only had a shot at getting through if you'd been schooled in a good, private, English-medium school. Which in turn meant that you had to come from a family of some means, and probably from one of the bigger cities.
In other words, the IITs in that period were as elitist as they could be. Most of the students went on to join the Civil Services, or moved to the US and never came back. They did well for themselves, and went on to build a strong 'brand IIT' in places like the silicon valley. But for the govt of India - which had provided these people a good, subsidized education - the ROI was questionable.
This led to the policy shifts witnessed from the early 90s onward. The govt created some new IITs and upgraded some other existing colleges to IIT status. The intake was also increased at each institute. English was discontinued as a test subject at the JEE. Quotas were introduced for SC/ST candidates etc. The result is that the IITs now take in around 10,000 students each year, and the admission criteria are not the same as they used to be.
Now, you don't need to be a genius to realize that there will be some drop in quality when you admit the 'top 10,000' rather than the 'top 2,000'. With the revised exam pattern and admission criteria, you will also end up admitting more students from smaller towns and modest family backgrounds and they will not be as articulate or fluent in English as past generations used to be. This may not please Mr Murthy but the policy-makers have chosen to go this way, and they have good reasons for doing so.
India's priority is not to have one or two institutes that can compete with MIT on quality & prestige, but to have enough institutes to satisfy the demand for quality graduates in our growing economy. To facilitate 'inclusive growth', an IIT education has to be made more accessible to kids across different social strata and from all regions. People who resent this and complain about 'dilution of brand IIT' and 'drop in quality' are being unforgivably elitist. Mr. Murthy is one such person. If he didn't like the policies or their consequences, he should have taken it up with the appropriate authorities. Instead he made harsh, sweeping statements that could demoralize young IIT students. The kids who have worked hard to get into IITs and are doing their best to secure their future in a competitive economy certainly deserve better.
Next, let's consider the coaching institutes. These are being blamed for the drop in quality of students joining IITs. I don't really understand this argument. Is it being suggested that the candidates being admitted to IITs don't really deserve to be there, and are there only because of coaching, at the cost of other, more deserving candidates? Whoever says this - please provide some evidence to back it up. I'd like to remind such people that the JEE is one of the toughest exams to clear in the whole world. This is followed by a rigorous 4-year B.Tech. course which includes a relentless series of & exams that are equally difficult to pass. If you want to disregard the achievements of people who survive all this, and give all the credit to the coaching institutes, your arguments for doing so need to be really solid. So far, nobody's offered any.
More to the point, coaching institutes help candidates prepare for an exam. What is wrong with that? If public schools were functioning well all over the country, these institutes wouldn't be required. But as things stand today, a candidate from Bhiwadi, Bhusawal or Bihar has little hope of getting into an IIT without the help of coaching institutes. They fill the gap that the govt has created through its poor performance in providing good school education to all, and level the playing field to an extent - which I consider a good thing. Of course, the increasing presence of kids from Bhiwadi, Bhusawal and Bihar does bother some elitists.
Murthy also said that 'Coaching classes teach aspirants limited sets of problems, out of which a few are asked in the examinations.' Again, I fail to understand what is wrong with this. The JEE coaching classes are supposed to prepare you for an exam, not teach you salsa dancing or how to appreciate Mozart. If they are thorough, rigorous and focused, why is it a bad thing? In any case, students take these classes for a year or two. This is preceded by 12+ years of school, and in case of successful JEE candidates, is followed by at least 4 years at IIT in a full-time residential program. If the students lack the ability to think creatively, communicate effectively - or whatever Mr. Murthy wants - at the end of all these years of education, the blame should lie partly with schools and mostly with IITs, and it is wrong to place all of it on the coaching institutes.
It is also sad and pathetic that he chose to criticize the IIT students and the coaching institutes who are merely participants in a system they did not create and do not control. What about the IITs themselves - the institutes where these students spend so many years after JEE, and where the buck should stop when it comes to the quality of admissions as well as end-output. Shouldn't they be held responsible, especially with their huge reputation? What about the government that takes major policy decisions that affect 'brand IIT' and 'quality' more than anything else? What about the Industry that contributes virtually nothing to the processes of education and research, unlike in countries like the US that he is using as a benchmark. Does Mr Murthy not realize any of this, or does he not have the courage to go after people or bodies that might hurt his future presidency hopes?
Another theme we hear frequently is the lack of 'research' at IITs. Mr. Murthy points out that the IITs produce few PhDs compared to the US universities and even China. I feel it's a case of putting the cart before the horse. Engineers don't go for PhDs in India as there is simply no incentive. Even the few who do, complain about the absolute lack of suitable jobs. I have batch-mates from IIT who went to the US for further studies and are really keen to return to India but they simply can't find any good jobs here. The reason for this isn't hard to find. Engineers with PhDs are needed for advanced R&D, which in turn is driven by the (manufacturing) industry. USA is the most developed industrial nation in the world. China is becoming a global manufacturing hub. India still hasn't witnessed an industrial revolution, and some suspect we might never see one! We might just skip from agriculture to a service economy and rely on imports of manufactured goods from the likes of China.
This aside, the fact is that not many Indian companies invest significantly in R&D. We don't yet have a culture of entrepreneurship or innovation that could be compared to the US. Till this happens, there were be no demand for people with advanced degrees, and consequently no supply. The industry and the govt need to turn this situation around before they start complaining about lack of research or PhDs at IITs. As it is, we have millions of people with college and post-graduates degrees doing jobs that are done very well by diploma holders in other countries.
In this context, one has to question if producing more advanced degree holders - particularly PhDs in engineering - is even required by India today. Even if it is, where does it lie on our priority list? In a country where we are not even close to universal literacy, quality of public schools is appalling, and there aren't too many decent post-graduate jobs, the answer is obvious. All this talk about R&D and PhDs is reminiscent of Nehru and his 'temples of modern India' - symbolic but useless. I hope we learn from history.
I could say a lot about Mr Murthy himself. How about looking at the profile of new hires at Infosys, evaluating their 'quality', and how it has evolved over the years. If he's not happy with the quality of IIT engineers at Infosys, perhaps he should look at the farcical hiring process Infosys follows there, rather than JEE. How many PhDs does Infosys hire, where are they hired from and what are they paid? How many research projects does Infosys fund and where? Perhaps Mr Murthy should think about what he and his company are doing to improve the situation, rather than being critical of smart, hard-working 17-year-olds or the people helping them get into good colleges.
Showing posts with label IIT. Show all posts
Showing posts with label IIT. Show all posts
Oct 8, 2011
Oct 5, 2008
Brain Drain
Till I was 25, I didn't understand this phenomenon. Having grown up among men who were willing to lay their lives down to defend their country (some even did), I mildly despised those who fled the country for personal comforts and gains. I formed the argument more clearly in my head, when I was at IIT/IIM - the government subsidises the higher education of a few, using tax-payers' money, so that some of them help build a brighter future for India. They reap the benefits and then escape their responsibilities.
A lot of my batch-mates left for the US etc. as soon as we finished our courses. I was determined to stay back and do something, in my own small way, for my country. And with the development we'd seen in the past decade or so - 'India Shining' and all - I felt confident I could lead a good, comfortable life right here!
A little over 3 years later - having lived in Bangalore and travelled to London and a lot of S-E Asia, I've changed my mind and I want OUT of this place. Lemme explain why...
Aspect 1 - Public goods and services
In all cities I visted, one could:
- drink tap water
- not have to worry about power cuts
- reach anywhere quickly, and very conveniently, using public transport
- drive without losing their temper a dozen times an hour
- start working young. You have to work hard and PAY for higher education. And if you did, it would mean something
Aspect 2 - Discipline and behaviour
People formed and respected queues everywhere. Traffic signals were followed. Rules were respected. In general, people were courteous and cordial, and showed a basic minimum level of respect for each other even if they were strangers.
Aspect 3 - Leisure and luxury
There were 24-hours-open 7-11 stores and McDonalds everywhere. The number of convenience products available, large stores/malls, brands of apparel/automobiles etc. - was absolutely mind-boggling for an Indian.
After a hard day's work, or on a weekend, you had leisure establishments you could go to, have a good time, and meet new people. Contrast this with Bangalore - where everything MUST shut down at 1130. Single guys are not allowed in. And dancing is illegal.
Aspect 4 - Safety
If you live in a major Indian city, you could get bombed out of existence any time. Consider this - there were bomb blasts in M-block (Delhi) on a Saturday evening last month. Couple of years back, there were bomb blasts in Mumbai Locals at 630 pm. I could have been there. And ceased being the next moment. We have shockingly inadequate police coverage, high levels of corruption and low levels of motivation within the force. And we have popular politicians who defend the terrorists! Anywhere else - I don't think I'd have to worry about this. Such incidents would be exceptions rather than the bloody norm. And they are becoming bolder and more frequent. People laud our resilience. That's bullshit. It's actually apathy.
Aspect 5 - Govt. and policy
Kashmir. Godhra. Singur. Mandal commission and Reservation. Farmer suicides. Communal riots. Fodder scam. Bofors case. MP's involved in '86 anti-Sikh riots. CM's convicted of murder (and then acquitted to be re-instated as Dy-CM to keep the Congress in power). Mayawati. Jayalalithaa and Karuna throwing each other in jail. Laloo Yadav and fodder scam. A Prime Minister who slept during meetings. A president who couldn't maintain a dignified posture. Naxalsim. A colossal failure called PDS. Another, paradoxically named Public Sector Enterprise. Loan waivers. Currency scams. Exam paper leakages.
An electorate that fails to learn. Educated and affluent sections that refuse to stand up, roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty.
Need I say more?
Aspect 5 - Social standards
I've often heard that Indians living overseas often confront the ugly face of racism. Maybe they do. What happens here? Lemme narrate a few recent incidents:
- I expressed my views against the restrictions on leisure establishments at an online forum, where, supposedly, one'd encounter only educated and civilized citizens of Bangalore. I was told that people who partied and consumed alcohol (like me) became like 'horses without reins' and were a public hazard, and didn't deserve more freedom.
- I was sitting on the steps outside Gokul Arcade (about 50 yards from Forum - very open, well-lit and public) with a female friend after an evening movie show. My bike was parked there, and we were just waiting for me to finish my cigarette before driving. We were harassed by cops and ordered to get the hell out of there and go home.
- A friend of mine is a graduate of IIT Madras and IIM Calcutta, employed with HSBC as a Marketing manager. He was, for a while, unable to get a flat in Mumbai 'coz he's a Muslim.
- Even in my own country, there are places where people have been hostile because I was from a different region and did not speak their language.
So, are things any better here?
End-note
For most of my life, I lived in Army Cantonments or reputed campuses, and did not have to face any of the problems mentioned above. I believed in India, and Indians. 3 years of living on my own, in Bangalore, has made me aware of a very different, and quite harsh, reality. Most Indians do not have a 'sense' of nationalism, or 'greater/public good'. Even a lot of those who are supposedly educated and should know better. Of the few who do, most either don't bother doing anything about it, or end up frustrated after failed attempts (like I have).
Having seen the alternative (US/EU/HK/Singapore), and evaluated all factors, I understand why some of our best brains escape. It's not just deplorable selfishness, it's also a natural instinct - self-preservation.
I love my job and the place I work at. But I hate the life I have outside the office. Given an opportunity (hopefully by my current employers), I'd get out! And maybe someday, when the love of the land becomes irresistible (akhir dil hai hindustani), and our nation has taken several steps forward, I'll come back. For now, I just want out!
May 7, 2006
Reservation is right
Thats the title of this post on Orkut by some guy. Rather strongly stated and biased for my liking, but funny in parts.
May 4, 2006
Another IIT question
News Clipping (courtesy TOINS):
A 23-year-old Indian Institute of Technology-Kanpur (IIT-K) student, Shailesh Sharma, on Wednesday committed suicide by hanging himself in his hostel room...
According to Shailesh’s batchmates, he had failed in advanced thermodynamics for third time in a row and had shared his failure and acute distress with his classmates...
On November 30, a similar case was witnessed when mechanical engineering second-year student Dharaskar Swapnil Chandrakant had committed suicide by jumping from the roof of the administrative block. The IIT-K authorities had then attributed stress as factor behind the incident. Shailesh is the fifth IIT-K student to have committed suicide.
The whole presumption of the 49.5% reservation argument is that IITs are elitist, and 'deserving' candidates are being denied the opportunity to obtain quality education.
That is not the problem. It is a symptom. With due respect to all SC/ST candidates, if they are unable to get through open competition for IIT seats, it is because of weak academic background and lower-quality education they are provided before JEE. That is a real problem which the Govt should work to solve. In stead of reducing fees at IIMs, they should invest in primary and secondary schools.
What they are doing instead is buring their heads in the sand like ostriches, reserving seats and getting in people who are not ready for an IIT education.
IIT is not a lottery. In fact, JEE is where the ordeal really begins. As the above news item proves, an IIT education is rigorous and unforgiving of the weak. All 4 years are like JEE over and over again. But forcing people in, they are doing more damage to their cause, instead of uplifting them. What will they do when these problems come up? Reserve a %age of pass grades for category students, to support them rise above their weak academic background?
And I'm not even going to begin about the impact on the 'IIT' brand. I dont think people who label the IITs 'elitist', can understand or care two hoots about the 'IIT Brand' (Never mind the BBC and others who do stories on this).
Having flunked a few courses and seen tough times at IIT myself, I truly feel sorry for Shailesh and others like him, and many more who will be forced to suffer the same fate by myopic and populist politicians.
A 23-year-old Indian Institute of Technology-Kanpur (IIT-K) student, Shailesh Sharma, on Wednesday committed suicide by hanging himself in his hostel room...
According to Shailesh’s batchmates, he had failed in advanced thermodynamics for third time in a row and had shared his failure and acute distress with his classmates...
On November 30, a similar case was witnessed when mechanical engineering second-year student Dharaskar Swapnil Chandrakant had committed suicide by jumping from the roof of the administrative block. The IIT-K authorities had then attributed stress as factor behind the incident. Shailesh is the fifth IIT-K student to have committed suicide.
The whole presumption of the 49.5% reservation argument is that IITs are elitist, and 'deserving' candidates are being denied the opportunity to obtain quality education.
That is not the problem. It is a symptom. With due respect to all SC/ST candidates, if they are unable to get through open competition for IIT seats, it is because of weak academic background and lower-quality education they are provided before JEE. That is a real problem which the Govt should work to solve. In stead of reducing fees at IIMs, they should invest in primary and secondary schools.
What they are doing instead is buring their heads in the sand like ostriches, reserving seats and getting in people who are not ready for an IIT education.
IIT is not a lottery. In fact, JEE is where the ordeal really begins. As the above news item proves, an IIT education is rigorous and unforgiving of the weak. All 4 years are like JEE over and over again. But forcing people in, they are doing more damage to their cause, instead of uplifting them. What will they do when these problems come up? Reserve a %age of pass grades for category students, to support them rise above their weak academic background?
And I'm not even going to begin about the impact on the 'IIT' brand. I dont think people who label the IITs 'elitist', can understand or care two hoots about the 'IIT Brand' (Never mind the BBC and others who do stories on this).
Having flunked a few courses and seen tough times at IIT myself, I truly feel sorry for Shailesh and others like him, and many more who will be forced to suffer the same fate by myopic and populist politicians.
Apr 26, 2006
A Life Worth Living. Part Un.
Was watching 'Biography' on History Channel today. They were covering the life-so-far of Richard Branson, who I consider one of my 'role models'. Consider this:
Branson quit school early and was actually encouraged by his headmaster to do so! His first business was a students magazine, and he went on to own a record company, an airline and what not. In a recent ad for Samsonite, he says "To me, business isn’t about wearing suits or pleasing stockholders. It’s about being true to yourself, your ideas, and focusing on the essentials"
Sunil Bharti Mittal started with a cycle business at the age of 18, His subsequent ventures included healthcare (capsule manufacture) before he jumped into telecom, and is now getting into retail
Bill Gates is probably the most famous dropout billionaire ever. He is also known to have slept in his jeans overnight in a garage writing code, and has a disheveled appearance to this day. While he has stuck with one business/brand - Microsoft, no one can say its the same business it was 10 years ago (Remember the pre-Windows days - No email, no MS Office, no blogs :) )
Dhirubhai Ambani was born in a poor village that he left at age 16 to 'learn business'. Textile - petrochem - Infocomm - and now Retail. Thats diverse - and thats what one calls a legacy!
Dr Vijay Mallya's story is not quite the same. He inherited a business. But he took it to new heights, and now plays in Airlines and politics!
What is common among these men - apart from the fact that I really admire them - is that they achieved what was considered impossible. All of them, save Mallya, came from modest families, did not have much formal education, yet they built huge diversified businesses and left their mark.
None of these guys went to an IIT or anything similar. At IIM, I've heard almost everyone say (with great clarity of thought and purpose), things like 'I want a career in finance. It befits someone of my intellectual capability'. 'I do not want a career in the FMCG industry. Sabun-tel nahi bechna'. 'IT main paisa aur auqat nahi hai'. I look at what the above greats have done - and a distinct feature is all of em have done more than one thing - manufacturing, selling, services, IT/Telecom. So why cant the capable IIT/IIM grads handle the variety of challenges?
Anyway, I shall now dispense with the commentary and critique and talk about myself and my philosophy in life.
I recently had a cushy job with a great company. Good money, peaceful hours, nice people, people-friendly policies and a secure future. It was great-for someone else!
I can not live with that kind of anonymity. Work, feed your family, do a few things you wanted - which were beyond your means at a point in life, and go to your grave satisfied. And be forgotten soon.
I've given up that job and am planning a short career, with a steep learning curve, some impact on whatever business I work for (preferably work on), and plenty of money which I will save to start my own business some day.
All the guys I mentioned above - entered a services business (air travel, retail, telecom) where they raised the bar on quality and surpassed consumer expectations. I will do the same one day and be admired for it. Its the only thing that would make life seem worthwhile to me. Someone very close to me once wrote about me 'little did I know that one of those people who affect earth-shattering changes had just entered my life'. One of my profs at IIT - the only one I ever grew close to - called me 'the biggest waste of potential I have ever seen'. I cant live with that. I have to live up to the potential I know and people have acknowledged. That is a true statement of purpose - straight from the heart. Ambitious? Definitely. And why not?
There is this question about my determination and ability to 'put fight'. I have fought for things I cared about - my top rank at several schools, my JEE AIR, first-year grades at IIT, a seat at IIM, first-term grades at IIM, Manfest - and I've always got the results I wanted.
If there is a question mark, it would have to be against motivation. Most people can put in continuous efforts to achieve results others expect them to, or admire them for. I can't. I have my own ideas of what is important and what I want to do in life. Had I been in the States or something, I'd have probably dropped out of school to do my thing. But this is India - I come from a middle-class army family, and I probably dont have that much courage.
I will make my place in history - or at least go down fighting. If I go to my grave without doing anything huge - it would not be at the end of a typical IIT-IIM career and a comfortable life. The epitaph would say 'He really, really tried'
Branson quit school early and was actually encouraged by his headmaster to do so! His first business was a students magazine, and he went on to own a record company, an airline and what not. In a recent ad for Samsonite, he says "To me, business isn’t about wearing suits or pleasing stockholders. It’s about being true to yourself, your ideas, and focusing on the essentials"
Sunil Bharti Mittal started with a cycle business at the age of 18, His subsequent ventures included healthcare (capsule manufacture) before he jumped into telecom, and is now getting into retail
Bill Gates is probably the most famous dropout billionaire ever. He is also known to have slept in his jeans overnight in a garage writing code, and has a disheveled appearance to this day. While he has stuck with one business/brand - Microsoft, no one can say its the same business it was 10 years ago (Remember the pre-Windows days - No email, no MS Office, no blogs :) )
Dhirubhai Ambani was born in a poor village that he left at age 16 to 'learn business'. Textile - petrochem - Infocomm - and now Retail. Thats diverse - and thats what one calls a legacy!
Dr Vijay Mallya's story is not quite the same. He inherited a business. But he took it to new heights, and now plays in Airlines and politics!
What is common among these men - apart from the fact that I really admire them - is that they achieved what was considered impossible. All of them, save Mallya, came from modest families, did not have much formal education, yet they built huge diversified businesses and left their mark.
None of these guys went to an IIT or anything similar. At IIM, I've heard almost everyone say (with great clarity of thought and purpose), things like 'I want a career in finance. It befits someone of my intellectual capability'. 'I do not want a career in the FMCG industry. Sabun-tel nahi bechna'. 'IT main paisa aur auqat nahi hai'. I look at what the above greats have done - and a distinct feature is all of em have done more than one thing - manufacturing, selling, services, IT/Telecom. So why cant the capable IIT/IIM grads handle the variety of challenges?
Anyway, I shall now dispense with the commentary and critique and talk about myself and my philosophy in life.
I recently had a cushy job with a great company. Good money, peaceful hours, nice people, people-friendly policies and a secure future. It was great-for someone else!
I can not live with that kind of anonymity. Work, feed your family, do a few things you wanted - which were beyond your means at a point in life, and go to your grave satisfied. And be forgotten soon.
I've given up that job and am planning a short career, with a steep learning curve, some impact on whatever business I work for (preferably work on), and plenty of money which I will save to start my own business some day.
All the guys I mentioned above - entered a services business (air travel, retail, telecom) where they raised the bar on quality and surpassed consumer expectations. I will do the same one day and be admired for it. Its the only thing that would make life seem worthwhile to me. Someone very close to me once wrote about me 'little did I know that one of those people who affect earth-shattering changes had just entered my life'. One of my profs at IIT - the only one I ever grew close to - called me 'the biggest waste of potential I have ever seen'. I cant live with that. I have to live up to the potential I know and people have acknowledged. That is a true statement of purpose - straight from the heart. Ambitious? Definitely. And why not?
There is this question about my determination and ability to 'put fight'. I have fought for things I cared about - my top rank at several schools, my JEE AIR, first-year grades at IIT, a seat at IIM, first-term grades at IIM, Manfest - and I've always got the results I wanted.
If there is a question mark, it would have to be against motivation. Most people can put in continuous efforts to achieve results others expect them to, or admire them for. I can't. I have my own ideas of what is important and what I want to do in life. Had I been in the States or something, I'd have probably dropped out of school to do my thing. But this is India - I come from a middle-class army family, and I probably dont have that much courage.
I will make my place in history - or at least go down fighting. If I go to my grave without doing anything huge - it would not be at the end of a typical IIT-IIM career and a comfortable life. The epitaph would say 'He really, really tried'
Apr 23, 2006
Mar 29, 2006
An IIT-IIM question
Ok, this is provoked by the following article by a juvenile loser at indiatimes
Should IITians keep away from IIMs?
What bull crap?! Im not even certain what issue is being raised here:
People opting out of placements to pursue unconventional careers?
IITians opting for management careers after BTech?
IIMs and recuiters preferring IITians?
Whatever the intended subject is, the article is just plain ignorant and pathetic. It empathises with people who got left behind in the rat race, and cites trivial and hollow arguments against those who are on top (read IIT-IIM 'hotshots')
The first issue is not even about IIT. Its about people pursuing their dreams. If Gaurav wants a degree in management to set up a music company, what right has anyone to object? The author does not even understand that Satyajit does not want to become a footballer, but to manage a football club. Both guys wanted to learn management, had business models in mind, and were chasing money and success like everyone else. So why the hell should they give up their IIM seats for someone else - who couldnt do better at CAT - to pursue a run-of-the-mill professional career? India needs entrepreneurs and big thinkers like these guys, not more Area Sales Managers, or BPO Team Leaders.
As for the argument against IITians opting for careers in management, I beg to ask : How many people are certain of the best job and career choice for them in class 10? The decision to prepare for IIT is made at that age, with peer pressure, parental pressure and to ensure some financial security. I have some issues with that, but no way can the choice to join an IIT be held against someone at a later point in their life and career.
Besides, MBA is not an extension of BComm or CA as people with the 'right background' claim. Its about business, management, money, fame, power...
There is no reason why an engineer, or a doctor, or a commerce student, or anyone else - should not want to do an MBA. An IITian can want to run a business, or be a manager. Why must all IITians must remain in labs or technology firms as 'functional specialists'?
And finally the 'he-bwoke-my-toy' crib about IITians being preferred by IIMs and recruiters. My simple, if somewhat arrogant, response to that is : Its the best education one can get in this country. IITians are academically sound, independent, strong performers and most of thsoe who opt for mgmt careers have damn smart personalities as well. Also - people dont realize this - IIMs dont actually 'prefer' IITians. If anything, they limit the no of IITians they admit to maintain a 'proper mix' in the batch. And the competition for those limited 'IITian seats' is tougher than it is for 'other seats'. These cry-babies should be thankful!
If I'm a recruiter, and have to choose between someone with an 'IIT-IIM' pedigree and someone else, who would I choose? Who is most likely to have higher calibre?
These guys have been thru two gruelling tests - JEE and CAT, and two rigorous courses, competing with the best in the country and emerging successful. They have a sound technical background with undoubted analytical and problem-solving ability, and soft skills I can easily ascertain as a recruiter. And i'm not a philanthropist - I'm a businessman who needs the best gladiator on my side to perform for my bosses and our shareholders.
If anyone has any problem with any of the above, I do not wish to entertain dubious arguments that support the weak. Its about the survival of the fittest. An IIT degree and an IIM degree are hard facts - proof of fitness, and not questionable arguments or emotional 'reasons'. Find your 'fact of fitness'!
Reference :Those who grudge IIT-IIM grads their sucess and feel they are overpaid, might want to read my take in this post
Should IITians keep away from IIMs?
What bull crap?! Im not even certain what issue is being raised here:
Whatever the intended subject is, the article is just plain ignorant and pathetic. It empathises with people who got left behind in the rat race, and cites trivial and hollow arguments against those who are on top (read IIT-IIM 'hotshots')
The first issue is not even about IIT. Its about people pursuing their dreams. If Gaurav wants a degree in management to set up a music company, what right has anyone to object? The author does not even understand that Satyajit does not want to become a footballer, but to manage a football club. Both guys wanted to learn management, had business models in mind, and were chasing money and success like everyone else. So why the hell should they give up their IIM seats for someone else - who couldnt do better at CAT - to pursue a run-of-the-mill professional career? India needs entrepreneurs and big thinkers like these guys, not more Area Sales Managers, or BPO Team Leaders.
As for the argument against IITians opting for careers in management, I beg to ask : How many people are certain of the best job and career choice for them in class 10? The decision to prepare for IIT is made at that age, with peer pressure, parental pressure and to ensure some financial security. I have some issues with that, but no way can the choice to join an IIT be held against someone at a later point in their life and career.
Besides, MBA is not an extension of BComm or CA as people with the 'right background' claim. Its about business, management, money, fame, power...
There is no reason why an engineer, or a doctor, or a commerce student, or anyone else - should not want to do an MBA. An IITian can want to run a business, or be a manager. Why must all IITians must remain in labs or technology firms as 'functional specialists'?
And finally the 'he-bwoke-my-toy' crib about IITians being preferred by IIMs and recruiters. My simple, if somewhat arrogant, response to that is : Its the best education one can get in this country. IITians are academically sound, independent, strong performers and most of thsoe who opt for mgmt careers have damn smart personalities as well. Also - people dont realize this - IIMs dont actually 'prefer' IITians. If anything, they limit the no of IITians they admit to maintain a 'proper mix' in the batch. And the competition for those limited 'IITian seats' is tougher than it is for 'other seats'. These cry-babies should be thankful!
If I'm a recruiter, and have to choose between someone with an 'IIT-IIM' pedigree and someone else, who would I choose? Who is most likely to have higher calibre?
These guys have been thru two gruelling tests - JEE and CAT, and two rigorous courses, competing with the best in the country and emerging successful. They have a sound technical background with undoubted analytical and problem-solving ability, and soft skills I can easily ascertain as a recruiter. And i'm not a philanthropist - I'm a businessman who needs the best gladiator on my side to perform for my bosses and our shareholders.
If anyone has any problem with any of the above, I do not wish to entertain dubious arguments that support the weak. Its about the survival of the fittest. An IIT degree and an IIM degree are hard facts - proof of fitness, and not questionable arguments or emotional 'reasons'. Find your 'fact of fitness'!
Reference :Those who grudge IIT-IIM grads their sucess and feel they are overpaid, might want to read my take in this post
Mar 9, 2006
Talent shortage?
This seems to be a global theme of sorts.
Western cos want managers from developing coutries to manage overseas businesses the local way
The Chinese need managers who can speak english
The Japs need managers who can shake up the family-like, lifelong employment system
Indian fimrs need managers to handle thru-the-roof growth
Fortune mag, Best employer surveys, CEOs, Peter Drucker... everyone is talking about the shortage of quality managerial talent
Which makes ppl like me go 'W-T-F?!' We have like a dozen-odd B-Schools that are considered 'category-A' and produce 200+ young guns each year. No one seems happy with the work they are doing, wat they are being paid and the career paths they see.
Now I remember reading something in Eco-1 that implied prices change and demand-supply converge to match over time. There are grads demanding good jobs and there are cos that crib abt shortage of talent. One would expect salaries to rocket (which they seem to be doing) and the situation to improve. Yet both sides do not appear happy now.
I wish i could explain the whole thing and come up with a solution. But im just confused and perplexed like everyone else. Perhaps some 'veer consultant' can do some structure, MECE and other fancy stuff that consultants do with any-and-every problem, and come up with some hypothesis to explain the situation. And suggest a solution. Would like to debate and discuss it.
If no one else does, and i hv enough idle time at hand (should not a problem) and sufficient enthu (always was a problem!), i will come up with my own hypothesis. And i really would like this to develop into a good discussion thread. (This messy post is not a good first step, nor i am a famous blogger like Rashmi. But will give it a shot anyway)
Fortune mag, Best employer surveys, CEOs, Peter Drucker... everyone is talking about the shortage of quality managerial talent
Which makes ppl like me go 'W-T-F?!' We have like a dozen-odd B-Schools that are considered 'category-A' and produce 200+ young guns each year. No one seems happy with the work they are doing, wat they are being paid and the career paths they see.
Now I remember reading something in Eco-1 that implied prices change and demand-supply converge to match over time. There are grads demanding good jobs and there are cos that crib abt shortage of talent. One would expect salaries to rocket (which they seem to be doing) and the situation to improve. Yet both sides do not appear happy now.
I wish i could explain the whole thing and come up with a solution. But im just confused and perplexed like everyone else. Perhaps some 'veer consultant' can do some structure, MECE and other fancy stuff that consultants do with any-and-every problem, and come up with some hypothesis to explain the situation. And suggest a solution. Would like to debate and discuss it.
If no one else does, and i hv enough idle time at hand (should not a problem) and sufficient enthu (always was a problem!), i will come up with my own hypothesis. And i really would like this to develop into a good discussion thread. (This messy post is not a good first step, nor i am a famous blogger like Rashmi. But will give it a shot anyway)
Feb 28, 2006
1 days salary?
Recently i was visited by Sub Constable Gokul Prasad of Habibganj Thana. No, dont get any ideas - it was the verification process for my passport application.
Now, I live in a very comfortable bachelor pad and only have some good friends visit. So the main entrance is the door to my bedroom. Im not used to men in uniform striding into my bedroom with rifles. It was quite disorienting.
Anywe Gokulji and his comrade proceeded to fill in the app and ask quite a few irksome questions, and I had no choice but to answer. Didnt wanna take any chances with the passport, u know. One of the pieces of information they extracted was my salary - and this one was actually needed on the form.
End of it all - he asked me to do his 'hisaab kitaab'. Now, I dont understand how this man - or anyone with a trace of self-respect can openly ask for money. To me, it is no different from beggary. Dude! u r in a uniform - I have respect for that. With ur rifle, in my bedroom, i find u almost intimidating. How can u just throw all that away and beg?
I generally do not pay ppl like this - its a matter of principles. Anywe, i was kinda surprised and before catching up with the situation, I gave him 100 bucks. He looked at it and smirked. 'Yeh?! Humne to aapse isse zyada socha tha. Zyada nahi to-Ek din ki tankha'. Which would be around 16 times what i gave him. Anywe i just gave him a blank look and he left.
All this happened a month back and i kinda forgot. Till yesterday, when someting similar happened with the postman - which i shall spare u the details of. (If u r still reading, its the least i can do)
I thought about that line. 'One days salary'...
It started about 9 years back - I joined class 11. Slogged for two years and coped with the pressure at home to 'make a career', till i fought the JEE and won. Another four years at IIT (Ok, I enjoyed those - but it still took time, money and a fair amount of effort to get that BTech). Then i belled the CAT and got into the absolute slogfest at IIML (Ok not quite, but there was an awful lot to do there).
Essentially, i went through several stringent quality tests before i was branded 'IIT-IIM'. Even on an IIT-IIM branded product, the recruiter ran its own quality tests before offering me my job. Now I go there and spend 9-10 hours a day, every day, and create some value (somehow) for the company.
9 years invested, and 9 hours of effort - for one days salary.
Could i just give it to this guy for 10 min work - which he is also paid to do?
Maybe. But i would lose some respect from the person i see in the mirror. He works hard for this money. I wish Gokulji could understand. But he cant. Thats y he is where he is - and thats y i am where i am.
Call me arrogant - but this is the way i think. Im proud of it - and can not and would not be any other way.
Some people i know feel really sad for beggars. So do I. But i will not give them even a rupee. '5 bucks man. Tujhe kya farak padhega? Woh khush ho jayega'
Its never about the amount, my friend. Its about the principle. Some people can feel guilty about the money they were born with, and want to share it with the less fortunate. I dont have any fortune. Ive worked hard and earned every bit of what i have. And Im not giving it away. If someone wants it, they should also go and earn it rather than blaming it on luck. I can help them. And id be as happy as you if someone got out of their misery - and if i could help them in any way.
But im not giving anything away for free. Not a days salary, not a rupee.
Now, I live in a very comfortable bachelor pad and only have some good friends visit. So the main entrance is the door to my bedroom. Im not used to men in uniform striding into my bedroom with rifles. It was quite disorienting.
Anywe Gokulji and his comrade proceeded to fill in the app and ask quite a few irksome questions, and I had no choice but to answer. Didnt wanna take any chances with the passport, u know. One of the pieces of information they extracted was my salary - and this one was actually needed on the form.
End of it all - he asked me to do his 'hisaab kitaab'. Now, I dont understand how this man - or anyone with a trace of self-respect can openly ask for money. To me, it is no different from beggary. Dude! u r in a uniform - I have respect for that. With ur rifle, in my bedroom, i find u almost intimidating. How can u just throw all that away and beg?
I generally do not pay ppl like this - its a matter of principles. Anywe, i was kinda surprised and before catching up with the situation, I gave him 100 bucks. He looked at it and smirked. 'Yeh?! Humne to aapse isse zyada socha tha. Zyada nahi to-Ek din ki tankha'. Which would be around 16 times what i gave him. Anywe i just gave him a blank look and he left.
All this happened a month back and i kinda forgot. Till yesterday, when someting similar happened with the postman - which i shall spare u the details of. (If u r still reading, its the least i can do)
I thought about that line. 'One days salary'...
It started about 9 years back - I joined class 11. Slogged for two years and coped with the pressure at home to 'make a career', till i fought the JEE and won. Another four years at IIT (Ok, I enjoyed those - but it still took time, money and a fair amount of effort to get that BTech). Then i belled the CAT and got into the absolute slogfest at IIML (Ok not quite, but there was an awful lot to do there).
Essentially, i went through several stringent quality tests before i was branded 'IIT-IIM'. Even on an IIT-IIM branded product, the recruiter ran its own quality tests before offering me my job. Now I go there and spend 9-10 hours a day, every day, and create some value (somehow) for the company.
9 years invested, and 9 hours of effort - for one days salary.
Could i just give it to this guy for 10 min work - which he is also paid to do?
Maybe. But i would lose some respect from the person i see in the mirror. He works hard for this money. I wish Gokulji could understand. But he cant. Thats y he is where he is - and thats y i am where i am.
Call me arrogant - but this is the way i think. Im proud of it - and can not and would not be any other way.
Some people i know feel really sad for beggars. So do I. But i will not give them even a rupee. '5 bucks man. Tujhe kya farak padhega? Woh khush ho jayega'
Its never about the amount, my friend. Its about the principle. Some people can feel guilty about the money they were born with, and want to share it with the less fortunate. I dont have any fortune. Ive worked hard and earned every bit of what i have. And Im not giving it away. If someone wants it, they should also go and earn it rather than blaming it on luck. I can help them. And id be as happy as you if someone got out of their misery - and if i could help them in any way.
But im not giving anything away for free. Not a days salary, not a rupee.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)