MBA Education and Management Course Contribute to India’s Amazing Growth Story

 On13th August 2010, it was an unexpected privilege to attend the MBA education seminar on “Rethinking and Rebooting Indian Management Education” held at the India International Centre, at Lodi Estate, New Delhi. The seminar was organized by Mr. Amit Agnihotri, Chairman, MBAUniverse.com. The distinguished speakers included business icons in the industry.
The focus of the discussion was about the challenges faced by MBA education sector in India. Management courses were also discussed by top educators from MBA institutions in the country. 

The presence of Mr. Salman Khurshid, the Minister of State for Corporate Affairs, added charisma, dynamism and socio-political relevance to this seminar. As an eminent educationist, Mr. Salman Khurshid paved the way for setting up a chain of Delhi Public Schools in India and abroad. Inevitably, this is a man who has a dynamic and powerful presence in Indian politics. He has inherited a great legacy of national service, from his grandfather, Dr. Zakir Hussain, who had served as the President of India.
 
“We want to be recognized as a Nuclear Power,” Says Minister at MBA Education Seminar
 
The seminar that focused mostly on MBA education and management course had interesting inputs from Mr. Salman Khurshid. He began his speech by referring to India at the time of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of Independent India. He recalled how the Indian perspective at the time after Independence was to support and help other nations that were facing similar challenges as did India. Be it Africa, Russia or extending proactive support to leaders like Nelson Mandela, the India of Nehru’s era did it with passion, as an expression of sovereignty and political freedom. He also points out that today, India’s focus is different. 
“We want to be recognized as a nuclear power, a military power,” Mr. Salman Khurshid reiterated. “Of course, we have problems that we have no perfect solutions to. In fact, we have problems that we haven’t solved in over fifty years. Whether it is about Kashmir, Maoist menace, the demand for regional autonomy and so on, I must confess, I face inadequacy to introduce new thinking and new ideas. The more we try to change, the more it looks the same. We, as a nation, need to solve this problem.”
 
 Mr. Salman Khurshid further stated, “We are still searching for ideas with democracy, ours is a three tier democracy. We have major problems with our electoral system. There are many poor people who don’t even know why we have a Parliament in the first place. We need the best managers to lead this democracy. But the manager-politician gap needs to be bridged. After all, the idea of management is about hope, it is about honoring people, the aam aadmi, as we say, ultimately, that is what will matter.”
 
Even as we are poised to celebrate the 64th Indian Independence day, a thought struck me as I listened to the motivating speech - What makes India revolve is not the people in power but the people who vote others into occupying seats of power. Yes, the Minister is right. It is we, the people, who enjoy actual sovereign power but the flip side is that we underestimate our power of exercising the vote meaningfully.
 
As my patriotic thoughts toured about in a silent monologue, the gathering of distinguished business icons, educators and teachers, who were a part of the Indian Management Conclave 2010 basked in the warmth and openness of this inaugural address by the Mr. Salman Khurshid, the Minister of State for Corporate Affairs.
 
[Swapna Raghu Sanand, Editor @lawisgreek.com, is the author of this report.]