Dr N Ravichandran’s term as director of IIM Indore is about to end. In an exclusive chat with PaGaLGuY, he spoke about his job, the controversies surrounding his institute and his future plans.
How has directorship been?
My stay has been truly enjoyable. Over the years, I have realised the power of mediocracy, difficulties in transforming from self-optimisation to organisational purpose, challenges in obtaining an optimal work life balance and transformation from the power of punishment to joy of forgiving
Expectations of the new director?
The Chairman, BoG is the most appropriate person to respond.
Apparently, you have applied for a second term?
No comments.
You taught at IIM-A for years, would you like to go back?
Yes, I loved my students at IIM-A and they loved me. I am on leave from IIM-A, can always go back to teaching there, which I enjoyed the most.
How different is IIM-A from IIM-I?
You cannot compare them, they are products of different times. IIM-A is a mature adult, IIM-I is a young energetic boy. IIM-A has a solid reputation, IIM-I is still building its reputation. IIM-A has a loyal base of stake holders, IIM-I has to build its base up. Any institute take some 15 years to stabilize and IIM-I is on that route.
IIM-I has attracted a string of controversies last few years?
India is a democratic country. Individuals are entitled to express their views. Some of them can be termed as controversies. Nothing is achieved by looking for reasons for such opinions.
Why did IIM-I not correct the bad publicity?
Nothing is achieved by paying attention to everything. We are committed to building this institute and we have done it to the best of our ability.
Surely, the negativity affected your daily functioning since they were your faculty?
At a personal level, my day today working has not been influenced by what appeared in the local press and the media.
IIM-I is handling CAT this year, what changes in the offing?
CAT is a time tested examination. We have a partner who had done it for four times. We would like to make CAT more student-centric and maintain the professionalism of this examination in terms of its design, delivery and announcing results.
Some students have quit your five-year programme?
The five year programme is stabilising. We would pay more attention to this in the near future to make it as the best in class programme. The five year programme students are young, some times they are not clear about what they want to do, one or two students left the programme to pursue their professional choices.
The IIM-I’s Mumbai branch has to still build on infrastructure?
We are in the second year of our operations. As far as Mumbai is concerned, the Board and the Society will address the issues related to infrastructure at an appropriate time.