To be, or not to be..... An MBA that is the question

Hundreds of years ago, in his famous play Hamlet, Shakespeare wrote these words. I think he foresaw the plight of every youth of today – The MBA. Whether the MBA ,which literally is an acronym for Masters in Business Administration really teaches one to ‘master the administration of business’ or simply makes one ‘manager by accident’ or more appropriately ‘ mediocre but arrogant’ still remains unclear.

Everyone however is chasing the big MBA dream (yes it is not the big American dream anymore, that one broke with Lehman& Goldman). In India, this seems to hold truer and as enterprising as we are, credit goes to the Gujarati community, we have learnt to make money of this one too.

First the innumerable mom & pop coaching classes that have sprung up all over the country and flourished on the dreams of the starry eyed youth. IMS, Time, Career Launcher are the top amongst them. Only because one has to be tested on their logic and common sense in life threatening exams like CAT, CET or GMAT to matriculate into an MBA college. Ironically these classes are not run or managed by MBA’s. So now a non MBA is going to teach you for an entrance exam that helps you getting into an MBA college. Ironical eh? Not quite, since the MBA’s are too busy counting their money to bother about the aspiring ones. A one year course with these classes costs one roughly Rs. 20,000

Then there are the overhead costs - the cost of appearance on these test Rs 1000 minimum for CAT & CET goes up to Rs. 20,000 on GMAT, that if one still aspires to chase the big MBA dream in big America or Europe. Roughly around 2,70,000 students appeared for CAT in 2008¹ (that amounts to a lot of money, CAT truly acts as the IIMs golden goose). Add to this the costs of the forms of various institutes minimum of Rs.1500 per form per institute.

Then comes the actual fees of an MBA education. Let’s not even get there, seeing so many zeros gives me palpitations.

What really worries me and I think I mirror the emotions of many youth over here, Is this really worth it? Does an MBA really make you a capable person or does it produce like minded zombies that pocket most of the nation’s money. After politicians that is. Does the MBA really equip a person to tackle real life situations? The Rubiks Cube seems easier to solve than these questions!

A survey done by Business India Magazine on the Best B-schools in India² points out that Indian Institutes and even the crème de la crème IIMs are theory oriented rather than research oriented. The faculty only teach what is in the book and what they know rather than developing a seeking and ‘finding out answers to problems’ attitude amongst it students. Hence the gap between what the industry expects and what the students really are is huge. As I said earlier, enterprising as we are we have found a not-so enterprising solution to this as well – A dual MBA – for e.g an executive who is already an IIM Ahmedabad went on to do his second MBA from Wharton University USA because he felt he was not equipped to handle the global scenario. Even as the IIMS boast of the finest education and most importantly he finest (read: with lots of zeros) salaries, alumini still feel the need to look abroad for another degree. So we won’t do anything to change the system, we will work around it and then move on to another!

Then there are people who don’t care about the system. The very inspiring ‘drop outs’ – Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerburg, closer to home and not mention school dropout Dhirubhai Ambani, who made it big inspite of never completing their education and never getting a degree. These people actually make me think, of what these men had in them that is not being taught at a b-school, in India or abroad.

On the next point, institutions abroad definitely are a plus - the demographics of students. It plays a vital role in the learning process at any institution. The more different the student base the better enriched the student are after they graduate. In India however, we seem to be moving to what the Business World survey terms at ‘Flat MBA’². Where the best students (read: engineers) get into IITs and from these the uber best get into IIMs. Thus the IIMs act like a sieve but at the same you find the same profile of students – IIT Geek to IIM stud to investment banker! How much can an IIT student learn from another IIT student? Abroad however, in MBA institutions you rub shoulders with a baker, a footballer, a pet groomer at the same time. Diversity in background definitely enhances one character and refines are abilities to analyse. MBA in India is also is only about research papers, projects, grade points. Not much weightage given to extra curricula more like not much time for extra curricula. Again, a big blow to the overall development.

Clearly the MBA in India is just another rat race of sorts. Is it worth it? Am not so sure.

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Source

1 – The Hindu.Com

2 – Business India Magazine October 4- 17, 2010 issue, Best B-Schools Survey 2010

Seeing God in the Smaller Things

Ok ..... I know your surprised..... I mean of all the the people 'I' am talking about seeing the God in Small things. I mean I am supposed to be the queen of over the top. Right!

Ok so I have practically wiped out my salary with unaccountable spending on the most unnecessary yet the unavoidable. (I can see the guys rolling their eyes & girls nodding in acceptance. God you have to admit M.A.C & Body Shop are hygiene)

Yes so here I am writing on the 'Simple Life'. Don't get me wrong I'am not trading my life like little Miss Paris Hilton or her clone Nicole Ritchie nor am I participating in some 'big switch' on some 'just cause I am bindass doesn't mean I sleep with other people' channel.

I am writing about my moment of epiphany in the past few weeks months since I have started earning & spending money. Now that I have the power more like 'Visa Power' in my hands I could buy things I like and fancy (well not all thinggs my wardrobe wouldn't mind a burberry bag & a Manish Malhotra) Body Shop, MAC, branded clothes, shoes, bags, food i like to eat (which is considered junk by all mothers). But at the end of the day I felt empty, I feel empty.

This is something I couldn't fathom so I started buying more & more. Till I realised that it wasn't helping. Don't get me wrong ladies shopping is thereaupatic so is a manicure & pedicure, spa & everything thats external. But the moment doesn't stay long. It is only that which is internal, stays long- forever! & also determines something called as 'eternal happiness' i.e. happiness & joy that does not change with immediate situation.

And there is nothing like keeping things Simple, Uncluttered, Uncomplicated. 'SUU' as I call them are like seeds to nourish what some of us actually have & call 'our soul'. For the others (& I am not being bitchy, there are actually people who don't) there is always Master Card & Visa Power or Some Dude/Bimbette with Rich Father Power.

I have this way of resenting monotony. I can't stand it. Routine are just not my thing. I try & re-invent myself everyday. May be by wearing my hair differently, wearing different pair of earrings. just doing something different. Doing something new however not the same new if you get what I am saying. Now that definitely comes from the fact that I love attention (WOW I never new I could be so honest) But lets face it We all love attention! Someone to notice us or maybe not. For me it doesn't stop there. It goes a bit beyond that. It is a self motivation exercise in this creativity & humour lacking environment.

If your wondering on my lack of coherence please stop I was just giving you a background to my over the top gestures - Attention & Self Motivation

But I am still realising (Work -in-progress) the importance taking a U-turn and getting more internal. And when I do that I realise that things can be simple - like my new earrings can be small and elegant. I can reuse the ones I already have. Make the most of what I already have. There is never going to be a day when I think it's enough. Every time I read a Cosmo am going to want the dress & watch & whatever else is in it.

But it is going to be momentary before I want something more. What will stay with me forever is what I build of my character, the amount of time I spend with my family, my love, friends. How much value I can create in the lives of others through my efforts. After all your talents are not for you but for others right.

I guess that comes with SUU - Simple, Uncluttered, Uncomplicated

PS: This dedicated to my love for living and believing in a simple life & to all those who are angry at me for not writing for a while now. I hope you guys like this

Nostalgia.....

October 04, 2009

It'sraining outside, heavily, thundering. I am sitting on my bed, sipping some really hot chamomile tea, which by the way smells amazing, listening to the sky's rebellion.

God knows why its raining in the month of October. It feels like a bollywood movie where the hero and his muse break into a song and dance sequence aka aaj rapat jayein style in this 'bin mausam barsaat'. Talk about filmi (am a total sucker for bollywood).

Well I saw Wake Up Sid today. It made me nostalgic. Makes me want to go back and relive my college days. The canteen, the classroom, the terrace, the library. I love these places. Can trade anything in the world to get these times back.

The aimlessly walking around in the canteen, listening to the laughter, chatter & chaos. Then they were the glances, and the ' not pretending to look' glances. The glances, missed chances & not so missed ones.

The clatter of the plates, spoons, and forks digging into the scarlet schezwan noodles made by our very own 'Raju Chinesewala', as we fondly called him. Hmm the smell of freshly prepared Chinese... yummy...

How I loved those days. How I would trade anything to go back there. College... where I lived to the fullest

Hum..... rahe ya na rahe .... yaad ayenge yeh pal.....

I miss you...

Each day, just before dawn
In the wee hours of the morning,
The morning dew meets flowers
Caressing them, bringing them to life,
As the sun continues to rise,
It's already time to say goodbye,
The flowers miss the dew
Just the way I miss you....




The peacock does'nt know it's own beauty,
Untill it lets go and dances to the tune of the rain,
but when the rain ceazes,
It is back to ignorance again
The peacock longs for the rain,
& I miss you.....

In winter the cherry blossoms covered with snow,
Can't help but think of spring,
That went by a while ago,
They miss it's brilliant exubrance
Just the way I miss you....

I am the flower, the peacock, the cherry blossom
And everything that is not complete without you.....
You, the dew that breathes life
You, the rain that beautifies
You, the spring that shine bright
& I miss you.....

In the circle of Life,
Dew comes everyday,
The harsh winter is always followed by spring,
I know you would come to me....
But for now I miss you......

Like the flower misses the dew,
the peacock misses the rain,
& the cherry blossoms miss the spring,
I miss you.....

Not a tear in my eye...

It is raining,

The sky has started to cry,

But there is not a tear in my eye.

My heart is crying,

My eyes are dry,

There is not a tear in my eye

My heart is questioning,

Where does happiness lie?

In his arms I wish to die,

But there is not a tear in my eye

I am scared my heart will over flow,

On this cold ground I lie,

My hands wraped around myself,

Waiting.... But time just doesnt seem to pass by,

But there is not a tear in my eye.

I hear my breath, heave a sigh,

It mixes, becomes a part of the air in this room, so dark, so dry,

It's going to take a while before I breakdown,

For now there is not a tear in my eye

My throat so soar, my body so numb,

Feel I am going to succumb,

To this pain that has crippled my being,

In every moment I live & die,

But there is not a tear in my eye.

My hearts beats slowly, a low moan,

My dreams all over... strewn and torn,

Feel as if I am living a lie,

But there is not a tear in my eye.

It feels like the beginning of an end,

It's broken, no way to mend,

Ecoutez moi, I want to scream,

But realisation has dawned on me,

And It was just a dream,

Finally I let the feelings flow,

I let go and Cry.....................

Random Thoughts.....

Just like after the harsh rains,
we see the blissfull sight of the rainbow

Just like an earthy caterpillar,
sheds it's skin to get the colours and wings of a butterfly

In the same way
It is in stagnant waters that perfumed flowers grow

They grow & perfume their surrounding,
Thereby touching lives & leaving behind sweet memories of fragrance

So much so that they even perfume the hand that crushes them

Wine v/s Water

As Ben Franklin said: In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is freedom, in water there is bacteria.
In a number of carefully controlled trials, scientists have demonstrated that if we drink 1 liter of water each day, at the end of the year we would have absorbed more than 1 kilo of Escherichia coli, (E. Coli) - bacteria found in feces(human excreta).
In other words, we are consuming 1 kilo of shit.
However, we do NOT run that risk when drinking wine & beer (or tequila, rum, whisky or other liquor)
Because alcohol has to go through a purification process of boiling, filtering and/or fermenting.
Remember: Water = Shit, Wine = Health
Therefore, it's better to drink wine and talk stupid, than to drink water and be full of shit.
There is no need to thank me for this valuable information: I'm doing it as a public service.