And i did it again...........

Successes at the first time is luck/fluke, second time is confirmation, third time is perfection and later on it becomes a habit

The day stated at 11:00 when i got up after a very long sleep. It was the reaction of the yesterday's night-out, when i was eagerly finishing Sidney Sheldon's "The stars shine down". This book is all about the struggle of a very beautiful lady Lara Cameron. She had a passion of buildings and one day with all her labour and struggle she builds the tallest tower. reading this was really a great experience, will soon write a review of it.

Anyway, today was kind of a successful day as i also got my 999 Rs back from reliance. Its another story which i will elaborate if time permits. So today i was reading "The world is flat" till 5, when i decided to conquer NITC once again. I missed my breakfast and for lunch i am only on self made salads (please read the blog ..All is well if food is well). So was kind of hungry but had only tea and one fried grenade thats called Aloo Bonda in the snacks.

At 5:30 i went down on my bike. People become superstitious some times after a successes, so i had the same T-shirt, same wrist band only today i was wearing a lower instead of half-pant. Had taken 105Rs with me. I parked my bike at the gate and walked till the road. On the other side of the road was the luice-shop, there i took a lime juice, some mixture and 2 cookies. After that had taken 4 center fruits chewing gums-eaten one there itslef to taste it.

Today, the goal of running till NITC seems to be little tougher, as this time i was competing against my self. Opposite to what it shall be, i was less motivated and less sure. Even my legs were shaking, i think because i knew this time that what i was going to do, and how much it really takes to do it. It is also true, that some of the exams, competitions, or interviews that we have cracked, we are not sure of doing the same for the second time. So my journey today started at 6:13:00 in front of the IIMK gate. I ran till kunnamangalam but was not thinking anything contrary to the earlier journey to NITC. This time i was really thinking more about what i was going to write in my blog. So in a way this blog was the real motivating factor for todays goal. I specially like to thanks all those who have read this and wrote comments or given some comments personally. These include very near and dear people, so i was really happy to interact them through this blog once again. To write a blog again that i ran till NITC became an obligation and i ran to fulfill this.

On the way today i saw all those things, including Dr Vigvan's hospital and other milestones and also the garage and the house at the turning that i missed the last time. This is because this time it was more light as i have started one hour earlier. There was more traffic also and every vehicle passing was trying to push me down the road, or atleast it seemed to me like that. As a result today i ran more on the mud and got less tired. A lesson for the runner to run more on mud to get less tired.

I had calculated in my mind that 4 chewing gums and a journey of an hour and few mins means one chewing gum per 15- 16 mins. After running some 15-20 mins i become a little confused as when i had started and the chewing gums taste had totally changed from sweet to kind of sour. I looked at my watch, it s still not the time or i got confused with the calculations of the time. A natural reaction happened, i spitted the one in mouth and took the other one. But the reaction of the earlier blog and so many comments was that i was searching for a mile stone to quote where i ate the second chewing gum. I know i am a funny person- but same are most of us. I got the mile stone, i ate the second chewing-gum near the garage. To my surprise the garage is on the other side of the bridge, which i always remembered to be this side only.

The journey continued and i kept running, i was not tired much, but today i want to stop, just to stop. I have no story to tell, neither i was diverting my mind, but i had a commitment and that was this blog that i had to write on completion of the second run so i was running. To be honest once i thought that i shall stop and return and will write the blog. But i know that it will be a cheating form all those reading it and more than that from my self. The false blog will hound me for a long time as several of our lies hound us, that we do speak.........More than that i will loose my confidence and will never have the courage to run till NITC and the first one will become just a fluke. So i ran and i really ran. The option of lying gone, so i was lest with either to run or to take a break and run and report the break in the blog. But my mind didnt wanted an impure run, it wanted a full 24 carat, run from IIMK to NITC so gone the option of break also. I was left only with the option to run, if i wish to write a blog. So the sole force to run became this blog. Thanks to you all

Somehow i reached to the house at the turning, there was a big white billboard but nothing was written on it. Generally billboard are in mallu and the language seems to me like circles of onions in a solution of vinegar. In mallu they write so may round-round words all kinds of Ms and Ws that its hard to differentiate. Some times i blame Shri Ram, that if he had arrived here as the legand says (i heard in wayand by a person) why didnt he tought Hindi to these people. But leaving this aside and not getting into a lingo war lets continue running. So after crossing the turning at the house i thought that the legendary turning is just a few meters away. But, it was not in my sight and i saw a long road. Every second i wished to stop, but the will to write a blog that i repeated the history forced me to run. After running some 200 meters the turnings were in sight. There was a downward slope so i was saving all my energy as i knew that i had to run upwards for a long distance. This is one benefit of experience that you know what is going to come next and get prepared. I crossed the turning and the question of taking a break ended here itself. While this run i was thinking a lot many things which i really dont remember much.

When i was running i was a IIMK official vehicle passed. recently the institute has purchased some very good vehicles and this one was a ford or tata manza. I recognised it by the red tape on the number plates. I Thought that i will be seeing this at the NITC. So while running after the turning i reached to the NITC ground, I think this is the first board saying NITC. Its on the left hand side of the road. I crossed it and the other mile stones as the hotels near by, this time i missed the statue of Jesus. I reached the NITC swimming pool and thought to stop here. But now NITC was just few 100 meters away and i cant spoil all this. But the most important lesson is to conserve energy for the last moments, either it be a match or an exam. What you do in the last 15 mins counts more that what you did in the last 2 hours. So it was tough to cover that upward slope and i was on the verge of collapsing. The only thing left was to remind my self that i was born in Jhansi and have Rani jhansi and Azad as the ancestors of that land. So i finally reached the NITC gate. i was more than happy that i did it again and had thought so many things that i forgot to write. One was to have a device that can read minds so that it can update the blog while i am thinking on the run.

Resting at the NITC canteen for 10 mins i was ready to return. The bus took 5 Rs and 10 mins to reach to IIMK. In one way the journey is just worth 5Rs but i know what i got and what it means to me. friends i would like to really share to you all that by using some means like this bus you can complete the journey of your life very fast and comfortably but what matters more is not reaching the destination but enjoying each and every minute of the journey.

Our life is also same, dont run too fast or take a bus else at the end you will have nothing to remember. ................

Please do give your comments as it motivates me a lot and you are seeing the results. I was too tired to write this blog but the same commitment that made me run made we write also. Its like a chain reaction of a self-feeding loop........so please do give your valuable comments.

Leaving for now will soon meet again

….And I ran till NITC

It was a fire ignited by a challenge to cycle till home, some 2500 KM, and the movie home-alone-3 that I suddenly decided to run till NITC.

I had never run till there so had no experience about the distance and the terrain. I just got ready, tied by lace and went down the hill to IIMK-gate on my bike. I had also taken 20 Rs with me to buy chewing gums and water if needed and to pay for return bus fair. Parked the bike there and went to the main road. I was not sure how much I can run. I just started from the main road without thinking anything. When I had started running it was 7:17:00 in my watch. For initial 100 meters I felt a pain and stretch in the right side of my stomach. But I continued, and after running some more the pain reduced. This road is very familiar to me so I knew what all I can see. I made some mile stones in my mind and thought to reach those.

One of my friends had just discussed some hours back that the fastest runner in the institute runs from IIMK-NITC in 35 mins. So I just took the target of double the time 70 mins. It was really, not just running but managing your self, calculating each detail, motivating your mind, setting targets, deciding mile stones etc. I initially thought that even if I am not able to run till NITC, I will atleast walk till there. So, now two things were confirmed, distance till NITC and time 70 mins. The very first market that one sees from IIMK to NITC road is the Kunnamangalam-bus stand and the market near by. I crossed this market, it was fully busy and lots of buses and cars almost jamming the entire road. From there I strived to reach the road where the real road to NITC starts. A narrow road as compared to the former, there was less light on the roads. The only light one can see was from the houses nearby.

I was the only one running on that road and lots of vehicles were passing by. Many people from IIMK run to NITC, so I was thinking of encountering some known faces on the road. While running, I noticed so many houses and stores which I never ever have seen while my 1000s of drive to NITC. After running some 100 meters, I was light coming from one house on the left hand side of the road. There were many people standing, when I went near it was a retired surgeon’s home, some Dr Vigyan, which I had never noticed earlier. But now it’s some 10-12 mins, or it seemed to me that I have run a lot, so my mind was pushing to stop and run after a short break. I don’t know really what to do, so to distract my mind I started thinking about the cycle-ride from calicut-till jhansi. This worked for some 5 mins but now my mind was pushing hard to stop. I felt that more than physically, mentally I was not able to run. To distract my mind further I started adding masala to my cycle journey, and adding details. I thought that I will cycle in the nights (as my roommate Pati suggested) and will write blogs in that day. I will get a lot of followers etc. Then I thought that before reaching home I will call my parents and they will arrange a press-conference to well come me. Now I will have to speak in the press conference so the cycle ride has to be for some purpose and not just a bet. S I thought to dedicate my cycle ride to the unity of this country. Form Kanyakumari to Jammu one India. This thought gave me so many business plans, starting with companies sponsorships, such as reliance sponsoring for saying excellent coverage across the nation, nike for sports gears, Bournvita, Glucon-d for enery drinks, Hero for cycles etc. A nice and happy dream in my mind and I forgot that I was running. I started imagining myself as a youth icon of the country. Also decided to what all spots I will reach and to the friends I will meet on the journey. A cycle ride will be organized every year and I will lead it etc etc. Imaginations reached to national games.

But as soon as I stopped thinking I felt that I am running also and it’s a long way to cover. Then I forcefully tried my distract my mind and rethinking on the same or similar story. So I just started with the difficulties on the way on the cycle ride. I will talk to people in every state and ask them what they call Mera Bharat Mahan in their native language and will note it down to speak in the press conferences. Its funny, but its true that we all think lots of funny stuff which we never share to anyone. Anyway, now I remember there was a garage on the way to NITC and later a bridge comes. Some of the miles stones include that garage, the bridge, the house on the turning, the sign board of a jewelry advertisement on the other turning, a temple on the right hand side etc. The very first mile stone has to be the garage and I was not sure about the house. So, busy in my thinking I was just simply running on the road. Suddenly the journey become tougher as the slope of the road started increasing. Every step was taking more energy and it was chocking my body. Somehow I run and reached to the center of the inclined road, and on the other side was a downward slope so need not to put much effort. So, it was kind of a nice experience that if you have to put a lot of effort to achieve a target, then on the other side you will live a comfortable life.

I was running continuously and had decided that will stop half a way, after reaching some of the identified milestones. But, my eyes was continuously searching for the garage to know that where I am exactly. The garage didn’t appear but a turning came. I was busy thinking and walking, then suddenly a car came and someone from the car shouted, I don’t know what-but I think may be to run off the road. So for some time I ran down the road. Running on the side path way of mud was much better than running on the road. Only merit of the road was the continuity, where as on the side way there were stones also.
After running some 25 mins or so, I saw the bridge, but the garage didn’t came so was little confused. The sight of the bridge gave me a feeling of joy that I reached here but the upward slope also gave me a tough time to reach the bridge. The next lesson I learned that to achieve something one needs to put real labour, else dream will remain a dream only. I ran till the bridge, but it is a narrow bridge and so many vehicles passing from both directions simultaneously that there is almost no space left. I remember when a bus crossed me and I had no space to get aside and had to stop. So I just tapped my feet, till the bus crossed and started again. Once the bridge was crossed, I literally didn’t know, where I was going, how much I will run and where I will stop. But I continued running for some more time. I reached to a spot where our bike has brooked-down once, after running some 5 more mins I reached another familiar spot and this one is the real where the bike has broken-down. So, analyzing all these small details continued my journey.
Next mile stone was the house on the turning, but after running a long way, it didn’t appeared.
It was already some 45 mins passed since I have started running. Now there was no story to divert my mind, I was feeling thirsty, my legs were weak, shoulders started paining, and felt stress in the spinal cord. All of this started simultaneously, then I had to convince my mind that it not real and I am just feeling like that. I tried to remember several stories, some motivational quotes, but didn’t worked. Then I touched my hairs and it was not fully wet so I gave a logic to my mind that see, its still not too much to stop and run for some more and then we will stop. I was feeing as I am another person convincing my body, mind and other organs to run. What was making this task tougher was the upward slope. After some while a temple on the right hand side of the road appeared. It was another mile stone so I was near to my destination.

I continued and then the legendary turnings came, after which there is a straight road to the NITC-ground and swimming pool. This was a tough task to cross the turning in this condition. I promised my mind that once we cross the turning we will stop and pushed it to run till the end of the turning. We all our labor once we have crossed the turning, we both decided that now its NITC where we shall stop. The journey of pain and labour became the journey of joy and glory. I was feeling as if I am the first person to ever accomplish this tough task and so was running uninterrupted. But I think I am the first person in FPM@IIMK to do this. All these thoughts were giving an energy to run. Yesterday while running in campus, I had removed my t-shirt on completing 10 rounds so was feeling to do the same. With all this I crossed so many houses, sign boards etc. Then I crossed the NITC-cricket ground, there was some light in the ground. From a distance it was appearing as a small lake. When I reached near it was some fencing of green cloth and lights which were giving this feel. The hotels on the roads passed by and I crossed the doeacc center, the statue of Jesus and came the cross way to NITC and lovely restaurant.
I thought I can stop here, but why now when NITC is just a KM away. I further pushed my self to reach NITC. I ran some 200 meters and there was a hostel on the right hand side of the road. Next was a turning and another hostel and building. I think it was a college of pharmacy if I correctly remember. Pushing a little more I saw the NITC-bus stop and yes, this is where I had to reach. I put all my energy to reach the bus-stop, but didn’t stop there. Form there I pushed a little more and reached the NITC gate.

Finally I am at NITC, single attempt, one go……….and its completed.

Today I learned that its your mind that is blocking you and not the physical limitations. You can achieve any thing you wish. Only thing is that to wish what you really want and put real effort for it.
Other thing was that we have such a long life and so much time but how many times we did some thing that we remember for rest of our life. I will remember this journey for atleast another 5-10 years I think.

You can achieve any thing you wish just start working for it…………….

All is well if food is well

Living in gods own country and staying in gods own campus. Listening to sufi/divine music so i thought to add divine food to make my whole stay GOD LEVEL...

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*The images are of the original salad and not taken from any other website or google.

Recipe-V

Date-11-1-10

Lovers Pride

{A perfect mix of sweet n salt just like a lover’s life}

Preparing this salad is easy, just requires some patience. Take cucumber, carrot, onion, tomato, green peas, grapes, and radish. Cut them into small pieces, and mix properly. Add ginger, garlic, mint leaves and coriander leaves for flavor. After mixing all this add some mixture (namkeen) in it and put lime juice and mix it again. After this add

salt and black pepper according to taste. Once ready put some tomato catch-up. The salad is ready to serve. One can put some slices of mausami (sweet lime) for decoration of the salad as shown.

This salad gives a proper taste of the Indian-chat, without any fat or oil content. This feature makes it extremely good for health, especially for people seeking to educe weight, BP, or suffering from heart problems. The wonderful taste makes the meal interesting.

Ingredients: cucumber, carrot, onion, tomato, green peas, grapes, radish, ginger, garlic, mint leaves and coriander leaves. Mixture and sweet lime for decoration

Preparation time:18-20 min

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Recipe-IV

Date-10-1-10

Jhama-Jham Salad

{Salad jo atma trapt kerde}

To prepare this salad you need a proper mix of fruits and vegetables. So take guava, banana, apple, cucumber, carrot, beat root, onion, lime, tomato etc. Cut the fruits and vegetables into very small pieces and mix them properly.

Now take a bowl and add curd, salt, black pepper and water if needed and make a solution. Taste for salt and black pepper and add according to your taste.
The main attraction of this salad is the boiled wheat and green peas. You need to take some 100 grams of wheat and 50 grams of green peas and boil it in water. Add some sugar in the boiling water. Left it for 15-20 mins to get it boiled. Once boiled, remove the water, but don’t cool the wheat/peas or don’t add cold water.

Put the mixture of fruits and vegetables in a bowl, add boiled wheat and peas and mix it with a spoon. Once this mix is ready put some lime juice and tomato juice, after that add the curd solution. Add chat masala if you have. The salad is ready to serve.

This salad is specially people having problem of sugar or people like to eat salty. Preferably serve in the lunch. This gives a taste of chat cum salad, so is the name Jhama-Jahm. It makes you Jhama-Jham are you are ready to work again after your lunch break.


Ingredients: Guava, banana, apple, cucumber, carrot, beat root, onion, lime, tomato, wheat, green peas, curd.
Preparation time: 20-25 mins
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Recipe-III

Date-10-Jan-10

Jhannate Salad

{One of its kind salad for lords of the Universe}

To prepare this salad one needs a mix of fruits including apple, grapes, banana, guava, pomegranate, pear (Nashpati). Wash the fruits properly. Peel the fruits such as apple, pear, pomegranade. Then cut the fruits into very small pieces. Once all fruits are cut properly mix it for 5-8 mins. Take 100 grams of curd and mix 8-10 tea spoons of sugar in it. If you have a mixer then well and good else take a bowl and put curd and sugar in it and mix with a spoon for 8-10 mins. Once the curd mixture is ready, put the fruits mixture in a bowl, and add dry fruits such as dry grapes, cashew nuts and Mishree. After all this pour the curd on the mixture of fruits. Please taste the curd before pouring, it should be sweet or else one has to add more sugar. After that you may also add some honey. The salad is ready.

This salad really gives a taste of ambrosia and a feel of youth, energy and excitement. In the fluid of curd all other ingredients remains un-separated so the taste is kind of a hide-n-seek where you identify the taste of something after eating it. The juices of fruits and mixture of curd makes it delicious. The added dry fruits and Mishree add to the taste of the salad

Ingredients: Apple, Grapes, Banana, Guava, Pomegranate, Pear (Nashpati), Curd, Sugar, Dry fruits and Mishree.

Preperation time: 25-30 Mins

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Recipe -II

Date- 9-Jan-10

The KuKumber Kingdom

{The heart-beat of the K Kingdom}

To prepare the KuKumber Kingdom, one needs cucumber, carrots, onion, tomato etc. One also needs papad and green pulse. First of all we need to put the green pulse into water and let it sprout. Once you have the sprouted green pulses, take cucumber, carrot, onion and tomato and cut it into small pieces. Then put these into a bowl and mix and smash for some time so that all things are properly mixed. Take one-two roasted papads and smash it into small pieces. Mix the sprouted pulses, cucumber mixture and smashed roasted papad for atleast 3-4 mins. Then all vinegar and lime juice according to taste, don’t forget to add green chilly in the mixture. Once done add salt and black pepper according to your taste. The salad is ready to serve.

The mixture give a different and unidentified taste and green pulses & papad adds to it. The juice of vinegar, lime and tomato make the salad taste heavenly. The taste of black pepper, green chillies and roasted papads add more to the flavour

Ingredients:- cucumber, carrots, onion, tomato, green chilly, papad, green pulse, lemon, and vinegar.

Preparation time:-15-18mins

Recipe-I

Date-8-Jan-10

CHADALA SALAD

{A salad having a divine taste of honey and boiled grams gives a feel of Ambrosia)

To prepare chadala salad one needs to first take sprouted grams. Take care that the grams are of good quality, big in size and sprouted well. Then, boil the grams in water, also add some salt in the water. If you have a pressure cooker its well and good else boil it in a simple vessel. Cover the vessel to get the grams boil fast.While the grams are getting boiled we need to do some preparation for the salad. Take a mix of vegetables and fruits available with you, preferably, tomato, onion, carrot, guava, banana, apple etc. Also green chilly and coriander leaves are needed. If you are boiling the grams in a simple vessel just check it in regular intervals so that the grams don’t get over boiled. Now you need to cut the tomato, onion, carrot, banana etc into small pieces, somewhat the size of the grams. Once the mixture is prepared mix it properly with the boiled grams. Put salt according to your choice and add some black pepper if possible. Those who like sweets, can add some sugar powder.
Once this is done add some dry fruits such as dry grapes, cashew nuts etc, and add some honey for flavour.The salad is ready you may serve it with lunch or dinner preferably in a bowl.

This salad is very good for health, especially people looking to reduce weight. People suffering from other health problems may also take this, may not add honey. It’s a very good vegetarian food having no oil and no other fat adding elements. The mix-juice of honey, lime and tomato gives you a divine taste and the boiled grams with other ingredients will add to it.
Enjoy it !!!
Ingredients:- Gram, tomato, onion, green chilly, coriander leaves, banana, carrot, guava, apple, salt, black pepper, honey (if you feel)
Utensils required:- cooking bowl, serving bowl and a spoon.
Preparation time:- 12-15min

IIM Shillong – is it really a mockery in the name of 'IIM' or just another attention gaining act

- Can a person without academic credentials or a PhD be appointed as director of an IIM?

--I am not very sure as for it one has to do some study of the rules and procedures of how the directors are appointed. Better let’s ask GOOGLE about the founding directors of IIMs

IIM Calcutta-Mr. K.T.Chandy, the former Chairman of Hindustan Lever (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Institute_of_Management_Calcutta)

IIM Ahmedabad-Ravi John Matthai was the first full-time Director of the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad.( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ravi_J._Matthai)

IIM Bangalore- Mr N S Ramaswamy was the first director (http://www.iimb.ernet.in/about-iimb/history)

IIM Lucknow-Professor Ishwar Dayal was the first full time Director IIM Lucknow.

IIM Kozhikode- Dr Vinayshil Gautam was the first Director of IIM, Kozhikode

IIM Indore-Dr VN Asopa was the founder-director of IIM-Indore

Results show that some of the founder directors of premier institutes are mentioned as Mr contrary to Dr. But I hope that who ever has asked this question would have done better research on this topic than me.

-Can administrative staff attend faculty meetings and interfere in academic matters?

Not very sure, but for a new INSTITUTE where agenda might be to get more and more exposure and better placements in the scenario of global meltdown, involving administrative staff may not be a bad decision. In almost all the institutions several office of responsibilities like, admissions, placements, exams etc is chaired by a faculty member and administrative staff supports the functioning of the office. But I hope that by this question the answer seeker means that administrative staff was participating in meeting where some thing totally academic unrelated to other activities was being discussed.

Can faculty be denied their allowances and even the contributory provident fund (CPF) due by law?

If such this has happened it’s really very bad thing to accept. A person has to dedicate his/her whole life for a profession like teaching. Even as early as in the doctoral phase one has to make a lot of sacrifices. One really can’t accept that such high talented, dedicated intellectuals to be denied of any allowance due by the law of land.

On the other hand, why will someone withhold allowance and contributory provident fund due by law? Can some body tell me that is the money under this fund transferrable. Anyway, faculty shortage is almost a problem witnessed by every IIM. Interested people may do a GOOGLE for this. So for an institute which has started in 2008, getting well qualified faculty member would be the toughest task. I didn’t really see the logic of denying someone of allowances etc due by law.

Is it may be a stand alone case or a generally practiced phenomena, but more clarifications are needed.

All this and much more constitutes the shocking state of affairs at IIM Shillong - the newest IIM which started functioning from July 2008. Every process, from the appointment of faculty members to the purchase of equipment, has been subverted, resulting in an institute which is only an IIM in name

I think it may be too early to conclude this, moreover let’s support the argument with some facts rather than just our own opinion.

No less than 7 of the 13 full time faculty members who joined IIM Shillong in 2008 left in less than a year, leaving a demoralised student body and questions about how an institute by the name of 'IIM' can get by without following any prescribed norms.

It’s really a hard fact to accept that the attrition rate of faculty members is much high. But I hope that the situation of other IIMs may be much better in terms of faculty attrition rate and a lot of research would have done on this before putting such an argument by the blogger. Let’s look on the other side, if given a change who will not wish to join another well established IIM. One has to accept that location of the institute is one of the major factors for such decisions. Considering the family of the faculty members, opportunities of consultancy and other projects from industry, I feel that the problem of attrition will persist for long.

At the core of the issue is the appointment of Ashoke Kumar Datta as director of IIM Shillong. Dutta's profile includes 40 years of erratic corporate experience and does not list any academic credentials. Directors and faculty at IIMs are generally required to have a PhD in their subject.

I hope that the blogger is sure about the profile of the director. I think having a PGDM from IIM Calcutta before 1971 is it self a big achievement. Meaning of 40 years of erratic corporate experience is not very clear. Does the PDGM from an IIM remains in the same organization for his/her whole life? I think there is a lot of scope to further explore this. What does “generally required to have a PhD in their subject” does that mean they may not. Anyway we have already discussed the profiles of some of the directors earlier.

At the time of his appointment Mr Ashoke Dutta was already past the age of 60, a fact which should have disqualified him from what is meant to be a 5 year term.

No idea, people please do a google…….

A source who was closely involved with IIM Shillong at inception stage says, "Mr Dutta's appointment was not cleared by the PMO and earlier by the Dept of Personnel for a full three/four months after selection. I understand there was a problem of Security Clearance and a question of age besides the PHD which kept them from clearing the appointment. It took the intervention of the then MHRD Minister through a letter to the Prime Minister to obtain the clearance".

How is “Security Clearance” related to appointment of a director in IIM. Is the blogger talking about appointment of a director or boarding a plane. If the appointment is not cleared even after selection then I think the selection committee should be questioned. One also has to think of the functioning of Govt of India where a person has to face so many problems even after being selected. What I like the best is “intervention of the then MHRD Minister through a letter to the Prime Minister to obtain the clearance”. Is it really possible for the PM of India to look into such matters? Moreover, IIM shillong is named after former Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, so there may be no question of making any compromise by the ruling party in appointment of the director.

The appointment of a number of faculty members did not follow due process as well. A former professor at IIM Shillong, recounts the horrific way in which rules were flouted to accomodate some faculty members.

"A prospective faculty member is generally required to present a paper before the students and existing faculty, before being invited for interview. In the case of at least one faculty member, there was neither a presentation nor an interview."

Another shocking case was that of a candidate who was rejected by the interview board and yet appointed as a 'faculty associate'. Three months this person was promoted to the post of assistant professor.

Another professor was recruited to teach a subject, despite having no experience or background in this subject. These and many more decisions related to academics were taken by the director unilaterally, without consulting the Dean and other faculty colleagues.

If someone of such repute as a professor says so, no one have may have a second opinion on that.

The collegial system of governance, the Director's complete lack of powers in appointments and his accountability to the Faculty Council are at the heart of the IIM model of merit and excellence.

Apart from these processes not being followed, major issues with the organisational culture soon became obvious. Some of the strange practices at IIM Shillong included:

a) Daily faculty meeting for 1 hour between 9 and 10 am with no specific agenda

Is it really so bad as being written………

b) Administrative staff being invited to attend faculty meetings where they have no locus standi

Similar in this case

c) Administrative staff interrupting lectures on minor pretexts.

Is this a stand alone case or a regular practice?

d) Officer on Special Duty (Finance) sending emails questioning professors on issues related to CAT interview selections

Are the emails personal communications or seeking answers related to CAT interview?

e) Professors being humiliated in faculty meetings, intimidated verbally and through memos; and being told by the director "you are welcome to leave" if they raised their voice on any issue, including issues like CPF (contributory provident fund) not being provided by IIM Shillong, as per prevailing laws of the land.

This one is really shocking. But as far as my knowledge is concerned a director and a professor are on the same level. I am quite curious by now to know that why was the director withholding the CPF.

A former IIM Shillong professor who spoke to me recalls, "I realised there was a problem when on 5th July 2008, when the director tried to force a faculty member to teach the accounting paper. The faculty member had refused citing lack of experience in teaching that subject".

Let see what Wikipedia has to say “Formally inaugurated by Dr Donkupar Roy The Chief Minister of Meghalaya on 4 July 2008”. So the very next day of the formal inauguration of the institute something like this has happened. Can someone tell when classes have formally started in RGIIM in the year 2008 so that we can have some more clarity on this issue?

The Director insisted the faculty should teach accounting or resign. The person in question did resign but was later asked to stay on.

Can a director ask a person PhD in marketing to teach accounting? I think faculty members are given some time before the start of the course to prepare the subject and other requirements like the course outline etc.

Another such person was an eminent professor of Economics, who relocated to India from the US, where he taught at reputed schools including NYU. His wife, a professional with 20 years experience at leading American banks and financial institutions (and a visiting professor at schools like Northwestern university) also joined IIM Shillong as faculty member.

This professor objected to several of the goings on, including a faculty member being appointed in the economics area without his knowledge.

In less than 15 days, the economics professor became persona non grata. The director found an excuse to withdraw the offer made to his wife and he did so in the most callous manner - by serving a discharge letter while she was in the midst of taking a class.

Both professors left the very same day and subsequently joined another IIM.

If this is to believe then it’s really very unfortunate for the students of IIMS. Professors with such qualification and experience will always be welcome by institution across the world.

IIM Shillong also failed to provide the basic support required by professors to do their jobs smoothly. "I have spent substantial amount along with the student co ordinators for the winter placement activity. The money spent on STD calls, faxes, couriers and so on was not provided by IIM Shillong." says the former IIM Shillong professor.

If a professor is saying so then there can not be a second opinion.

Matters came to a head when in a faculty meeting he requested Mr Dutta to release money due to the faculty under CPF (Contributory Provident Fund). Since the probation period for faculty had been extended from 1 year to 2 years, various allowances such as relocation allowance and foreign travel grant were also not being provided.

Why is this CPF not being granted can someone please clarify this?

"In fact I was not reimbursed for the travel cost incurred in my recruitment interview. The Faculty Development Allowance of Rs 36,000 per year which is provided to professors to subscribe to academic journals and magazines was also withheld, despite being specifically mentioned in my appointment letter," he says.

If a professor is saying so then there can not be a second opinion.

Ultimately, the director terminated the services of the professor who raised his voice - without citing any reason.

The former professor adds, "I had a very high rating from students, the highest for any faculty member. I was relieved because I am not a yes man and because I asked questions about the improper functioning of IIM Shillong." These questions included financial irregularities.

These include the following:

* Mr Dutta happens to be the chairman of a company from Kolkata, the All India Technologies, which is appointed as the webmaster of IIM Shillong for designing and maintenance of the institute’s website.

Client List of All India Technologies. (source http://www.allindia.com/html/ourclients/our-clients.asp). The readers are left to decide for the competency of the company.

o Tata Sponge

o Jamshedpur Utilities & Services Company Limited

o Tata Power Demand Site Management

o Tata Metaliks

o Tata Motors CVIBU site

o Tata Power Customer Information Portal

o Ganga Kutir

o Usha Martin Limited (Machinery Division)

o Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management (IISWBM)

o Naresh Kumar and Company Pvt. Ltd.

o Tata Motors Dealer Locator Module

o Manaksia Limited Website

o IISWBM Alumni Website

o IIM Shillong Website

o TakeCare

o MJR One

o UCO Bank Education Loan Project

o Tata Power Energy Club

o Eveready Malaysia Microsite

o TakeCare

o Tata Power

o Visa Power

o Eden City

o Nicco Park

o Shyamsteel

o Ispat

o Allahabad Bank

o Allayurveda.com

o Ambuja Realty

o Angola Drilling Company

o AON-Global Reinsurance Services

o City Centre Mall, Kolkata

o ESAB India

o Eveready Industries

o Eveready Industries Corporate Site

o Eveready Recharge

o Lava Battery

o Gala Precision Technology

o ITC Limited

o Magma Shrachi

o McLeod Russel

o McNally Bharat Engineering

o Padukone Badminton Academy

o Sangeet Research Academy

o State Level Bankers' Committee, West Bengal

o Swabhumi, The Heritage Park

o Tata BlueScope Steel

o Tata Football Academy

o Tata Motors

o Tata Ryerson

o Tata Steel

o Tata Steel Corporate Site

o Tata Steel Centenary Site

o Tata Steel Ex-Employees Site

o Tata Steel Automation

o SteelJunction

o Tata Agrico

o Tata Bearings

o Tata Tiscon

o Tata Wire

o Tata Growth Shop

o Tata Steel - FAMD

o Tata Steel R&D

o Tata Tinplate

o TML Financial Services UCO Bank

o United Bank of India

o Creativeand Technology partners for

o FCB Ulka

o R K Swamy BBDO

* Another related party transaction is the procurement of a web conferencing solution from Intellisys ltd, a company in which Mr Dutta occupies the position of a director.

Corporate-Client List of Intellisys ltd. This includes IIMS as well as Indian Institute of Management (Calcutta) (source http://www.intellisysin.com/pages/testimonial.html). The readers are left to decide for the competency of the company.

o Agniroth (USA)

o ABB Ltd.(Asea Brown Boveri)

o Andrew Yule & Co. Ltd.

o Quadrant II Technologies Inc.,(USA)

o Birla Sun Life Insurance

o British Oxygen Ltd.

o Belliss India Ltd.(An associate of Rolls Royce, England)

o Bharat Petroleum Corporation

o Carrier Aircon Ltd.

o CFCL (Duncans Group)

o Contemporary Targett Ltd.

o Compaq Business Services, Inc. (USA)

o Comsat Max

o Dishergarh Power Supply Co. Ltd.

o Descon Ltd

o D.S.Consulting Pvt. Ltd. (Singapore)

o Elque & Co.

o Exterior-Interiors Pvt. Ltd.

o Everonn

o Ganges Art Gallery

o Greenways Shipping

o Globsyn Technologies Ltd. (The IBM Centre of Software Excellence)

o Ganges Art Pvt Ltd.

o Hughes (USA) - Client Testimonial

o IIM, Shillong

o Income Tax (Govt. of India) - Client Testimonial

o Indian Institute of Management (Calcutta)

o Indian Institute of Social Welfare & Business Management (IISWBM) - Client Testimonial

o Infar India Ltd.

o International Combustion Ltd.

o ICW Inc. (USA)

o IndusInd Bank - Client Testimonial

o Indian Institute of Banking and Finance

o Intelicore Technology Inc. (USA)

o Intelligent Cynergy Inc. (USA)

o IMRB (Indian Market Research Bureau)

o ISRO Edusat Programme (jointly with HUGHES)

o Jaintec Enterprises, Inc. (USA)

o Jadavpur University

o Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd.

o Larsen & Toubro Ltd.

o Linc Pen & Plastics Ltd.

o Maersk India Ltd.

o MGM Rubber Company - Client Testimonial

o Mitsubishi Corporation (Japan)

o Manovikas Kendra

o NSE.iT (National Stock Exchange) - Client Testimonial

o NCDEX (National Commodities & Derivatives Exchange)

o Omax Auto Ltd.

o Oriental Insurance Corporation

o Park Hotel

o PriceWater House Coopers Ltd.

o RALLIS India Ltd (A TATA Group Company)

o Sonali Bank (Bangladesh)

o S.Kumars.com Ltd.

o Shapoorji Pallonji & Co. Ltd.

o TISCO (A Tata Group Company)

o TELCO (A Tata Group Company)

o TEQUIP Institute (World Bank Funded Project)

o Warrior Insurance Group Inc. (USA)

o XRL Communications Ltd. (UK)

Sources also allege that Mr Dutta is hardly present on the campus, with innumerable foreign and domestic tours taking him away for Shillong for 15-20 days in a month. Mr Dutta was to take the Business Communication course last year but only took 2 lectures. The rest of the course was handled by other faculty members.

How true is this and how different is this from Other IIMS?

The two areas where IIM Shillong has maintained sanctity are the course curriculum and the intake of students. In both cases external advisors are involved. Prof Paul Srivastava of Bucknell university has helped to design the PGP course curriculum.

Is this a first time practice adopted by IIMS. I think ppl should do a google or may find out from their friends seniors in other colleges. But if the bloggers says so may be a sufficient research is done to support the argument.

Former director of IIM Ahmedabad Jahar Saha was the Chairman of the Admissions Committee of IIM Shillong and with the help of former IIMA and IIMC professors, conducted the interviews of shortlisted students. This process was smooth in both 2008 and 2009.

Is it not the general practice adopted by newer IIMs in the starting years? But if the bloggers says so may be a sufficient research is done to support the argument.

"The Ministry of Human Resources and Board of Governors of IIM Shillong is fully aware of what is going on, but not taking any action," says the former IIM S professor who spoke to me.

Big people involved Ministry of Human Resources, Board of Governors of IIM Shillong and Former professor IIM S. I don’t feel like putting an opinion

The biggest losers in all this are the students, who have no option but to graduate from IIM Shillong, making the best of a bad situation. They are silent, for fear of repercussions and harassment, as well as adverse impact on their placements.

What worse can happen to the poor guys other than this blog in the time of final placements, when they are already fighting with global economic crisis and location disadvantage? I feel that all the students of IIMS must write to the blogger to thank her to bring all this facts.

(It is interesting to note that IIM Shillong had trouble filling up seats this year with scanty acceptances from the first and second list released by the institute. A third, fourth and fifth list was released before all seats could be filled).

GOD!!! Such insider information only “JAMES BOND” or someone with similar capabilities can have.

In response to an email and fax questionnaire on all of the above issues, Mr Dutta stated that, "Most of the points raised by you pertain to jurisdiction outside the purview of the director."

But still the blogger believes that the director should be held responsible. More interesting that the blogger expects that all the questionnaires send to someone will be answered. Those who reading this please imagine your self as a director of some institute like IIM and tell will you really have time to answer any questionnaire.

Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) acknowledged they have received my questionnaire but would not commit on a timeframe in which they would answer.

Do I need to write for this also……. “The Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) announced the locations of eight new Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and seven Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) along with 30 Central and ‘world class universities’ to be set up in the country during the 11th Plan period.” Can someone even imagine the work load on the MHRD? Any way we wish that MHRD’s reply is received soon so that we can get some more clarity on the issue.

All in all it is a very sorry state of affairs. With four more 'IIMs' slated to come up over next two years, it raises important issues of academic standards, governance and accountability of new institutions toward their stakeholders. And the IIM brand name.

All in all this was a great effort to bring the things in front of the world. When the CAT exam is less than one month away, this kind of post will really motivate the students in all parts of the country to prepare for admissions to an IIM. This post has also helped the students of IIM shillong who otherwise have to struggle to get the attention of the media. Above all this post has really helped the blogger to gain a lot of attention and response.

What I wish to say is that when such posts come, we generally get carried away with emotions and start feeling disturbed and cheated. People will read a post and express their opinion but please before getting too much emotional and carried away just do a GOOGLE and also try to understand that is it a personal opinion/ stand alone case or a regular practice. Are the things really so bad or CLEAVER EXPLANATIONS are portraying them so. If you are facing a person then his right is naturally your left, so there will always a difference of opinion.

I am here not defending someone but I just did a simple search and tried to put some facts. The sole reason was to know the truth as the instant reaction of posts like this make you feel that every thing is going wrong and no one is there to take an action.

With all due respect to the author of the blog who is such an aged lady (AGE 253 years) as mentioned in her blog, I wish to thank you for putting such an effort at this age. I am really surprised to see that someone who is like a grandma to grandma to grandma, or something like grandma⁴. Thinking of youth at this age and publishing a youth magazine is really an appreciating task. I am really grateful for motivating me to write a blog after a long time.

People who are preparing for CAT please pay attention to your exam prep and don’t get disheartened. I wish you all the best and welcome you all to the IIM FAMILY.