The session that lasted almost forty-five minutes was highly engrossing and left me in a state of complete amazement. I initiated the discussion about leadership development being a key factor for setting new standards in Business Education and expressed the need for organizing leadership training sessions and workshops for students. The topic for discussion had been introduced, and my key speaker took charge thereupon. With a smile on his face, he asked me if I could guess what his monthly remuneration was. Without me giving it a try he said, "You have no idea how I have turned this non-performing business into a highly profitable venture." I was confused, and tried to figure out which business was the man referring to. "Do you know how much we make each year just out of selling application forms for admission to the Management programme?" I did not, and niether was I interested in knowing. I interrupted, "Sir, the issue in question is what is a student's takeaway from this institution?" His prompt reply left me speechless, "I am not being paid to look into that. My prime concern is the Management's ROI." He quoted figures to prove how profitable the business of running a Business School could be. He took pride in claiming to be among the highest paid heads of instituions across the country. "But Sir , what is the highest remuneration offered to any student in the last campus recruitment at the institute?" "Hardly matters, go and check with my accountant, how many applications we have recieved for the next session. Go and find out what the latest fee structure is. Parents who can afford to pay that much, can also afford to get their children into decent jobs." I wished the applicants' parents could actually hear this conversation. I felt sorry for all those students who had opted for study loans to pay for a Management education from the institute.
He went on, "I truly believe, that people in Uttar Pradesh are worth nothing. I reject applications depending on the town an applicant comes from. Had the management not been paying me so well, I would never have preferred to stay with this institute for the very reason that it is situated in Uttar Pradesh." His derogatory comments about Uttar Pradesh were too much to hurt my sentiments. My family hails from Allahabad, in Uttar Pradesh and I take great pride in my roots being in Uttar Pradesh. I politely put forward my disagreement and mentioned facts to support my argument. All my efforts went in vain and I finally realized that it was time I acknowledged his subject-matter expertise and put an end to the overwhelming speech.
Wow! I know there are a lot of people with that kind of restricted view of the world but to actually say that in public...My sympathies for the students of this b-school. I think people from UP should thank him for rejecting their applications. Who would want to study in an institution with somebody like that at the helm.
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