FIRST principle of philosophy, according to Rene Descartes, was: ‘I think therefore I am.’ So sure of it he was that “all the most extravagant suppositions of the sceptics were unable to shake it”. For Murli Manohar Joshi, however, the line has to be adapted a bit: “I think therefore IIM.”

It used to be said when philanderers ruled the earth, commoners rushed to hide their pretty wives when the royalty passed by the street, you know why. Now, they are doing something similar with institutions that enjoyed autonomy thus far, only these bodies are too big to hide behind walls. Frantic efforts are on, such as industry captains meeting with top powers, suits filed to nullify interference, and articles filling up newspapers and magazines.

Among the myriad reports, there is one that is titled, “Keep off: Kurien,” talking about the views of the father of the white revolution in India, Dr Verghese Kurien. His 1991 report to the Centre on IIMs had suggested independence from the government, establishment of a corpus fund, block contributions from the government and so on.

In the wake of the current controversy, his recent views have predictably been pro-autonomy and anti-meddling.

Kurien is no mincer of words and if you want to know his views on IIM, a good place to look at is a book by S.N.Chary, an IIM-B prof. Titled, “Business Gurus Speak”, and published by Macmillan in 2002, it features interviews with ‘extraordinary personalities’ such as Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Azim Premji, N.R.Narayana Murthy, Venu Srinivasan, Deepak Parekh, and Mukesh Ambani, apart from Kurien. “You at IIM are using public funds to provide managers for Hindustan Lever and Nestle,” he says, and Joshi may please note.

Kurien was on the IIM’s Board. “So, I spoke in the Board,” narrates the nation’s milkman. “The raison d’etre of this Institute is to provide managers for the under-managed sector, which means NGOs, co-operatives and the public sector, but not multinationals.” Not a popular thought, you muse. Which is what the Board too felt. “One person sitting next to me with a cigar in his mouth said, ‘You mean to say that the graduates of our Institute are to be taught how to milk cows?’ Everybody giggled at that and he put his cigar back.” Is that the end of the story? No. “So, I said, ‘No. You teach them how to suck cigars. I don’t want to work on this Board.’”

Then, Kurien went on to build IRMA, the Institute of Rural Management Anand, with inputs from his cousin Ravi Mathai, who was the Director in IIM, Ahmedabad. Avoid mistakes that happened in IIM, Mathai instructed: “So cousin, when you build IRMA, please build a bigger house for the director than for the professors so that they will know that there is a boss.” Next, don’t give too much powers to professors; this is not Harvard. For this, Kurien recounts Mathai told him: “I told a professor whom I had appointed, ‘You are free to go ahead and fill all the lower posts in your department.’ That person went to his village, brought all his relations and appointed them. That was a terrible mistake which I made.”

And, there’s one more: “The third point cousin, is that you should cut down on the number of people you employ. We have so many people, and therefore, labour union problems, courts, and so on. I am tired of it all. You are a dictator, so run it as a dictator. If anyone steps out of line, sack him. I can’t do that; I am not made that way.’”

Now, this is Kurienspeak: “I said, ‘Ravi Mathai, neither you nor any of your professors have ever managed anything.” Keep off Kurienspeak on IIMs, shall we say?

Hero Mind Mine, a division of Hero Corporate Services Ltd., recently announced the launch of its Bachelor in Business Administration (BBA). The announcement was made by the Director General and CEO of Hero, Sunil Kant Munjal his training at the Institute of Gurgaon. The CWB program are academic year full-time and, in connection with MP Open University.

The formation of a private enterprise solution, Hero Mind mine announced that his vision of an integrated learning service provider and the orientation of the Global Learning clearing huge market of outsourcing in the future.

The company has three business flows - Enterprise Learning solutions BPO-learning solutions and services for training and career to update their vision. A high-profile advisory committee includes the chairman and Chief Mentor of Infosys NR Narayana Murthy, chairman of HDFC Deepak Parekh, Director General of CSIR RA Mashelkar, president of the Max group Analjit Singh, president and CEO of Wipro Spectra Mind Raman Roy and professor of management IIT, Delhi, the director and founder of the IIM, Khozikode Vinayshil Gautam has been appointed to the vision.

Munjal said: “We are the largest collection of coach. Now that we have the biggest software skills coaches, we are now quite confident in our initiatives. “Hero Mind mine are 18 centres across the country dedicated to education and career and Enterprise Learning Solutions.

Pedigree is no longer of any significance in modern India - it’s the performance that is crucial,” said Reliance Industries vice-chairman and managing director Anil Ambani, who accepted the Entrepreneur of the Decade Award, conferred upon him and the Reliance Group chairman and managing director Mukesh Ambani, by The Bombay Management Association (BMA). Mr Anil Ambani added that there was an emergence of a new breed of entrepreneurs. The award is in recognition of their leadership, entrepreneurial qualities and remarkable contribution to the Indian industry. The Management Man of the Year award for 2001-02 has been awarded to Tata Consultancy Services chief executive officer S Ramadorai, in recognition of his excellent contribution to the management movement and the software industry. The awards were presented to the winners by the Securities and Exchange Board of India chairman GN Bajpai. The jury of the awards committee included, Larsen & Toubro Ltd chief executive and managing director AM Naik, Hindustan Lever chairman MS Banga, Aditya Birla Group chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla, TCS chief executive officer S Ramadorai, HDFC Ltd chairman Deepak Parekh, Bank of India Mutual Fund chairman Ram Tarneja, NL Dalmia Institute of Management Studies & Research director PL Arya and Tata TD Waterhouse Securities Ltd executive director Kiran Umrootkar. Mr Anil Ambani accepted the citation on behalf of Mr Mukesh Ambani. In his acceptance speech he shared, some of the “mantras” that his late father and the founder of the Reliance empire, Dhirubhai Ambani had put into practice. Mr Ramadorai in his acceptance speech emphasised on the need for professionals to constantly upgrade themself as situations are changing rapidly. According to him, for an organisation to last, institutionalising of knowledge is very essential. Mr Bajpai pointed out at the fact that in today’s rapidly changing corporate world, ethics have taken a back seat. He urged upon managers and entrepreneurs to set examples which could be followed. According to him, the wealth of managerial skills should be used for the benefit of the society. He said India has the largest human resource capital and it be channelised towards India’s emergence as an economic superpower. Other awards presented at the ceremony were “Best Management Institute of the Year” to Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies. The award was accepted by Mr HH Mankad from the institute.

New Delhi, Delhi, India, December 21, 2006 - In a joint briefing, CEO, Citigroup India Sanjay Nayar and Country Business Manager Citigroup Global Consumer Group PS Jaya Kumar has announced the 2006 winners of Citigroup Micro Entrepreneur Awards. Selected by a jury of six people, made up of citizens important, as Ms. Rohini Nilekani, President, Akshara Foundation; Mr. Thapar Gautam, chairman Ballarpur Industries Limited, Mr. Kumar Ketkar, Editor, Loksatta, Dr SK Tamotia, Dean & Director, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mr. HN Sinor, Chief Executive, Indian Banks Association and Dr MS Thimmappa, former Vice-Chancellor, University of Bangalore, the twelve winners of 2006, more than a thousand candidates allowed in the city, half - Municipal and rural areas in 22 countries in the four regions of the country.

Also present at the event was internationally acclaimed actor, a member of Parliament and, more recently, internationally renowned receptor peacekeeping Gandhi, the prize, Ms. Shabana Azmi. Ms. Azmi, in collaboration with Ms. Anu Aga, Director, Thermax Ltd; Mr. NR Narayana Murthy, Chairman of the Board and Chief Mentor, Infosys Technologies Limited Maxine Olson, United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative “Mr. Deepak Parekh, chairman, HDFC ‘Mr. R. Gopalakrishnan, Executive Director, Tata Sons Mr. Shekhar Gupta, Group CEO & Editor-in-Chief, The Express Group is a member of Citigroup Micro-Entrepreneur Award program’s National Advisory Council.

Prices range from 2006 is of particular importance, since the year for a decade, Citigroup began cooperation with NGOs for capacity building micro-credit sector in 1997. Given that Citigroup has 7 NGO partners many years to give the support of nearly 10 million dollars in its philanthropic arm, the Citigroup Foundation. This has been further strengthened by the volunteer staff, mean that in the context of marketing, sharing best practices, management training and interests, both inside and outside of the organization, with the active involvement of the leadership of Citigroup.

A remarkable demonstration of Citigroup support for micro-finance was in the area of attachment of Citigroup Centre for Financial Literacy in Indian School of Microfinance for Women (ISMW). Allows a US $ 3.5 million (15 Rs crore) Citigroup Foundation Fellowship in 2004, Ahmedabad, the school is the first educational institution in the world to focus solely on the discipline of micro-finance and assists in need of training, he From industry. The school is a partnership between microfinance pioneers, SEWA Bank, Friends of Women’s World Banking and Coady International Institute, a Canadian company, specializes in the sustainable development of the community. Citigroup Centre for Financial Literacy offers training for the two Presidents of the basic institutions of micro-finance and industry, in practice, financial education, needs analysis, development of new programs school, implementation and evaluation of marketing.

In addition to its support for micro-, the financial sector, Citigroup India is concentrating its efforts on CSR in two other areas of education and financial education of disadvantaged children.

Speaking of the occasion, Sanjay Nayar, CEO, Citigroup and Area Head India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka, said: “2006 was a year very satisfying for us, for India with several Citigroup Corporate Social Responsibility of our initiatives to reach milestones. I am proud of our balanced approach to the accomplishment of our responsibility to help strengthen our communities, while investment in our activities and the monitoring of market opportunities. Collaborators volunteers receive a significant boost this year with our participation in the association “Habitat for Humanity” IndiaBUILDS community events and global Day. 2007 is undoubtedly much to see us, the privilege to enjoy, for the realization of the global society of Volunteer Incentive Program. ”

Congratulations to the winners, Shabana Azmi said: “was seen at the Awards program since its inception in 2004, I can say with pride that the rigor of the process, that is what they outside. Through its emphasis on And compromise transparency of egalitarianism and its approach to the grass roots, the distinctions have shown true models for the industry, as well as for the participants. Citigroup Micro Entrepreneur Awards me yet another opportunity to express my sympathy to the economically disadvantaged, and a partner in its struggle for success and recognition. ”

Posted PS Jaya Kumar, Country Business Manager, Global Consumer Group, Citigroup, India, “As a leading institution with a proud history of more than a century, India, integration Financial is a central objective of the company. Micro financing is often the first step. Citigroup Micro Entrepreneur Awards play an important role in representing the effects of general economic participation of individual depth and the economy as a whole. ”

Each winner of the 2006 National Awards Citigroup Micro entrepreneurs receive a cash Rs.200000 equipment / -. The National Runners-up and winners in the category Social Responsibility received a prize money of Rs.100000 / - everybody. In addition to the flow of distinctions, starting this year, the winner will also be given as a whole to promote opportunities for training and improving skills.

Citigroup Citigroup Foundation Supports Micro Entrepreneur Award programme through a grant of USD 200,000 (approximately Rs.1 crore), to find partners in Change (PiC), an NGO based in New Delhi, for implementation of the program.

The specific objectives of Citigroup Micro Entrepreneur Award programme include:

– To recognize the entrepreneurial skills of the sub, has shown better performance helped to ensure themselves below the poverty line, create jobs and add value to society.
– The analysis and dissemination of best practices derived selected during the procurement procedure
– Creation of the next generation of micro-finance networks, the development of an integrated financial sectors, and set the foundation stone for the prosperity of the area of micro-finance.

3rd This year, the price of the scope of the eligibility of candidates for the price has increased more than 273 miles in 2004 and 885 in 2005. Over 60 per cent of applications were received from the semi-urban and rural areas, and nearly 50 percent of all applications have been received, women micro-entrepreneurs.

As in the last two years, the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta, SP Jain Institute of Management and Research, Mumbai, from the Faculty of Management Studies, New Delhi and the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, has been used for screening Appointments organizations from the east, west, north and south.