So often during the admission season, the IIM life is only seen through the miniscule lens of placements. There can be no denying that placements are an integral and much sought-after part of this entire MBA journey, but the vistas of knowledge, experience and learning must not go understated. From the moment we step in- in our case “Aarambh” to the very last day at IIM Rohtak, it is a revered learning experience with value addition from all corners. Peer learning, diverse student body, campus life, interactions with the best faculty- it is indeed a privilege to be part of the smartest community in our country. Let it be academic projects, competitions or the student driven committees, this two year sojourn in life’s journey is an unparalleled experience.
“What is a college? An institute of learning. What is a business? An institute of learning. Life, itself, is an institute of learning.” - Thomas Edison
The skill to manage your time which is often there in the bucket list of all self help books is a virtue that is imbibed as second nature at IIM Rohtak. The to-do list of any day is always an overwhelming directory. A typical day starts with highly stimulating lectures, interacting in every possible way with the academic curriculum and then constructively discussing all possible aspects on the given topic. Needless to say, words do fall short in narrating the nitty-gritty of those invaluable sessions. When the lectures end, normally then begins one’s day- assignments, submissions, deadlines and in midst of all these lies one’s urge to learn for his/ her own progress- the hours left in a day will never suffice for all this. There arises your skill of time management and without any book or coach you acquire the expertise for this as well, the same way you learnt to walk, talk and do other necessary actions.
Nowadays, the most important skill that is sought by most corporate is “teamwork”; it has become a quintessential strength anyone should possess and so is it the favorite of interview panels. Again you don’t have to spend months or years toiling in personality development coaching centers for this craft, you become a master of this craft without your knowledge. There is no such thing as an individual project, it’s all a collective and collaborative effort. And it is a real pleasure working with five different people from diverse backgrounds, who do not need to lean on common cultural grounds to develop team cohesion. The way ideas and criticisms flows, the way one learns to keep a tab on one’s ego and the way all work together to outperform each other infuses the perfect spirit of competition and inquisitiveness to learn.
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me."- Dudley Field Malone
Being a part of all activities happening in the campus round-the-clock, ensures that the left out laziness if at all is effaced. As Anne Frank said, “Laziness may appear attractive, but work gives satisfaction” and you realise this at IIM Rohtak. You become so engaged and involve that after the twenty months, you can never be lazy even if you try because hard work becomes your habit and perseverance a quality.
As an example, consider the events that IIM Rohtak organises throughout the academic year- Management Conclave, HR Summits, PSU Summit, Internet Summit, Entrepreneurship Summit ‘Udaan’ are the flagship management events that bring corporate giants to the campus and give the students a chance to ask questions and learn the inside-out of industry. These sessions are treated as learning forums, where management education is given real meaning by linking it to what the global world is witnessing in the current age. Also consider the social commitment that the institute believes in- the Save the Girl Child campaign that encompasses the annual Run for Girl Child Mini Marathon, health and blood donation drives and other endevours. These have been started because there is a deep-seated belief that we do not live in a glass bubble, that we must actively become a part of the social ecosystem and bring about real change. Giving back need not be disconnected with management education; we are agents of social change just as much as we are of economic change.
Success can only be reached by the ladder that has many rungs; there is no elevator to success. The IIMs are known to provide the most regarded management education in India, still it is really daunting and a bit amusing as well to see how the admission forums become crowded only with questions related to placements. The only word of wisdom would be to see way beyond what is apparent and concentrate on the more realistic and broader picture of the IIM life than shrinking it only to placement reports.