"Management is, above all, a practice where art, science, and craft meet."
After a vibrant Food Festival, IIM Kozhikode hosted its Annual Management Festival, Backwaters 2014 from 31
st October to 2
nd November. This flagship event is considered to be one of the most renowned management festivals of South India. A plethora of case studies, B plan competitions coupled with stimulating on-spot events saw participation from students from top B schools of the country including IIM Bangalore, IIT Madras, TAPMI, SIBM Pune among others. Entertainment nights, a string of cultural events, took place in the evenings followed by movie screenings late into the night. The event was organised by the Backwaters Committee of IIM Kozhikode who did a commendable job in putting up a show that is scaling new heights with each passing year.
This year’s biggest attraction was Model United Nations WTO Conference, the first of its kind held in God’s own Kampus. Participants donned the role of delegates from various countries debating on topics like trade facilitation in African countries, investment through agri-business, infrastructure and policies regarding natural resource management. Other major events were Prove your Mettle (operations case study competition by L&T), Roar For CSK( strategy case study by Chennai Super Kings), On the Mark (marketing case study by Aava Waters), White Knight (the B plan competition by Cognizant ), Shiksha , Rural Nirman and Bizzathlon Quizzing Fest. Avatar, the hunt for the next CEO, saw the representatives from different colleges battling for the coveted title. The on-spot events gave a chance for all and sundry to participate with promises of prize money worth 72 thousand up for grabs. The myriad events included Beer Game, Turncoat Debate, Scavenger Hunt, Mad Ads, Masterchef Kerala, Potpourri among others. Food stalls were set up in the college premises and the students had a good time munching on delicacies as they took a break between the various events.
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Participants in Model United Nations[/caption]
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Roar For CSK[/caption]
The cultural events on the first evening were organised on the theme of Halloween. A play staged by the first year students set the uncanny mood for the evening followed by the electrifying performance by guest band Mad Orange Fireworks. The first day ended with the screening of the movie Oculus that surely sent a chill down the spine. The following evening was marked by special performances by Karan Singh, a psychological illusionist who hypnotised the jostling crowd with his modern form of magic – a new experimental form of art that left the audience spellbound. The jinx was broken by the stand-up comedy show “Genuine Nights” by Kanan Gill and Biswa Kalyan of the Pretentious Movie Review fame. The final evening was witness to a hilarious act by Deepak Gopalakrishnan, who goes by the moniker “Chuck Gopal”, with his wisely crafted script on B school humour. Stellar performance by Krescendo, the college’s music club and Footvibes, the dance troupe added to the entertainment quotient. For the first time, live streaming was arranged for the major events for students across institutes who could not be present on campus.
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Entertainment Nights[/caption]
As the curtains came down for the final time after a three day long gala event, the entire team of Backwaters took a bow promising an even better and jam packed event the following year. Such events make IIM Kozhikode a vibrant institute of management learning by giving a chance to the students to challenge the best minds from the other institutes and in the process emerge as successful managers.
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The Backwaters Team!![/caption]
Article written by Sohini Deb, Coordinator, Media Cell, IIM Kozhikode
Picture credits
Sharada Seth, IIM Kozhikode
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