Transformation

Flashback: 2 months back, Date: 3^rd April, 2013.

 It was time when the sun showcases its real colors and powers all across the country. I came here in NITIE, Mumbai for the interview of Post Graduate Diploma in Industrial Management. When I first get down from the Auto-rickshaw the hoarding read as National Institute of Industrial Engineering. Hold on, I said, in mind. I read it as Engineering?? A sudden thought in mind, I am already an engineer, I want to do management, why am I here? Will it be another course in engineering?? All sorts of thought process stopped for a while when I entered the mesmerizing campus, it feels like I was on the lap of mother-nature with:

“Large trees welcoming, stretching their arms with twists and turn,

And a pond by side reflecting the glare of sun,

96 steps to climb with zest of overcoming perspiration,

As the atmosphere all-around promised learning & fun"

Now: Date: 13^th June, 2013.

I joined the college. Things have changed here, it was still the lap of nature, but instead of sun this time tiny droplets (big actually) did the welcome. It was raining cats & dogs in Mumbai. It feels like somebody has painted trees with dark green color. The pond was ready to be burst into lake. The 96 steps looked slippery instead of barren this time.

Date: 18^th June, 2013. Time: 0900 hrs.

It was the class of Principles of Organizational Management, first class of the day, a Prof. with a simple look entered the class, all greeted the prof. he had a glance at class and then sat down on the floor. Yes, with blossoming smile sat on the floor and called everyone to come & sit with him. All quite baffled came and sat down with him. He smiled looking at the faces of each one of us. He said with utter politeness, “please be comfortable to sit on chairs if one is not willing to sit down, I love you if you choose to sit on chair.”

He said, “You are in NITIE, Please ask me questions? All that you ever had in your mind” I went back to that time when the question aroused in my mind 2 months back when I got down from the auto-rickshaw. From the charisma he carried, he looked like a ‘sadhu’ sitting under the tree of board and us as ‘Shishyas’ sitting and looking curiously at him.

He then slightly pulled out toys out of the basket & thrown them amongst the sitting students asking them to have a look at them. The toy looked like a butterfly; one looked like a sponge ball and then another one was a replica of newton’s 2^nd law of motion with 5 balls suspended and transferring the momentum.

Differential Point of view:-

He asked to look at toys and tell him what it is? The answers came as butterfly, ball and suspension. He laughed and said, “I doubt you all are engineer”. He held the butterfly from its tip with a pen and it was not falling down, he held the ball in his hand it had the globe printed upon it then he held the 5 ball suspension model in his hand, he pulled 1^st ball and released it, the 5^th ball got displaced the equal distance as the 1^st ball was pulled, he then pulled 1^st & 2^nd ball together and released them, the 4^th & 5^th ball displaced equal distance as the 1^st & 2^nd ball. He then pulled 1^st 2^nd& 3^rd together and asked what will happen, nobody came out with a concrete answer.
The point he said is to come up with an opinion, irrespective of what will happen one must have an opinion upon it. He said, “I used these 3 toys because you all are engineers and you have knowledge about these things, you should have an opinion upon it.”

Presentation:-

One of the most important things is presentation; although all three looked like normal toys if presented in good manner could lead to the impression it makes.

Creating Value:-

He explained knowledge, value & business should go hand in hand. He explained, “Being an engineer you are expected to have knowledge, to create a value out of it is Innovation and being able to channel it to the right person is business.”

As the 2 hours of the class came to an end I realized as the climate has changed drastically now from the time when I came here last time the perspective at looking at things has evolved too.

Now

Engineering or Management no matter what name we give it – it’s always the learning experience that’s going to matter henceforth.