Last Week at Sirmaur

This week has been nothing short of a roller coaster ride. It began with the community day event, where we invited industry leaders from all across Poanta to our campus to discuss how we could enhance our connection with the pharmaceutical industry. On Tuesday, Parijat, Advaita and I had our research seminar where we presented our work on retractions in management scholarship. On Wednesday and Thursday, we arranged meetings for the industry advisory board, where numerous esteemed professionals from across the country gathered to explore ways to improve our tourism courses. The last two days have been focused on placement strategy and channeling our energies in the right direction. 

On that note, I want to talk about the speech I made to the pharmaceutical business leaders were here on campus on Monday. 

Before we begin, here’s the transcript: 

“Ladies and Gentlemen,

Thank you all for being here, despite the power shortage. Perhaps, that's exactly why we're all gathered here! If that brought a smile to your face, you're already getting a sense of the fantastic charm of Poanta Sahib.

There's an undeniable magic about this town – its river, the air, the lush nature, and the warm-hearted people. We are indeed fortunate to have such wonderful hosts.

Over the last eight years, right here, you have witnessed IIM Sirmaur's remarkable growth. From a pioneering batch of 20 students, we've evolved into an institute with over 600 students across two batches, hosting two full-time MBA programmes and attracting students from every corner of the country.

I'm thrilled to announce that IIM Sirmaur is in advanced discussions to establish joint programmes with universities in Germany, the USA, and Mauritius. We are poised to compete globally as a high-caliber educational institution. Just last night, two of our students secured summer placements with the Mauritius Tourism Development Authority. We've welcomed over 500 organizations for placements, and our students have made their mark both nationally and internationally.

This milestone wouldn't have been possible without you!

The support of the local industry is the lifeblood of any institute. Our founding fathers knew this, which is why higher education institutions were established near industry clusters. Imagine IIM Ahmedabad without Gujarat's mills and merchants, or IIM Bangalore without India's IT corridor. ISB even shares a wall with Microsoft.

Here in Paonta Sahib, we are blessed with your support – the movers and shakers of the local industry. Many are unaware that the pharmaceuticals produced here are consumed in hundreds of countries. The story of Paonta Sahib and its pharmaceutical cluster is yet to be fully told. Can we imagine a world without Sirmaur?

I must admit, in our growth, IIM Sirmaur has not engaged with the Paonta community as much as we would have liked. The incredible people of Sirmaur deserve more from us, and I'm pleased to announce that we're ready to step up our engagement.

The #SpiritOfSirmaur event is born from this commitment.

This is not just an event to instruct, but to spark a conversation.

We have bold, promising ideas.

But the responsibility to uplift the #SpiritOfSirmaur is not ours alone; it's a shared mission.

These ideas are just the beginning. IIM Sirmaur is also eager to collaborate with you on challenging projects, provide consultancy services, and assist with training needs. We're open to facilitating live projects, industry talks, and placement activities.

Like a child in its formative years, IIM Sirmaur has thrived on your love, support, and guidance. As we mature, we're ready to contribute, yet still seek your wisdom and guidance.

Thank you.”

As I share, in the transcript of my earlier speech, the story of IIM Sirmaur cannot be written without the hundreds of students who call it it’s alma mater. We stand at the threshold of an exciting era. With our shared commitment, the #SpiritOfSirmaur will not only uplift this institute but also contribute significantly to the broader community and beyond. Since it was not possible to have all our students listen to the speech live, I felt it was a good idea to share for your benefit. 

One thing that's clear from everything that's been happening lately is this- we are capable of achieving the objectives we set our minds to, and we are comfortable being uncomfortable. Let us continue to work hand in hand, nurturing this partnership and transforming every challenge into an opportunity for growth and excellence.

Let's look forward to a future brimming with possibilities.