“IIM-A TAUGHT ME THE VALUE OF LISTENING TO OTHER VOICES”
THE CASE STUDY PEDAGOGIC METHOD, ALONG WITH THE EMPHASIS ON CLASS PARTICIPATION, WAS REVOLUTIONARY FOR ITS TIME
AArriving at a hot and then-arid IIM-Ahmedabad (IIM-A) campus in the summer of 1966, I was awestruck by its arresting architecture: exposed brick-work buildings, with large, circular holes, resembling ruins from the past or half-finished construction. These were student dorms, then used for faculty offices, administrative staff, student mess, kitchen and much else. We had the
privilege of staying in faculty residences, before moving to the dorms in 1967.
Classrooms were in more prosaic temporary sheds, but what went on in them was, for me and most others, revolutionary. Schooled in the conventional classroom dictum of “keep your ears and eyes open, but mouth tightly shut”, the concept of discussions, with students speaking more than teachers, was alien. This essence of the IIM-A case study pedagogic method also entailed grades for class participation (CP). Weekly quizzes and CP determined one’s overall grade: another radical change. The case method not only brought the real world into the classroom; it also taught me the value of listening to diverse viewpoints. It gave me a more holistic and strategic understanding of issues. Teamwork, logical analysis, written and oral communication: over my career, these learnings from IIM-A were as valuable as management techniques. We were fortunate to have an ideal mix of experienced and young faculty—all very committed and dedicated.
The mood and spirit on the campus was as exciting as in any start-up. The camaraderie was amazing, with professors frequently joining students over a meal or tea and being addressed by first name. I learned much from fellow-students, including being introduced to Sartre and jazz, and working with others to create the first campus magazine (Red Brick).
Many other wonderful memories come back from half a century ago. A fascinating place to be in then, and proud that IIM-A yet holds its own. ■
The Vikram Sarabhai Library in IIM-Ahmedabad