Globalising Indian thought; Indian school, universal mission

The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Kozhikode is looking at either London or Singapore as the next destination for holding ‘Globalizing Indian Thought’ – its flagship annual conference. “We are in touch with our alumni base, and are contemplating either London or Singapore – wherever it’s economically viable – to hold the next edition,” Prof Debashis Chatterjee, director, IIM Kozhikode, told FE, on the sidelines of the just-concluded 2023 edition in Mysuru.

A one-of-its-kind conference, ‘Globalizing Indian Thought’ is a platform for scholars, practitioners, students and policymakers to exchange ideas on enhancing management and leadership in India, glorifying the Indian ethos, and telling the world about India’s business achievements.

The Mysuru edition was opened by Sanjeev Sanyal, member, Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council, and Kinji Saito, director & senior managing officer, Suzuki Motor, Japan, and attended by Chandra Shekhar Ghosh (Bandhan Bank) and Tessy Thomas (missile woman of India), among others. It featured 148 abstract submissions, with 106 papers selected for review. Ultimately, 90 papers were accepted, and 73 were presented during the three-day event. Academicians, researchers, diplomats and students from 20-odd countries participated.

“The objective is to tell the world about Indian knowledge systems, culture and management,” Prof Chatterjee said. “Our human-centric perspective, which differs from the West’s systems-centric view, contributes significantly to our achievements in business. The value and vibrancy of India’s soft power is yet to manifest, and the aim of conferences like these is to make India count on the world stage, again. Until now, we invited the world to this conference. Next year, we will go to the world.”

‘Globalizing Indian Thought’ has inspired other business schools to also delve deep into Indian knowledge systems. Earlier this year, IIM Bangalore and Chanakya University jointly launched three MOOCs on the SWAYAM platform – Indian Knowledge System (IKS): Concepts and Applications in Engineering; IKS: Concepts and Applications in Science; and IKS: Humanities and Social Sciences.

Last year, the Ministry of Education had constituted a 22-member high-powered committee of the IKS – a cell established to promote research on all aspects of IKS, as well as preserve and disseminate IKS for further research and societal applications.

Earlier this year, in the NIRF Rankings (Management), IIM Kozhikode jumped two ranks to become India’s third-best B-school, after IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Bangalore, and overtook IIM Calcutta (the oldest IIM). Prof Chatterjee said there is no “stress” on maintaining that ranking. “The pressure comes when you internalise a rank, when you believe that you are the best, when you start living on legacy,” he said. “We haven’t internalised the third-best rank. We haven’t ‘arrived’ as yet. From now on, we have to run even faster. We’ve to create even more knowledge. All IIMs have to work as a team, and take Indian knowledge to the world. That’s when we will truly arrive.”