The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu, graced the Lakshmipat Singhania – IIM Lucknow National Leadership Awards ceremony held in New Delhi on December 7, 2023. Her address during the event highlighted significant insights and recommendations focusing on the intersection of management education, entrepreneurship, societal connectivity, and India’s development trajectory.
In her speech, President Murmu underscored the adverse effects of an unbridled pursuit of heightened production and productivity on humanity, leading to climate change and ecological imbalances worldwide. Emphasizing the Indian ethos, she articulated that while profit maximization is integral to Western business culture, Indian values have traditionally accorded prominence to entrepreneurship over relentless profit motives.
Commending the entrepreneurial spirit prevalent among India’s youth, the President celebrated India’s status as the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem and an eminent hub for unicorn companies, showcasing the exemplary management skills and business leadership of the country’s young populace. She noted proudly that Indian youth are at the helm of leading global tech enterprises, displaying not just technical prowess but also management acumen.
President Murmu urged a transformative overhaul in the country’s management education system to foster more effective and inclusive national development. She called upon educators, managers, and organizational heads to align Indian management studies with domestic companies, consumers, and society. Advocating a shift from emphasizing case studies and articles on foreign businesses, she proposed a focus on Indian and multinational companies operating within India’s borders. Additionally, she emphasized directing research efforts towards Indian-based journals, particularly those accessible to students and researchers across the nation.
The President highlighted the recent rescue of 41 laborers from the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand as a commendable example, suggesting it as a compelling case study for leadership and teamwork in crisis situations, pivotal for leadership studies.
Regarding Artificial Intelligence (AI), President Murmu acknowledged concerns about job displacement and stressed the importance of incorporating AI dimensions into management education. She reassured that those proficient in AI and its adept application need not fear job loss. Furthermore, she urged institutions like IIM Lucknow to design curricula aligning with India’s development goals in the Amrit Kaal (Golden Era).
President Murmu’s address at the prestigious event delineated a roadmap for recalibrating management education, aligning it with India’s societal, economic, and technological imperatives, thereby envisioning a comprehensive framework for inclusive and sustainable development.