There are a few books about doing business in India, however these do not offer insights into India the land and its people and mostly discuss some aspects of culture through a foreigner lens.
In recent years there have been many thinkers/authors who have brought to fore the opportunities/challenges/ and way of doing business in India, however, these have not been presented together as a composite body of
knowledge.
I strongly feel the need for an ‘India Track’ in the curriculum of business schools and this has not been systematically been addressed. Sadly the university system MBA institutes will need a direction from AICTE or the university to offer such obvious courses, however, am sure some private schools can offer such a track. Whether it is of value, do read just a little further and write in.
Many recent books about Indian business by Indian thought leaders have yet to be used by teachers in B schools. Management Schools need to interact with these authors to work on a how their books can find place in the syllabus of management programs.
There is a need to present India from the point of view of a manager to enable her to succeed in India.
What subjects/authors am I thinking about?
In recent years there have been many thinkers/authors who have brought to fore the opportunities/challenges/ and way of doing business in India, however, these have not been presented together as a composite body of
knowledge.
I strongly feel the need for an ‘India Track’ in the curriculum of business schools and this has not been systematically been addressed. Sadly the university system MBA institutes will need a direction from AICTE or the university to offer such obvious courses, however, am sure some private schools can offer such a track. Whether it is of value, do read just a little further and write in.
Many recent books about Indian business by Indian thought leaders have yet to be used by teachers in B schools. Management Schools need to interact with these authors to work on a how their books can find place in the syllabus of management programs.
There is a need to present India from the point of view of a manager to enable her to succeed in India.
What subjects/authors am I thinking about?
- Indian Economics - past, present and future. There are plenty of books in this area, however, works of Bimal Jalan or YV Reddy and similar need a look
- Indian Psyche for Managers – Sudhir Kakkar author of Indian Psyche or even Being India by Pavan Verma
- Indian Consumers – where to find them and what they want. Rama Bijapurkar author of ‘We are like that only’
- Ancient Wisdom for Indian Managers – ‘Vidura Neethi’ , Prof. Subramanian, Chennai
- Imagining India – Nandan Nilekani
- All the three books – from discovering the India opportunity to offering the Dharma prerequisite to the world of business – Gurucharan Das
- Indian Demography - Interesting and little known slices of India would be really useful. I have read a book review about a recent book in the Times of India, sadly the title and author name have slipped from my 50 yr old brain.
- Indian Society – Plenty of good books available here
- Then there are books from Shombit Sengupta, Jessie Paul, Subroto Bagchi, Jagdeep Kapoor, and Santosh Desai et.al. which should be a must read for Indian business students to expose them to ideas, paradigms, and Indian examples that are closer home. Living in Bangalore one cannot miss out including books from Ramanujam Shridhar and Harish Bijoor, even if I have not had a look at at them.
With India being central in the worlds present and future, am sure there are foreign B schools who will be interested to send their students to attend a India track semester or like it is their style, first do the classes in the home country and then send informed students to India the land of opportunity. At the end of this thread, am hoping to have a list of subjects and reference books, so do write in and contribute your ideas. More importantly let me know what you think of this. Will this add value?
I do Agree with Prof Sudhakar in what he says, but isn't this a problem with all academics in India, most of the subjects are theoretical, and I am sure this must be the case with MBA aswell, (I haven't studied MBA and hence cannot comment on its curriculum), A practical topic like 'doing business in India' makes a lot of sense and is need of the hour. A lot western concepts of business is coming into the country and many a times they miss the point totally.
ReplyDeleteI also recommended more such practical topics on other aspects business would be help companies a lot.
Great collection!! Thanks
ReplyDeleteI recollect a book from Prof I J Parikh, "Young Managers at Cross Road"... that was also relevant.. India's success in 21st century will be determined by next gen managers of current era. They all are sharp, intelligent, independent and aggressive.
Very pertinent points, Prof. Sudhakar.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it ironical that at a time when the whole world is looking at emerging economies and specifically at India to power the next wave of global growth, there isn't a lot about India that is covered in the business schools right here in India?
Irrespective of whether the books you have mentioned are part of the curriculum, management students stand to gain immensely by developing a sound knowledge about India, its people and society, its economics among other things.
If I may, books by Pavan K Varma and Edward Luce are also very interesting and useful.
Personally, I also recommend books on Human Values and Ethics in Management by Prof. S.K. Chakraborty. I think those leassons are hugely relevant given today's business scenario.
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