In a significant ceremony held in New Delhi on December 7, 2023, President Droupadi Murmu presented the prestigious Lakshmipat Singhania – IIM Lucknow National Leadership Awards, recognizing outstanding contributions to leadership and business management.
Addressing the gathering, President Murmu shared insightful perspectives on the state of management education in India and its impact on the country’s development. She expressed her concerns about the blind pursuit of increased production and productivity, highlighting its adverse effects on humanity, evident in climate change and ecological disturbances worldwide.
“President Murmu stressed that while profit maximization might be a part of Western culture, Indian culture has historically prioritized entrepreneurship. She commended the youth for adopting a culture of self-employment, making India the third-largest startup ecosystem globally. The President celebrated the management skills and business leadership of Indian youth, citing their roles in leading tech companies worldwide”.
Recognizing the need for changes in the education system, President Murmu urged managers, educationists, and organizational heads to align Indian management studies with the country’s companies, consumers, and society. She advocated for a shift from case studies and articles on foreign businesses to focus on Indian and multinational companies within India. Additionally, she emphasized the importance of research in Indian journals, especially those in the open-access domain, to benefit students and researchers nationwide.
“President Murmu highlighted the recent evacuation of 41 laborers from the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand as a prime example of leadership and teamwork in a crisis. She suggested that such instances could serve as lively topics for leadership studies”.
On the subject of Artificial Intelligence (AI), President Murmu acknowledged concerns about job loss and encouraged linking all dimensions of AI to management education. She emphasized that individuals knowledgeable about AI and its proper utilization need not fear job displacement. The President called upon institutions like IIM Lucknow to develop curricula aligned to make India a developed nation in the Amrit Kaal, emphasizing the transformative potential of management education in shaping the country’s future.
