V. Mukunda Das apologises profusely for being 15 minutes late. “I’m a stickler for punctuality. My students have to pay Rs. 500 if they are even a minute late,” he says.
Director of Chandragupt Institute of Management Patna (CIMP), Mukunda is a renowned academician and an expert on rural marketing. Once known as a seat of knowledge, the title has slipped away from Bihar. Mukunda, however, aims to restore the title to the state. The man who has worked with Verghese Kurien at Institute of Rural Management, Anand (IRMA), Indian Institute of Management, in Ahmedabad and Kozhikode and School of Communication and Management Studies, Kochi, to name a few, was in the city for a few days. The affable professor took some time off to talk with MetroPlus . Excerpts from the interview.
Humble beginnings
I belong to Cherukole. The nearest English medium school then was in Mavelikara. As I was keen to study there, I would cross a river and then travel by foot to reach the school. There were no cars or school vans to drop you at your school door step then. I did my bachelors degree in economics at NSS College, Pandalam, and passed out with a first rank in the subject from the university. I then did my masters in economics at Department of Economics, University of Kerala. I was lucky as I had some of the best teachers to guide me throughout my student days.
Career track
I started off as an associate professor at IIM Ahmedabad. I was with them for two years when I moved to IRMA. I completed my doctorate while at IRMA. I then went on to work at various other places.
Working with the milk man of India
Working with the milk man of India, Dr. Varghese Kurian, was simply amazing. He is one man who has inspired me in life. What I liked about IRMA was that the students and faculty are like family. I recall how one Onam some students came home as they wanted a sadhya. My wife and I were flabbergasted at having to prepare food for a large group of students, but with their help in chopping and washing, we had a grand sadhya.
Starting Subicsha
While at IIM Kozhikode, I co-ordinated the formulation of a project called Sustainable Business Development of Innovative Coconut Based Micro Enterprises for Holistic Growth and Poverty Alleviation (Subicsha). Subicsha focusses on micro enterprises development through integrated coconut-based activities. The project started off at the Perambra block panchayat in Kozhikode. Following its success, it was introduced in various other panchayats. It is now going to be introduced in West Bengal.
CIMP
CIMP is the brainchild of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. My dream is to bring CIMP to an IIM status and we are close to realising this dream. We have reserved 50 per cent of our seats for SC/ST/OBC category students and have managed to obtain 100 per cent placements for the entire batch.
For the society
I am pro-poor. CIMP has started a programme called ‘Beautiful Mind’ for slum children. These children are taught English by our teachers and students. We have also adopted two villages, one near Hajipur and the other near Purnia, where we focus on e-learning.
Education in Kerala
Education in Kerala has not reached the level it could have. We have an excellent schooling system but the higher education system is in deep trouble. One of the reasons is we now do not have outstanding teachers.
Bookmark
Despite my crazy work schedule, I am trying to squeeze in time to write a book. It is titled India’s Rich Rituals And The Poor . The book will take a look on how money is poured on rituals but not on helping the poor.
