Sunday, July 04, 2010

Bangalore: Institutions of higher learning and research such as Indian Institute of Technology, Indian Institute of Management, Indian Institute of Science and centres of atomic research will ensure that we attain our goals of attaining a top global position in a decade and a half, said the former Union Minister for Labour and Employment Oscar Fernandes. These institutions “are responsible for the India of today” and “our goals of attaining a top global position in a decade and a half would not be possible without them,” Mr. Fernandes said at a function to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the professional career of J. Philip, the former director of IIM (Bangalore) and the founder of the Xavier Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship (XIME).

“I have often heard people saying that the public sector is a jungle of problems. On the contrary, to me it is a great field of freedom and opportunity to perform,” said Prof. Philip, whose long career had spanned both public and private sectors.

“Looking back, I must say my true learning of the practice of management was at SAIL (Steel Authority of India Ltd).”

Prof. Philip started his professional career as a faculty member at Xavier Labour Relations Institute (XLRI) in Jamshedpur on July 3, 1960. He had also worked as the Vice-President of the Oberoi Group of Hotels before he took on the directorship of IIM-B. Recollecting the initial days at XIME, Prof. Philip said: “XIME is a true story of goodwill” adding that it was the result of the generosity of a large number of people. “Culture building is the crucial part of institution-building. This is something on which many Indian institutions, particularly educational institutions suffer from,” he said.

Abid Hussain, former chairman of IIMB and former member of Planning Commission said institutions have to see how best they can combine ethics with business.