A Wonderful Beginning @ NITIE

First day of classes at NITIE and to be frank i dint expect this kind of a class coming up. All that i saw was a simple man carrying a bag and walking inside the class. All i was waiting for was a usual lecture, like what i have been experiencing since college days. But what happened next actually separates this lecture from the rest. He walked up the stage, put aside the chair and table and sat on the floor and also invited us to do the same. For a minute i was dumbstruck. Did as he said so and then our beloved professor Dr.T.Prasad, popularly known as Professor Mandi started explaining his brainchild Mandi - an annual event conducted where students go out and sell simple scientific toys in the market.

An event where the students get benefited a lot by putting in their theory knowledge in practice. Like he says, this will bridge the gap between Theory and Practice. The two points stressed by him were
 a)Learn and Earn, Earn and Learn
 b)Consume and Create, Create and consume
Sorry sir for not putting in the exact Hindi words you had said as i dont understand Hindi (a student from Tamil Nadu).

He then took out the Newton's Cradle, an instrument which illustrates an example of the conservation of momentum which i have actually studied only in theory and never seen in real. The concept was explained in a simple and more effective way than books had taught me. Then i realized the value and power of this wonderful concept Mandi by which a lot
of students can get benefited.

Next was a butterfly toy which could be balanced on its beak because its centre of gravity lies on its beak. One of the most important concepts in physics explained by a simple toy!!!

Never have i felt sad for a class getting over soo soon. Expecting another cracker of a session by you sir!!! And not to forget,eagerly waiting for this year's Mandi Event.

Craft management and Modern Management

And the most awaited of Professor Dr.Mandi's next class finally came. And this time the surprise which he had intact was something greater than last time. A live example and model of how the modern management works. The question which he asked before the class began was whether a shoe made by a cobbler is better or by a company which makes 100's of shoes. We all replied unanimously that a shoe made by a industry is better. He asked us why and we dint have a concrete answer. And that is when he started giving us a live example which illustrated all the aspects of Craft Management and Modern Management.

He initially gave us some blocks and asked us to pile it up and asked whether a blind folded person or an open eyed person can pile up more blocks for which we received mixed responses. He even made people bet on it!!! Then he asked 3 people to split among themselves as a CEO,Manager and a worker. The CEO had to stack up blocks open eyed and he was successfully able to pile up 22 blocks.

Now came the real test. The person assigned as worker had to be blindfolded and with the Manager assisting him, he had to pile up blocks in the same way as the open eyed person did. We were in for a real treat with this interesting game!!! For once i dint believe the blindfolded person can pile up more than the open eyed person. But what followed proved me wrong. Slowly and steadily the blind folded person piled up blocks and when it was over he had piled around 27 blocks. Great isn't it !!!

When everyone wondered how, he came up with the answer. The main differentiating factor being Craft Management and Modern Management. In Craft Management since the work is being done by a single person, he has to plan and do everything and the whole risk is on himself. Since he does all the work by himself, the productivity is low but one good thing about him is that his skill level is high.

In Modern Management, the whole work is integrated and given to many people. In that way, only the manager needs to plan everything and with that plan to guide, the worker has to just simply do the assigned work to him without thinking of anything. In that way the whole productivity increases, but the whole risk lies on the manager as he has to stratergise everything. Also the skill set here of all the employees is limited as everyone do only a specific task.

Wow, what a class it was. The most important management strategy told in a simple and interesting way. Sir, u really rock !!! Awaiting your next class eagerly.