My first visit to the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) campus was to give the written ability test and interview in March 2011. Every time I go to a new place, the predominant apprehension in my mind is 'how many steps would I have to negotiate to reach the required room?' To my pleasant surprise, there was a ramp at the entrance and the path to the interview room (including the lift) was very accessible. I finished my written ability test and interview in a few hours and so went home satisfied.
My next visit was after the offer for admission in April 2011 which was facilitated by Professor Rishikesha T. Krishnan, the then Chairperson of the Committee on Disability at IIMB. He showed me the classrooms as well as the hostel blocks and introduced me to Mr. Subbanna - the hostel secretary. This meeting gave me confidence that the Institute will be sensitive to my needs and I readily joined IIMB. Thereafter my first interaction with the students happened during the preparatory programme. I found my senior PGP2 students particularly helpful and encouraging and believe this was the best phase of my MBA programme since the course load was reasonably light. I really did not have any clue about the academic rigor in store for me when the terms started! After contemplating various alternatives at the old and new hostel blocks, Mr. Subbanna along with the Mr. K Shivakumar of the IIMB Estate Office provided me suitable accommodation at the Married Hostel Unit when my classes started late June. This was a little away from the general student blocks, but I found it helpful since it enabled my mother to stay with me.
Once classes began, I requested for ramps to be placed in front of faculty blocks and other classrooms and most of my requests were implemented. There are a number of ramps across the campus today and the Institute is becoming increasingly sensitive to the needs of wheelchair-bound students. Some areas like the New Faculty Blocks 1st and 2nd floors are still inaccessible but I am confident that these would be taken up soon. Overall as compared to my experiences with other public and educational institutions (e.g. government offices, banks, schools and even polling booths), I feel that IIMB is very friendly. More than the physical access, I am extremely grateful to my professors for their support and encouragement. I will never forget the visits by a couple of professors to my hostel room.
Since I was admitted through the Persons with Disabilities quota I needed initial help and guidance. Here I greatly benefitted by attending all tuition sessions conducted by my PGP2 and FPM tutors. Some of the tutors also took time and gave me personal guidance. The turning point for me was my Term II grades; I was very happy I had performed well and it gave me a lot of self-confidence. In addition to this, I was inspired by a couple of students in my section, a few professors who put in a lot of effort for each class and the congenial environment at the institute. I think the power of an education is in its ability to transform minds and connecting people to possibilities. At the end of two years I am happy to share that I have scored rank 25 in my PGP batch of 372 students. I owe my success to the support, encouragement and inspiration of the director, faculty, administrative staff and students of IIMB. I have now secured a very good job and I am looking forward to a promising corporate career ahead.
Prakash P is a graduate of the PGP Class of 2013. He is a paraplegic who studied primarily from home for his schooling and undergraduate studies. He suffers from Osteogenesis Imperfecta - a congenital bone disorder with no cure. Yet, his positive attitude, and the support provided by his parents and the Institute, enabled him to complete the rigorous Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGP) with ease.
Posted April 5, 2013
My first visit to the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) campus was to give the written ability test and interview in March 2011. Every time I go to a new place, the predominant apprehension in my mind is 'how many steps would I have to negotiate to reach the required room?' To my pleasant surprise, there was a ramp at the entrance and the path to the interview room (including the lift) was very accessible. I finished my written ability test and interview in a few hours and so went home satisfied.
My next visit was after the offer for admission in April 2011 which was facilitated by Professor Rishikesha T. Krishnan, the then Chairperson of the Committee on Disability at IIMB. He showed me the classrooms as well as the hostel blocks and introduced me to Mr. Subbanna - the hostel secretary. This meeting gave me confidence that the Institute will be sensitive to my needs and I readily joined IIMB. Thereafter my first interaction with the students happened during the preparatory programme. I found my senior PGP2 students particularly helpful and encouraging and believe this was the best phase of my MBA programme since the course load was reasonably light. I really did not have any clue about the academic rigor in store for me when the terms started! After contemplating various alternatives at the old and new hostel blocks, Mr. Subbanna along with the Mr. K Shivakumar of the IIMB Estate Office provided me suitable accommodation at the Married Hostel Unit when my classes started late June. This was a little away from the general student blocks, but I found it helpful since it enabled my mother to stay with me.
Once classes began, I requested for ramps to be placed in front of faculty blocks and other classrooms and most of my requests were implemented. There are a number of ramps across the campus today and the Institute is becoming increasingly sensitive to the needs of wheelchair-bound students. Some areas like the New Faculty Blocks 1st and 2nd floors are still inaccessible but I am confident that these would be taken up soon. Overall as compared to my experiences with other public and educational institutions (e.g. government offices, banks, schools and even polling booths), I feel that IIMB is very friendly. More than the physical access, I am extremely grateful to my professors for their support and encouragement. I will never forget the visits by a couple of professors to my hostel room.
Since I was admitted through the Persons with Disabilities quota I needed initial help and guidance. Here I greatly benefitted by attending all tuition sessions conducted by my PGP2 and FPM tutors. Some of the tutors also took time and gave me personal guidance. The turning point for me was my Term II grades; I was very happy I had performed well and it gave me a lot of self-confidence. In addition to this, I was inspired by a couple of students in my section, a few professors who put in a lot of effort for each class and the congenial environment at the institute. I think the power of an education is in its ability to transform minds and connecting people to possibilities. At the end of two years I am happy to share that I have scored rank 25 in my PGP batch of 372 students. I owe my success to the support, encouragement and inspiration of the director, faculty, administrative staff and students of IIMB. I have now secured a very good job and I am looking forward to a promising corporate career ahead.
Prakash P is a graduate of the PGP Class of 2013. He is a paraplegic who studied primarily from home for his schooling and undergraduate studies. He suffers from Osteogenesis Imperfecta - a congenital bone disorder with no cure. Yet, his positive attitude, and the support provided by his parents and the Institute, enabled him to complete the rigorous Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGP) with ease.
Posted April 5, 2013