This oral history interview documents the academic, administrative, and institutional contributions of Prof. V. Nagadevara, who served at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) from August 1976 until his retirement in June 2013. The narrative traces his entry into the Institute during its formative years, his association with the Centre for Agriculture and Rural Development (CARD) and the Quantitative Methods and Information Systems (QMIS) Area, and his role in the evolution of IIMB from a sectorally oriented institution to one centred on general management education.

Prof. Nagadevara reflects on his extensive engagement with the Post Graduate Programme (PGP), the Fellow Programme in Management (doctoral education), and specialised and executive education programmes, highlighting curriculum design, programme coordination, and teaching in statistics, operations research, project management, and information systems. The interview offers detailed insights into the early sectoral PGP model, the initiation of doctoral programmes linked to public administration training, and the subsequent academic restructuring through curriculum review committees.

A significant portion of the interview addresses his administrative responsibilities, including service as Dean (Academics) and Director-in-Charge, and his involvement in institutional governance, board membership, and policy formulation. Prof. Nagadevara also discusses major consultancy and research projects undertaken with national and international agencies, spanning agriculture, irrigation, public systems, infrastructure, and data-driven decision-making.

Overall, the interview provides a reflective account of institutional culture, leadership transitions, campus development, academic reforms, and the integration of research, teaching, and consultancy at IIMB over nearly four decades.

Snippets From Interview