Left right left:When Modi got entry in IIMA after years

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s Monday address at IIM Ahmedabad’s RJ Mathai auditorium was special for all insiders of IIMA who are acquainted with the affairs of this institute. Modi was in IIMA after a gap of three years, and this gap was not just usual. According to IIMA insiders, there’s a story there.

Before November 2007, Shri Modi used to visit the IIMA campus to attend various functions frequently. There was good synergy between the state government and IIMA at that time which was also reflected in an event in which entire ministry of Gujarat government including the Chief Minister came to the institute to study here for two days.

But in November 2007, when Shri Bakul Dholakia retired from the post of Director,IIMA, there were the names of four professors in discussion to replace him. The files were sent to the Prime Minister’s office in New Delhi for final decision. At that time the left parties were supporting the central UPA government. One of the senior most left party leaders Shri A.B.Bardhan’s son-in-law Samir Barua was also one of the contenders for IIMA Director’s post. The Prime Minister’s office approved Barua’s name and he became IIMA’s new Director.

Since that time, Modi never was invited to the IIMA. When IIMA’s golden jubilee year celebration was kicked off on 11th of December this year, Modi was not invited. Prior to this function, it was suggested that as Gujarat state was also celebrating Golden jubilee of statehood, Mr. Modi should be invited to the IIMA Golden jubilee inaugural function, but the idea was turned down according to IIMA insiders.

On Monday Mr. Modi was invited by the alumni association body of IIMA at the institute. The alumni association has now some Gujarati and Gujarat based persons holding important posts. They did the job to invite Mr. Modi to IIMA during their three-day alumni meet. IIMA couldn’t differ with this decision, because alumnites are very powerful.

During the Monday function, one could notice that the institute Director was not sharing dais with Mr. Modi. Instead he sat in the audience.

The alumni association office bearers on stage were jubilant after successfully bringing Mr. Modi to the campus. They didn’t miss a single opportunity to glorify Mr. Modi and his achievements. Mr. Modi ofcourse received natural standing ovation at the end of his speech and interaction.

During his interaction with the alumni association members, at one point of time Mr. Modi mentioned an incident of 2007 election. Before narrating the incident he looked at IIMA Board Chairman Mr. Vijaypat Sindhania and told with in lighter tone:”I am not talking politics here, but will have to talk it to make my point in this answer, I am clarifying this because otherwise you will not allow me to enter into the campus next time.”

Modi said much in these few words.

If wee look at a larger picture, the Gujarat government is a stake holder in IIMA. It was the Gujarat government that provided huge land in the middle of the western part of the city to IIMA completely free of cost. The Gujarat government has always helped the institute in its weak phases. The government of Gujarat has always maintain a distance from routine IIMA affairs to respect the institute’s independence.

In fact Gujarat never talks bout what it has given to IIMA, but the state leaders always talk what IIMA has given to Gujarat. On Monday Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi started his speech with IIMA’s contribution to the city of Ahmedabad. Mr. Modi said, the city of Ahmedabad was once known just for its textile industry. The city was a place known for mills and mill workers. But fifty years back when the city got IIMA, the image of the city started to change. The students who competed their education in IIMA went to every part of the world and talked about the Ahmedabad. The city got global identity through IIMA, Mr. Modi said.

While Gujarat government has proposed to work with the alumni association of IIMA in six sectors by forming core groups with membership of both the alumnites and the government officials, the alumnites and the government are expected to come closer. But when it comes to the state government’s relation with the institute, the picture is not as good as it was prior to November 2007.