Book launch of The Great Flap of 1942: How the Raj Panicked over a Japanese Non-invasion authored by Professor Mukund Padmanabhan

Book launch of The Great Flap of 1942: How the Raj Panicked over a Japanese Non-invasion authored by Professor Mukund Padmanabhan

15 February, 2024, Sri City: Krea University hosted the book launch of The Great Flap of 1942: How the Raj Panicked over a Japanese Non-invasion authored by renowned journalist Professor Mukund Padmanabhan, Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at the School of Interwoven Arts and Sciences (SIAS), Krea University, and former editor of The Hindu and The Hindu BusinessLine, on the campus.

The launch unfolded with opening remarks by Professor Nirmala Rao, Vice-Chancellor of Krea University, as she spoke highly of the compelling storyline. This was followed by an engaging hour-long conversation between Professor Mukund Padmanabhan and Dr Aashique Ahmed Iqbal, Assistant Professor of History at SIAS, Krea University as they delved into the intricacies of the book, holding the audience in rapt attention. Attendees eagerly participated and posed insightful questions.

Dr Prithvi Datta Chandra Shobhi, Dean and Associate Professor of History at SIAS, Krea University provided closing remarks, offering valuable insights for history students gleaned from the book’s contents. The session culminated with a book signing session.

Published by Penguin Random House, The Great Flap of 1942: How the Raj Panicked over a Japanese Non-invasion presents a narrative history of the Japanese attacks in Southeast Asia and their impact on India. The book sheds light on a neglected and scarcely known period of history ― between December 1941 and mid-1942 ― when India was gripped by panic, jostled between the rumours and misjudgements by the British and their mistaken belief that Japan was on the verge of launching a full-fledged invasion.

The book demonstrates, quite astonishingly, that the Raj cynically encouraged the exodus (of Indians and Europeans) from both sides of the coastline to ‘safer’ inland regions and contributed to the repeated cycles of rumour, panic and flight. It also reveals how the shadow of the Japanese threat influenced the course of nationalist politics, altered British attitudes towards India and charted the course towards Independence.

It has received many captivating reviews, including those by William Dalrymple and Gopalkrishna Gandhi. Dalrymple’s description of the book as a ‘superbly well researched, tightly constructed…..and pinned to the page in stylish, witty and evocative prose’, testifies to Professor Mukund Padmanabhan’s depth of scholarship and academic excellence.

View the complete event here

An Interview with Prof Lakshmi Kumar, Dean, IFMR GSB, Krea University: Invest In Education When The Market Isn’t Hiring 

In a video interview for Konversations By InsideIIM, Prof Lakshmi Kumar, Professor, Economics and Dean, IFMR GSB, Krea University talks about the current economic situation in the country, the situation around unemployment and inflation, and why she is concerned about whether growth will happen or not. 

Prof Lakshmi Kumar talks about the importance of understanding economics and macroeconomics for an MBA student, and the ways in which she makes difficult financial concepts easier to understand for her students. She also talks about the importance of steady alumni support for a B-school, especially in times when the hiring is slow and the markets are down.

Krea University inaugurates Virtual Trading Floor and steps into a partnership with Zerodha Varsity

On 2 February, 2024, Krea University inaugurated its Virtual Trading Floor and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Zerodha Broking Ltd. Jobosco Das, Senior Associate Vice President at Zerodha Broking, inaugurated the Virtual Trading Floor, and also conducted a seminar on the ‘Building Blocks of Personal Finance’ for the students.

Also present at the event were Professor Nirmala Rao, Vice-Chancellor of Krea University, Professor Lakshmi Kumar, Dean of IFMR Graduate School of Business (IFMR GSB), Krea University, Sundara Rajan, Registrar and Chief of Staff, Krea University, Professor Srinivasan Kalyasundaram, Professor of Practice in Finance, IFMR GSB, Krea University, along with other faculty members and students.

The state-of-the-art Virtual Trading Floor provides students of IFMR Graduate School of Business (IFMR GSB) and the School of Interwoven Arts and Sciences (SIAS) at Krea University with an opportunity to apply their theoretical knowledge of financial securities and derivatives in a real-world, simulated trading environment. The platform simulates a real-time market environment, allowing students to test investment strategies with virtual funds, gaining valuable insights into risk management and decision-making in a dynamic market.

The Virtual Trading Floor, equipped with the latest technology and market simulation software, including Bloomberg Terminal, serves as a platform for students to engage in mock trading sessions, portfolio management exercises, and real-time market analysis. IFMR GSB has scheduled several trading workshops for its MBA students in this facility, significantly enhancing their employability and market readiness.

The MOU signing between Krea University and Zerodha Varsity signifies a significant collaboration between academia and industry. The partnership enables Krea University students to have free access to all online training modules and, at a nominal fee, certifications offered by Zerodha Varsity. This includes courses on various aspects of investing, trading, and financial markets, all delivered by industry experts and practitioners. The partnership aims to integrate practical experience with academic learning, bridging the gap between theoretical financial knowledge and its practical application, and preparing students for successful careers in the world of finance.

Emphasising the importance of practical learning in finance, Professor Lakshmi Kumar, Dean of IFMR GSB, Krea University, stated, “The Virtual Trading Floor will provide our students with an invaluable opportunity to experiment and learn from their mistakes in a safe environment. Coupled with access to Zerodha Varsity’s comprehensive online training material and certifications, this initiative will equip them with the skills needed to thrive in the competitive financial landscape.”

View the highlights of the event here.

Campusutra: A Fusion of Opportunities for Growth – A Case Study

Prof Chandrasekaran N, Professor, Operations Management at IFMR GSB, Dr Sathya Saminadan R S, Associate Professor of Practice at IFMR GSB, and Dr Indira Ananth, freelance academic have co-authored a case study titled Campusutra: A Fusion of Opportunities for Growth, published by Ivey Publishing.

Campusutra was a leading information and partially transactional portal operating in India that helped aspiring higher education students select appropriate educational institutions. It was founded in 2011 and initially focused on supporting a student’s choice of management education. It added support for engineering schools. It was known for offering distilled and unbiased objective information about offerings, fee structure, peer-level engagement, and placement opportunities, and potential students remained loyal to the portal. Later, a friend advised the founder to make a strategic alliance with an EdTech company to monetize the intangible value it had created. The founder’s dilemma was whether to pursue such an opportunity and risk diluting its mission.

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Dr Raghuram Rajan and Dr Rohit Lamba Launch Breaking the Mould: Reimagining India’s Economic Future

Dr Raghuram Rajan and Dr Rohit Lamba Launch Breaking the Mould: Reimagining India’s Economic Future

6 January, 2024, Chennai: Krea University hosted the book launch of Breaking the Mould: Reimagining India’s Economic Future by Dr Raghuram Rajan, Member, Governing Council, Krea University and Katherine Dusak Miller Distinguished Service Professor of Finance, University of Chicago Booth School of Business and Dr Rohit Lamba, Assistant Professor of Economics, Pennsylvania State University. The event was held at Taj Club House in Chennai.

Eminent thought leaders from diverse fields were in attendance, including Lakshmi Narayanan, Chancellor, Krea University, Dr Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, Minister for Information Technology & Digital Services, Tamil Nadu and N Ram, Director, The Hindu Group Publishing Private Limited. 

In the welcome speech, Lakshmi Narayanan, emphasised how over the years, Dr Rajan has gifted ideas, experience, and time to build the foundation of Krea. How in the context of a world that no longer works in silos, Dr Rajan has been a firm believer in creating a space where wholesome education enables young open minds to embark on the journey of becoming thinkers, do-ers and changemakers. The closing remarks were delivered by N Ram and the event included a discussion between the authors and Jude Sannith, Assistant Editor, CNBC-TV18.

Breaking the Mould: Reimagining India’s Economic Future sheds light on India’s economic future, the nation’s own distinct space in the global economy, the future of employment, and innovative ways forward.

Here is a glimpse into the event, that was :

View the complete event here

A Celebration of Camaraderie, Synergy and Aspiration

As part of Prarambh, the Orientation Programme for the MBA Class of 2025 at IFMR GSB, Krea University, various clubs and committees conducted a diverse range of activities, fostering an inclusive and engaging environment for the incoming cohort. Here’s a summary of events that happened over the last couple of weeks:

Photo Courtesy: Shutterbugs – The Photography Club

raga

Team Raga, the Music Club, brought together over 200 students from different states, showcasing their vocal talents through a medley of old and new songs in various languages on 7 July.

Storyteller Vikram Sridhar conducted a storytelling session, emphasising the importance of storytelling in leadership on 6 and 7 July.

Sports-committee

The Sports Committee conducted nostalgic childhood games and regular sports, promoting camaraderie and physical activity among the students on 9 July.

Analytics, the Data Analytics Club, hosted a case study competition, inspiring innovative solutions and promoting teamwork among MBA students.

Abhinay

Abhinay, the Drama Club, held a play and act competition where seventeen teams showcased their creativity by presenting diverse plays based on popular themes.

Arthasabha, the Finance Committee, introduced the new batch with an exciting event combining adventure and intellect, featuring a thrilling treasure hunt and a business and finance quiz.

futureprenuer

The Futurepreneurs, the Entrepreneurial Club, organised a unique product pitching extravaganza, where the incoming batch presented innovative, humorous, and entrepreneurial ideas.

Genesis, the Admissions Committee, conducted Network Nexus, strengthening mentorship, friendship, and networking bonds between junior and senior batches.

markaholic

Markaholic, the Marketing Committee, presented a challenging and entertaining dodgeball game, testing multitasking and memory skills through logo recognition.

Quiz-club

The Q-team, the Quiz Club, arranged a refreshing quiz competition with a theme focussing on OTT series, web series, and movies, creating an enjoyable and fun atmosphere.

Edge

Edge, the Consulting Committee, hosted two thrilling events: Riddle Route, where teams deciphered riddles to locate specific places on campus, and Brand Detective, challenging participants to identify brands from displayed slides.

Sanchalan, the Operations and IT Committee, organised OP-TECHWiZ to gauge newcomers' interest in IT and tech, featuring rounds of multiple-choice questions and pictionary-based challenges.

The Jugalbandi of Arts and University Life

Srinidhi Pennathur, SIAS Cohort of 2025 shares her story, of interweaving art with University life, set against the backdrop of the learning tapestry at Krea. Srinidhi, most recently performed at Krea University’s Convocation 2023.

Srinidhi, you are a violinist and a vocalist; almost like a double major in the context of Krea; how do they co-exist in harmony and how does one affect and influence each other?

Within the context of Carnatic Music, I’ve found that being a violinist has only broadened my horizons as a vocalist, and vice versa. When I learn to sing a song that I perform on the violin, I develop a clearer understanding of the lyrics or ‘sahithyam’ and its meaning. Knowing the exact words that I play is really important because it delivers the intended emotion or bhava of the song, even though the words aren’t being sung. It would be as though I were playing what I would sing, and that marks a good violinist. Singing also allows for more in-depth clarity with regards to nuances and intricacies that become much easier to play on the violin. Similarly, learning the violin has especially shaped my comprehension of core concepts in Carnatic Music such as Shruti, Tala and Laya Shuddha. (pitch, beat and rhythm) Learning to physically play in different speeds, with different ‘pitches’ has helped me sing the same with more ease and precision. All this to say that, instrument and voice co-exist in harmony because together they display a beautiful symbiotic relationship that constantly benefit the other.

You’ve spent a year at Krea; has the landscape and the learnings at Krea contributed to your journey as a musician?

The very arts-oriented environment at Krea has given me plenty of opportunities to showcase my talent on the violin and through singing. Performing different genres for different events has exposed me to the wonderful niceties of vast, yet soulful musical forms. I’ve also been able to further my understanding of my own art and reduce my stage fright. I would also say that the kind of discipline and work ethic that the academic trajectory of Krea demands in terms of punctuality and time commitment has urged me to make for myself a practice routine that is as, if not more time-consuming and intense.

What was it like for you to share/perform your music at the institution’s convocation? 

To be given the opportunity to perform in the presence of esteemed dignitaries, professors, graduates, parents and other guests for such a milestone event was truly an honor, to say the least. I was greatly humbled by the praise I received for this performance and thankful to the Vice-Chancellor for noticing my talent and allowing me to showcase it.

What is your take on the role of arts/artistes in building the culture of an institution and how would you like to contribute and inspire the incoming batch?

The thing about art is that, it’s transformative. It contributes to building a culture by advocating self expression, bringing people from different backgrounds together, and acts a common medium of understanding between individuals. Furthermore, it is a way to learn about and explore its plethora of forms. I would like to contribute by representing Carnatic Classical Music whenever I can. To the incoming batch, I would tell them to take initiative and do things outside of their comfort zone. I would also want to reassure them that they will be okay, and that they will survive college. No seriously, they will!

To view Srinidhi’s performance from Convocation 2023, please click here.