Eighteen days in India
Eugenia CHen, WG'08
Issue date: 2/12/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
On December 22nd to Jan 7th, thirty-seven first and second year students (two serving as coordinators) and one MBAPO representative traveled ten thousand miles from Philadelphia to New Delhi for the Wharton Global Immersion Program in India. In 18 days we visited ten companies, two government organizations, two NGOS, and one prime minister.
While the trip was packed full of activities, it was the perfect mix of sightseeing, company visits, and bonding time on the bus. Here are some highlights from our journey:
Philadelphia -> New Delhi -> Agra & Jaipur
We landed in New Delhi and in a few hours were off north to Agra to visit the Taj Mahal. It was absolutely beautiful and breathtaking; an amazing way to start the trip.
The stunning textiles and clothing that India is known for can be found in Jaipur, a few hours from Agra. It was our first shopping excursion and we picked up shawls, bags, and shoes.
New Delhi
Our first day of company visits began with Genesis Buson-Marsteller, a small public relations firm. Ms. Prema Sagar, the principal and founder, was especially interesting as she is one of the few female business leaders we meet. Our next stop was the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation. Using the latest technology and benefiting from the advice of other countries, the company has constructed a subway system and made huge strides in bringing an integrated transportation system to this sprawling city.
We were lucky enough to be the only business school to meet with the Prime Minister of India, the Honorable Dr. Manmohan Singh. The most memorable part of our meeting: when asked what advice he would give us as future leaders, he answered that he hopes that Indian students who leave to study in the US return to India and help the economy continue to grow.
The next day, we had a joint event with HBS with the Minister of Railways, Mr. Lalu Prasad. Mr. Prasad, previously the Governor of Behar and now the head of the Indian Railways, is one of the most well known (some might say infamous) politicians in India. While the Railways have made a remarkable turnaround and actually became profitable in less than two years, Mr. Prasad remains a controversial figure in Indian politics. Imprisoned while Governor of Behar, one of the most impoverished states in India, he continues to face accusations of corruption. Our event was covered by every newspaper and television in the country and was literally front page news.
Bangalore
In Bangalore we stayed at the large, sprawling, and nearly self-sufficient Infosys corporate campus. Infosys is one of India's leading software and IT consulting companies, built from the ground up by 4 engineers. Two of the most interesting visits of the trip are Narayana Hrudalaya and the Art of Living Foundation. Narayana Hrudalaya is one of the best heart hospitals in the world. The hospital is fascinating because it has operated profitably despite a substantial amount of charitable care that it provides to the community. The Art of Living Foundation, is an NGO headed by a spiritual leader, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. The organization's goal is to promote peace by strengthening the individual through meditation and breathing techniques.
Mumbai
By New Year's, we were in Mumbai and had a few days off to explore the cosmopolitan city. Lots of champagne was involved as we welcomed 2007 at a huge party thrown at our hotel and see young, sexy, and wealthy Mumbai in action. We then headed out for a New York-type night out in Mumbai, starting at the hotter-than-thou lounge Shiro (like Hiro in the Meatpacking) and ending with a visit to a food truck serving kati-rolls (think halal food on 53rd and 6th).
One of the more unique companies that we heard from is the Mumbai Dabbawallas, a company that hand-delivers millions of tiffins (lunchboxes) everyday without using any modern technology. They proudly boast a six sigma performance. We also visit the Tata Group, which consists of 96 companies in 7 businesses and is one of India's largest business conglomerates.
Goa
Our trip wrapped up with a couple of days spent relaxing at the beach in Goa, which was a sharp contrast to the crowded and poverty-stricken street scenes we had grown accustomed to. A popular activity in Goa is to take a river cruise, and on our last night we celebrated with food, drinks (specialty: White Mischief and lemonade), and dancing.
Looking back, I can't remember my original reasons for signing up but I can give you a hundred reasons why you should go. Without a doubt, there were times when we were tired, sick, and uncomfortable. India isn't an easy place for tourists - the sheer volume of people is overwhelming. The juxtaposition of enormous wealth and remarkable poverty is disheartening. However, if you go with the right attitude ("kindly adjust" is how we like to put it), the experience can be immensely rewarding. I came away with a unique understanding of the Indian economy and government. The buzz about India's incredible economic boom is true, but we learned to question that unbridled excitement about the country. Many of the leaders we met with acknowledged the problems India needs to overcome before it can reach its full potential as an economic superpower. The growing socio-economic disparity together with the persistent corruption throughout the country, remain problems to be solved. While it was at times depressing to see young children without shoes begging in the street, it was uplifting to learn that India's leaders are embracing corporate social responsibility as a vital aspect of their organizations.
As with other organized trips that we go on here at Wharton, this trip was a lot of fun and a great chance to meet and bond with classmates. The India GIP was not just a vacation, but an opportunity to learn from the most prominent political, cultural, and business leaders in a country that is already having a major impact on the world economy. Such is the reason why the trip a unique, once-in-a-lifetime experience, and that's what we're all here for, isn't it?
While the trip was packed full of activities, it was the perfect mix of sightseeing, company visits, and bonding time on the bus. Here are some highlights from our journey:
Philadelphia -> New Delhi -> Agra & Jaipur
We landed in New Delhi and in a few hours were off north to Agra to visit the Taj Mahal. It was absolutely beautiful and breathtaking; an amazing way to start the trip.
The stunning textiles and clothing that India is known for can be found in Jaipur, a few hours from Agra. It was our first shopping excursion and we picked up shawls, bags, and shoes.
New Delhi
Our first day of company visits began with Genesis Buson-Marsteller, a small public relations firm. Ms. Prema Sagar, the principal and founder, was especially interesting as she is one of the few female business leaders we meet. Our next stop was the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation. Using the latest technology and benefiting from the advice of other countries, the company has constructed a subway system and made huge strides in bringing an integrated transportation system to this sprawling city.
We were lucky enough to be the only business school to meet with the Prime Minister of India, the Honorable Dr. Manmohan Singh. The most memorable part of our meeting: when asked what advice he would give us as future leaders, he answered that he hopes that Indian students who leave to study in the US return to India and help the economy continue to grow.
The next day, we had a joint event with HBS with the Minister of Railways, Mr. Lalu Prasad. Mr. Prasad, previously the Governor of Behar and now the head of the Indian Railways, is one of the most well known (some might say infamous) politicians in India. While the Railways have made a remarkable turnaround and actually became profitable in less than two years, Mr. Prasad remains a controversial figure in Indian politics. Imprisoned while Governor of Behar, one of the most impoverished states in India, he continues to face accusations of corruption. Our event was covered by every newspaper and television in the country and was literally front page news.
Bangalore
In Bangalore we stayed at the large, sprawling, and nearly self-sufficient Infosys corporate campus. Infosys is one of India's leading software and IT consulting companies, built from the ground up by 4 engineers. Two of the most interesting visits of the trip are Narayana Hrudalaya and the Art of Living Foundation. Narayana Hrudalaya is one of the best heart hospitals in the world. The hospital is fascinating because it has operated profitably despite a substantial amount of charitable care that it provides to the community. The Art of Living Foundation, is an NGO headed by a spiritual leader, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. The organization's goal is to promote peace by strengthening the individual through meditation and breathing techniques.
Mumbai
By New Year's, we were in Mumbai and had a few days off to explore the cosmopolitan city. Lots of champagne was involved as we welcomed 2007 at a huge party thrown at our hotel and see young, sexy, and wealthy Mumbai in action. We then headed out for a New York-type night out in Mumbai, starting at the hotter-than-thou lounge Shiro (like Hiro in the Meatpacking) and ending with a visit to a food truck serving kati-rolls (think halal food on 53rd and 6th).
One of the more unique companies that we heard from is the Mumbai Dabbawallas, a company that hand-delivers millions of tiffins (lunchboxes) everyday without using any modern technology. They proudly boast a six sigma performance. We also visit the Tata Group, which consists of 96 companies in 7 businesses and is one of India's largest business conglomerates.
Goa
Our trip wrapped up with a couple of days spent relaxing at the beach in Goa, which was a sharp contrast to the crowded and poverty-stricken street scenes we had grown accustomed to. A popular activity in Goa is to take a river cruise, and on our last night we celebrated with food, drinks (specialty: White Mischief and lemonade), and dancing.
Looking back, I can't remember my original reasons for signing up but I can give you a hundred reasons why you should go. Without a doubt, there were times when we were tired, sick, and uncomfortable. India isn't an easy place for tourists - the sheer volume of people is overwhelming. The juxtaposition of enormous wealth and remarkable poverty is disheartening. However, if you go with the right attitude ("kindly adjust" is how we like to put it), the experience can be immensely rewarding. I came away with a unique understanding of the Indian economy and government. The buzz about India's incredible economic boom is true, but we learned to question that unbridled excitement about the country. Many of the leaders we met with acknowledged the problems India needs to overcome before it can reach its full potential as an economic superpower. The growing socio-economic disparity together with the persistent corruption throughout the country, remain problems to be solved. While it was at times depressing to see young children without shoes begging in the street, it was uplifting to learn that India's leaders are embracing corporate social responsibility as a vital aspect of their organizations.
As with other organized trips that we go on here at Wharton, this trip was a lot of fun and a great chance to meet and bond with classmates. The India GIP was not just a vacation, but an opportunity to learn from the most prominent political, cultural, and business leaders in a country that is already having a major impact on the world economy. Such is the reason why the trip a unique, once-in-a-lifetime experience, and that's what we're all here for, isn't it?
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