I was lucky to be there in Welingkar Institute's mailing list by chance and hence got an invitation to a free post-budget analysis session on 13th July, 2009 meant for MBA aspirants. The clause of "MBA aspirants" was itself so very vulnerable that "MS aspirants" like me relish exploiting it. Jokes apart, I was always keen on learning Economics and moreover it's practical side since I was a kid but Science and Technology gave me less exposure to it. Sorry, blame it on Mumbai University !!!
Some busy schedules on the session day meant that I had to miss it but I was second-time lucky as it turned out to be when I was enlightened that there is a repeat of the session on 15th July, 2009. I had to seize this opportunity and can't afford to miss this one. And I did seize it. The session was scheduled at 5:30 PM at the colleges' auditorium which was can easily house atleast 800 people. The auditorium has been finely constructed with perfect acoustics and the center-stage bearing the pulpit with MIC and a large wide screen behind it for presentations. The auditorium has a panoramic view from all the possible angles in the auditorium which makes it truly worth appreciating since a majority of institutions to which I've been(including mine) do have some form of obstruction which adds to viewers woes. What was really good to see is that the auditorium had two large LCD's fitted to the left and right of the center stage for viewers who cannot get a view of the extreme side of the center stage.
The post-budget analysis session which saw the budget being cut down deep into it's skin and was also criticized due to it's lack of considerations on certain critical issues. Also some of the critical issues which had it's mention in the budget were not explicitly discussed and how they are going to be implemented. Some of the clauses which were found to be flawed were Corporate Tax, Wealth Tax, Defense expenditure, predicted monsoons and it's impact on the next year etc.
Leaving everything apart, the end of the session seems to have something special for me. Truth be told, my mental composition was developing slowly to pop up this question - the result of the session speakers making us realize that the budget was a mediocre one and had nothing to offer for people who expect a lot from it. So when the question-answer time came I was shameless and bold enough to ask this question. It was as follows:
Some busy schedules on the session day meant that I had to miss it but I was second-time lucky as it turned out to be when I was enlightened that there is a repeat of the session on 15th July, 2009. I had to seize this opportunity and can't afford to miss this one. And I did seize it. The session was scheduled at 5:30 PM at the colleges' auditorium which was can easily house atleast 800 people. The auditorium has been finely constructed with perfect acoustics and the center-stage bearing the pulpit with MIC and a large wide screen behind it for presentations. The auditorium has a panoramic view from all the possible angles in the auditorium which makes it truly worth appreciating since a majority of institutions to which I've been(including mine) do have some form of obstruction which adds to viewers woes. What was really good to see is that the auditorium had two large LCD's fitted to the left and right of the center stage for viewers who cannot get a view of the extreme side of the center stage.
The post-budget analysis session which saw the budget being cut down deep into it's skin and was also criticized due to it's lack of considerations on certain critical issues. Also some of the critical issues which had it's mention in the budget were not explicitly discussed and how they are going to be implemented. Some of the clauses which were found to be flawed were Corporate Tax, Wealth Tax, Defense expenditure, predicted monsoons and it's impact on the next year etc.
Leaving everything apart, the end of the session seems to have something special for me. Truth be told, my mental composition was developing slowly to pop up this question - the result of the session speakers making us realize that the budget was a mediocre one and had nothing to offer for people who expect a lot from it. So when the question-answer time came I was shameless and bold enough to ask this question. It was as follows:
"Given that the public's sentiment towards the budget has always been hostile, would a bunch of graduates from B-Schools like Harvard or IIM make a better budget ?"
The crowd was taken aback by a BOUNCER and it saw some mixed reactions from shock, surprise to an applause. Another fellow student sitting besides me expressed his displeasure at this question but I made it clear to him that there are certain things which I never wanted to keep in my stomach & mind and take back home. Coming back, the question was a bold and an extra-ordinary one and the answer had to live upto expectations. And nobody could fend this BOUNCER better than Miss Divya Vasantharajan who seems to be 2-3 years elder then me and was an experienced campaigner. Her academic and personal achievements runs into two pages. Here's the reply to my BOUNCER:
"Who do you think makes the budget ? Students like you who make to B-Schools like Harvard and IIM. And one day they rise to these positions to make the budget. So they are just one of us."
The message was delivered and straight to my mind and heart. It was an anticipated and obvious answer to the most unanticipated question but she was one of the very few to make me understand this. The answer opened my eyes to many other unravelled questions of the similar stature. R.I.P. to all of them.
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