Sop for Fpm at Iim Ahmedabad

In economics they say self-interest is a good thing. My self-interest stems from this famous thought by Benjamin Franklin-

"If you would not be forgotten, as soon as you are dead and rotten, either write something worth the reading, or do something worth the writing"

Through research and subsequent publishing, I endeavor to leave behind a set of theories and concepts that are worth reading and implementing when I am indeed, long gone.

The general conditions existing in the society which are byproducts of banes like inequality, illiteracy, poverty, etc have always bothered me. These anathemas have limited the growth of our country, deprived people of happiness and led to suffering, depravity, discontentment and intolerance. As an aspiring academician and researcher, I want to delve deep into the root causes of these ills and propound theories which can lead to corrective actions. In retrospect, I have always been interested in research. Be it trying to get to the depth of an article by searching for its antecedents in the library of the University my father worked in or be it preparing for the general quizzes I frequently took part in. The part where I played the quiz master was especially filled with lot of reading and research on diverse material to come up with content that resulted in interesting, workable questions. Even when I started with my studies in engineering, it was my endeavor to publish research papers, a bid in which I finally succeeded one year after my graduation. I also remember the immense gratification I felt when I successfully completed the theses of my final year project and was highly appreciated for it. Over the last year or so, I have also conceptualized and scripted a couple of business ideas for submission in B-plan competitions. This too involved some extent of research to back the claims my ideas had. Taking cues from all this and sundry, I am confident that my professional gratification lies in the field of academia and research.

The decision to pursue FPM from IIM Ahmedabad is rooted in the fact that IIM Ahmedabad is a pioneer and a trendsetter in the field of management education in India. I aspire to be part of an Institute that constantly changes the existing status quo by evolving its ways and treads a new path for others to follow. In the longer run, I aim to be one in the eminent faculty list of IIM Ahmedabad itself and participate in its further progress by taking up seminal and relevant research work.

Of all the options I have ever evaluated in my life which would pave a suitable path to fulfill my aspirations, the doctoral program is the most pertinent. The curriculum with its myriad lineaments both in form and content involves dissemination of management concepts along with courses on research methodologies in the initial two years, following which the FPM takes the participants into their first few

steps in research. This very versatility of the course that equips its participants with requisite analytical tools has firmed my resolve of pursuing doctoral studies at IIM Ahmedabad. The academic rigor which paves the way for original and sometimes trendsetting work is the gratification I seek. In addition, FPM would provide me with multiple opportunities to interact with and learn from the thought leaders in their respective fields. The sheer diversity of the FPM participants would make way for immense interpersonal and interdepartmental learning among us (participants), which would in turn steer towards collaborations and culminate in meaningful and purposeful research output.

The area in which I seek to specialize is Economics. Economics, like Engineering, is a study of constrained optimization. With its inherent logic it provides analytical and mathematical tools, in equal measure, to study and tackle problems of various traits affecting the macrocosm, some of which I have mentioned earlier. In this direction, I am particularly keen to pursue my study and research in Welfare and Development Economics as they mainly address - economic well-being and social welfare of a society, and development process in underdeveloped countries by focusing on improving productivity for mass of population by the way of economic growth and structural changes in healthcare, education, sanitation, infrastructure et al. As an Instrumentation and Control engineer, I have observed some parallels between I & C and Economics. Instrumentation entails measurement of physical quantities (Pressure, Level, Temperature etc) to understand the current state of a system and thus apply corrective control action, if required, to bring about stability. Similarly, Economics too involves quantification of aspects of economic activity and thus improve economic policymaking. The end objective here is economic progress and enhancement of well-being. Hence, I envisage a scope for applying control theories in the context of Economics and Economic measurement.

As far as my academic preparation in Economics goes, it is worth a mention that my optional subject in classes 11th and 12th was Economics.