On a nippy Sunday morning over 600 students from over 20 different schools in Ahmedabad spent their day IIM Ahmedabad. Reason? It was an Open Day at the B-school, and the institute was hoping to bond with the local community, and who better than an audience comprising bright young school children. The school goers were keen to know how things work inside the institution.The event was steered by students and faculty of IIM-A to give the students a peek into life at IIM-A and inspire them through sharing experiences.

The Sunday became more exciting when Anil Gupta, an IIM-A professor, invited students to ideate and become thinkers. He urged the children to come up with an innovative idea that would help make the community better, and the students were given some time to put their ideas on paper. The three best entries received an autographed copy of Ignited Minds by A. P. J. Abdul Kalam. The best entries received a letter of invitation from the National Innovation Foundation to attend a session by Kalam.

A panel discussion followed, which included current students of IIM-A throwing light on their lives in the B-school, the academic rigour and the extra-curricular activities. Some of the hard hitting questions the audience put forward must have left at least some of the B-schoolers thinking. One such question was that if IIMA is the best place for ideas, then why does everyone seem to be targeting placements only and not enough entrepreneurs are produced by the Institute?

To which, G. Ramachandran an IIM-A student who has dabbled in entrepreneurship replied that it was a matter of choice. Someone might want to head their own business or lead an existing business that is close to their hearts.

The school children had more exiting activities planned for them, such as a visit by Ashish Nanda, IIM-A director, who joined them for a photo-session at the famous Harvard Steps and later took them on a campus walk.

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