The students of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bangalore were mentored by more than just management gurus on Thursday.
Fashionistas Prasad Bidappa and Shibani Kashyap spoke about the ‘Role of passion in overcoming obstacles’.
Bidappa said nearly 20 years ago, India was not the right place to embark on a successful career, but not anymore.
“Although the perception has changed, especially with the middle-class creating a new India, it is sad that the country has not been able to produce a designer of an international standard,” he explained.
The problem with Indians is that we don’t’ believe in ourselves, he said.
“Although in the last 15 years, fashion designing is being looked at as an education choice, when are we going to find the passion to get our own designer?” he questioned.
Explaining to the students, Bidappa cautioned them. “Remember that a large part of India will be left behind as the creamy layers forge ahead,” he said.
“Each of you must educate at least one deserving child in any subject of their choice,” he said.
Kashyap, on the other hand, opined that it is quite tough to be a career-oriented woman in show business.
“Being a woman itself is the biggest challenge in the entertainment industry. Along with it, performing arts is not considered as a bona-fide profession. The journey is on, but it’s a struggle,” she said.
“It is a male-dominated industry and being in it is much like being a woman astronaut or a pilot,” she added.
The conclave was a curtainraiser to the Unmaad, the annual fest of IIM-B, which will be held from January 27 to January 29.
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