Dear all,
UKC's current batch of interns have emailed me (as head of Coms at Apeejay )
on joining an internship with some of our group companies.
The emails proposng their candidature were brilliantly neat, clean and
forceful enough for them to be considered amongst the umpteen requests.
Two of them are currently under training as well in two of our companies as
well. Sometimes fatigue gets to us and sometimes fatigue gets to them as
well.
To each his own I guess, but my learning of 30 plus years is - Opt out of
the rat race, turn into a horse and choose and run only at the best Derbys (
used as a metaphor)...
regards
renu
On Sat, Nov 28, 2009 at 10:33 PM, Ujjwal Kumar Chowdhury <
ukc64@rediffmail. com> wrote:
>
>
> There is an interesting debate going on in this group about irresponsible
> behaviour of students while interacting with seniors in the industry on
> professional issues like internships, placements, projects, assignments,
> etc.
>
> Being the Director for Symbiosis Institute of Media & Communication, in two
> terms, over seven years in total by now, and having met with more than a
> thousand media students over these years, I felt like sharing a few things.
> This is also because I do have a fair share of interacting with a large
> number of young media trainees as we are now the largest media school with
> 756 PG and UG batches in three campuses across two cities, and PRpoint in an
> online voting a couple of years earlier voted SIMC as the best place for PR
> education, apart from PRCI honoring us with Leadership in PR education in
> early 2009.
>
> I do appreciate that with the proliferation of technology and information
> boom, change of concepts of inter-generational values and increasing rise of
> flat organizations even in educational institutes, etc, there has been an
> overall "dumbing down" of respect for the elders and respect towards
> experience. This is deplorable, not because the elders are not being given
> "their due", but because the youngsters do miss out getting "their due" out
> of the age and experience of the seniors. Beyond all machines and
> technologies, speed and et al, people with experience and a body of work
> will always stand out. This the new generation needs to understand, more in
> their own interests.
>
> I also know how dozens of my past students have come back and told me
> (almost taught me) things which they have just known in one month internship
> as 'Truths of the Industry', things which I have been knowing for years
> through my own exposure in the industry and through the senior batches and
> friends in the industry!
>
> In a crudely competitive world, where rat race is the only race and
> mercenary success is the only virtue, and you have an answer for anything
> and everything through the new god, Google, a rising generation tends to
> believe in the value of the utilitarian moment than that of the diverse
> lifetime, and courtesies, decency, mutual respect, honest interactions are
> becoming a rarity.
>
> The cases in point mentioned by two respected senior PR professionals are
> just testimony to this recklessness of some of the youth of this generation.
>
> Having said this, in society or industry, among seniors or youngsters, in
> communication or in politics or academics or business, there are honest
> souls, straight talkers, and disguised rogues, blatant hypocrites, and
> relationships- exploiters of all kinds. So, to put the entire debate as a
> seniors versus juniors, or just on the irresponsibility of the 'students',
> will be highly misplaced.
>
> I have been 'taught' to start using the internet by a student and 'taught'
> to use social media (yet learning) by another, both with a gap of ten years
> between them, and neither has exploited the relations with me. I have seen
> the 'junoon' or commitment of scores of these 'students' across ten batches
> now in organizing media meets, green rallies, cultural programs, social
> campaigns and shooting films on issues of the marginalised people working
> even sixteen hours a day for days together, with smiles on their faces. I
> have seen new ideas, new relationships, new hopes emanating from the work of
> such youngsters. How they have worked for the environment, against
> terrorism, for communal harmony, and against discrimination. I have seen the
> son/daughter of a multi millionnaire working for days on in quake ravaged
> Gujarat or in the interiors of Dantewada in Chhattisgarh.
>
> Most recently, only four days ago, I have lost one of my best students, 19
> year old Shreyas Rajagopalan, to cancer. A boy who was taking interviews and
> writing for a magazine and portal, I have introduced him to, even 48 hours
> before he passed away, after 14 rounds of heavy chemotherapy. He was also
> writing a diary-book on Combatting Cancer, and his last mail around a week
> before death to me was, "If I survive, the day I return to college will make
> the last line of the book. And, if I die, the last sentence I want to write
> is that my life was well lived, best used, and very blessed!"
>
> Many of us in 40s to 70s will not have a quarter of the courage of this
> boy! I am flying to Dubai to honour him posthumously on December 14 with
> Young Communicator Award at the India Club there, in a major
> media-communication meet of UAE.
>
> Do not misunderstand me here. This is too recent and hence I am writing
> this.
>
> Many many of us in our 40s to 70s have been ideologically bankrupt,
> environmentally unsustainable, have sucked up to many working our way up,
> have ignored ageing parents and dependent siblings, have misused our
> positions of power or always dreamt to do so when we did not have one, and
> have cared a hoot for others in a more discriminatory society during our
> 20s.
>
> In the same way, some, at times many, of today's generation, are taking
> their economic freedom, social liberties, technological prowess for granted,
> and forgetting the fact that this moment is the result of many in the past
> and precursor to many in the future. That wherever you are, there are
> millions ahead of you and millions after you. That however hard you run in a
> rat race, you remain a poor rat ever. That the disrespect you do to elders
> will come back to you sooner than you expect. That the ego on your 'talent'
> that you have is as ephemeral as the so-called talent. That the achievement
> you pride in is due to collective efforts of many you know or may not even
> know about.
>
> Hence, I will treat every case individually, I will continue to have an
> immense faith on the youth, more than myself, and will surely hope that the
> generation Y creates a much better world than generation ME.
>
> Sorry if I have offended anyone, young and the young at heart.
>
> Regards
> UKC
> Pune
>
>
>
> Prof Ujjwal K Chowdhury
> Dean, Symbiosis International University
> Director, Symbiosis Institute of Media & Communication, Symbiosis Campus
> Viman Nagar, Nagar Road, Pune: 14.
> Cell: 0-93733-11239.
>
> Delhi:
> E/210 (Pocket E), Mayur Vihar Phase II,
> New Delhi: 91.
>
> Pune:
> 40, B/2, Vrindavan Park, Near Mahatma Society
> Kothrud, Pune: 29.
>
> Honorary Chairman, ICONS Media & I-Square (Delhi, Kolkata)
> Former Media Advisor, Govt of India (Textiles) and The Nippon Foundation
>
>
> On Fri, 27 Nov 2009 13:05:13 +0530 wrote
> >
>
> surkund's revelation is shocking.
> when did this incident occur.
> I used to work in PTI, but i left in 1998.
> must have been after that.
>
> one things is very clear from all the mails on the subject
> a) today's youth/students lack seriousness
> b) they lack maturity to handle things which they dont realise is serious
> and can affet their future
> c) parents need to counsel such children before sending them into the
> organised world of business
> d) parents dont have time, because they are all in debt traps, thanks to
> credit cards, home loans, etc recession etc and they are struggling to make
> the home survive against all odds. they are afraid to slpeak to children
> about this reality
> e)* no sudent worth the salt has the right to cause monetary loss to
> anyone who is doing things for their welfoare (surkund's example -- i really
> feel sorry, money does not grow trees - i learnt this bitterly during the
> period of recession when i was unemplkoyed for seven months and didn't have
> the money to buy vegetables and milk). *
> **
> *surkund be careful with your money next time.*
> **
> *ashok *
> On 11/26/09, Shivshankar Surkund <
snsurkund@yahoo. com<
http://prism/ writemail? mode=mail_ to_individual&email=snsurkund@ yahoo.com&output=web&els=27894a0351f6f25 2f58617f944bdd0a 2>>
> wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> Hi there,
>>
>> I fully endorse the views expressed by Shri Narendra. Being a visiting
>> faculty for over a decade, my experience is also very similar.
>>
>> Once I decided(of myown) to give some exposure to students and arrange a
>> visit to office of PTI. Over 20 gave names. No contribution was expected
>> from them. I had spent my money.
>> On the fixed day, only 11 turned up resulting in wastasge of snacks
>> ordered. Those who did not attend, had my phone number. Never thought it fit
>> to contact. They were not even sorry
>> and were casual, when met next.
>>
>> Many students attending evening courses, attend day college. Result, they
>> do not give importance to attendance. Mug from some books and answer
>> wrongly. Then argue that they have written what is there in the book,
>> without realising the answer give is for the wrong question.
>>
>> Worst is, during lectures, make a group and chit chat disturbing others. I
>> had to walk out of the class twice.
>>
>> I take pains to collect extract from different books and provide brief
>> notes. Hardly any one reads. Not able to recall at least couple of advts.
>> from the morning paper or hoardings located from a location, when they pass
>> every day.
>>
>> well, the list never ends. Hardly 5 to 10% of the astudents are serious
>> about the studies.
>>
>> s.n.surkund
>> >
>> >--- On *Wed, 11/25/09, Narendran A <
naren_vna@yahoo. com<
http://prism/ writemail? mode=mail_ to_individual&email=naren_ vna@yahoo. com&output=web&els=27894a0351f6f25 2f58617f944bdd0a 2>
>> >* wrote:
>> >
>>
>>
>> >From: Narendran A <
naren_vna@yahoo. com<
http://prism/ writemail? mode=mail_ to_individual&email=naren_ vna@yahoo. com&output=web&els=27894a0351f6f25 2f58617f944bdd0a 2>
>> >
>> >Subject: [prpoint] Attitude of students - Need for good Business
>> Communication skills
>> >To: "Prime Point" <
prpoint@yahoogroups .com<
http://prism/ writemail? mode=mail_ to_individual&email=prpoint@ yahoogroups. com&output=web&els=27894a0351f6f25 2f58617f944bdd0a 2>>,
>> "Image Management" <
image_management@ yahoogroups. com<
http://prism/ writemail? mode=mail_ to_individual&email=image_ management@ yahoogroups. com&output=web&els=27894a0351f6f25 2f58617f944bdd0a 2>
>> >
>> >Date: Wednesday, November 25, 2009, 4:34 AM
>>
>> >
>> >
>>
>> Dear Friends
>> >
>> >Recently we had a dicussion in the group about attitude of students
>> passing out of premier colleges. I wish to highlight an email communication
>> between a student and PR executive
>> >
>> >The incident:
>> >
>> >A Communication student from a well known Chennai college called our
>> Moderator Mr K. Srinivasan over phone ten days back and wanted a PR
>> internship. Mr Srinivasan asked her to send her profile to his e mail id.
>> The student sent her profile as attachment without any request for
>> internship or covering mail.
>> >
>> >Though, her mail had only her profile as attachment, Mr Srinivasan
>> forwarded her profile to me and to Sakthi with a request to help her to get
>> an internship. He also endorsed a copy to her with a request to contact both
>> of us over mobile with more details.
>> >
>> >Since, she did not contact either of us for a week, Sakthi sent a mail to
>> the student. I reproduce below Sakthi's mail and her response. I have
>> suppressed the name of the student and the college.
>> >
>> >Sakthi's mail to the student:
>> >
>> >Dear XXXXXXXX,
>> >
>> >This is further to the email sent by Mr. Srinivasan regarding your
>> internship. Have you got any internship or still looking out? pls let me
>> know.
>> >
>> >Regards,
>> >Sakthi Prasanna.
>> >
>> >The response by the student:
>> >
>> >"I havent got a conformation yet. I am waiting for it. I have applied in
>> XXXXXXX & XXXXX. I am also interested in PR. If i can join your company I
>> would like to know my work profile or what will be my work contribution and
>> other details. My contact no is 9xxxx xxxxx."
>> >
>> >(The student's mail did not even contain customary words like dear so and
>> so or hi or even regards, as it was official and for the first time. The
>> response also lack politness, when she seeks an internship. She does not
>> even request an internship. It looks as though, she is going to honour the
>> Agency by joining there as intern. Further She has provided her contact
>> number probably expecting Sakthi to contact her and explain the job
>> profile.)
>> >
>> >Though Mr Srinivasan had asked her to contact us over mobile, she did not
>> contact for a week. Atleast on receipt of Sakthi's mail, she should have
>> contacted him over phone for guidance.
>> >
>> >Nowadays, many of the mails received from the young students lack
>> humility and politeness. I am sharing this communication with all, so that
>> young students should learn to write good letters/mails. They should develop
>> good communication skills when they write formally.
>> >
>> >Even the educational institutions should devote some classes to teach
>> 'Business communication skills'.
>> >
>> >Request members to share their views.
>> >
>> >Best regards
>> >Narren
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>> >
>>
>>
> >
>
>
>
> <
http://sigads. rediff.com/ RealMedia/ ads/click_ nx.ads/www. rediffmail. com/signaturelin e.htm@Middle?>
>
>
>
--
Best Regards
Renu Kakkar
............ ......... ...
I am the change . Visit
http://isr.apeejayg roup.com to see how I live my
Individual Social Responsibility
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