The decision of the best B school in the country was fiercely opposed by past and current faculty members.
The decision of the best B school in the country was fiercely opposed by past and current faculty members.
The country’s top B-School, the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IM-A), finds itself in a major controversy over the management’s decision to change its historic logo, a move fiercely opposed by past and current members of the faculty.
The institute’s main governing body has decided to replace its existing iconic logo with two new logos, each aimed at a national and international audience.
The existing logo adopted in 1961 when the institute was established consists of a pattern inspired by an exquisite carved stone lattice ‘jaali’ in the 16th century Sidi Saiyyed Mosque, popularly known as Sidi Saiyyid ni Jali locally , built in 1572-73 AD in Gujarat.
The logo also includes a Sanskrit verse “Vidya viniyogadvikasa” which means development through the dissemination or application of knowledge. Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, considered the pioneer of India’s space program, had chosen the logo as the key architect of the city’s first business management school.
Recently, a letter signed by over 40 faculty members raised the issue of the logo change claiming that management had held no consultation with faculty members regarding the change.
In the letter to IIMA Board of Governors Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla, faculty members claimed the decision to change the logo would have “profound implications and long-term consequences” for the top school. of world-renowned management.
The IIMA Board of Trustees approved the proposal to replace the current logo with two new logos at a recent meeting as per the letter signed by faculty members.
In the new logos, the mosque grid print is present, however, it is less prominent. While the Sanskrit shloka is only there in the international logo.
In the letter, the members said that the current logo provides the institute’s identity. “The logo is our identity – the ‘jaali’ and the Sanskrit verse define us and our Indian philosophy. For us, it is a symbol of our Indianness, our link with “vidya”, our link with the Institute.
Former IIMA director Bakul Dholakia also criticized the decision, asking how it could have been considered when it did not come from the institute’s academic board.
According to him, this decision “defies logic and reason” and will lead to diluting the strong brand of IIMA.
