Ek class zara hatke: Experiential learning in the PGPGM programme at SPJIMR

As a student of the Post Graduate Programme in General Management (PGPGM) at SPJIMR, classroom learning often goes far beyond traditional lectures. Ek Class Zara Hatke was one such experiential learning session that reflected the PGPGM programme’s emphasis on reflection, empathy, and learning through experience rather than theory alone.

Did you know that you could click photographs without using visual senses i.e. the eyes?! Sounds counter-intuitive, right? I thought the same when I first heard it. However, what followed next put me at a loss for words…

We were introduced to the world of sensory photography by Partho Bhowmick, the man who leads a movement called Blind With Camera, an initiative he founded in 2006, where he teaches photography to the visually impaired in India. (I highly recommend anyone reading this article to visit their website and read about the extraordinary work that Partho is doing at Blind with Camera)

During the session, we were given a chance to put ourselves in the shoes of these visually impaired students by participating in a blindfold photo workshop.

In this workshop, Partho asked to put on blindfolds and click 3–5 photos in about 20–30 mins by leveraging our non-visual senses viz.:

1. Touch
2. Sound
3. Smell
4. Feel → Warmth of Light (sunlight)…

At first, I struggled to make sense of my surroundings and barely managed to manoeuvre myself in an otherwise ‘open space’. Eventually, after some help from my friends, I sort of settled in.

A few minutes into the blindfold, I felt my other senses had enhanced. I was more aware and mindful of my surroundings. As a result of which, I managed to click the following pictures:

During the final few minutes of the exercise, I put my phone (camera) away and I tried to soak in the experience which was followed by a bit of self-talk, where I tried to imagine the plight of people who were born blind; those who were partially sighted; those who were late blind (lost sight due to some medical condition or an accident) … how daunting everyday things must be for them, I imagined?!

I felt humbled.

This blind photography workshop was an immense and profound experience that truly put things into perspective for me — The very luxuries we overlook, the comforts we assume eternal, are the desperate dreams of those who would give anything to have them…

As an aspiring leader who wishes to create a positive and sustainable societal impact, I will carry this experience close to my heart.

Experiences like Ek Class Zara Hatke reflect the PGPGM programme’s commitment to developing reflective, responsible, and well-rounded general managers. Through experiential learning, PGPGM at SPJIMR ensures that leadership development begins in the classroom itself.

And this weekend’s sessions were the epitome of just that…

This blog was originally published here:
https://medium.com/@gaureshkhanolkar/ek-class-jara-hatke-0f7d074046ce