The first Dr. M L Shrikant Memorial Lecture

January 23, 2017

On Monday, January 23, 2017, SPJIMR hosted the first Dr. M L Shrikant Memorial Lecture, marking the 81st birth anniversary of the former Dean who led the Institute for three decades and saw it rise to become of one of the leading schools of management in India.

The lecture marked the beginning of what will be an annual event through which SPJIMR will build on ideas of management and spirituality – two areas which Dr. Shrikant actively engaged with in his time. The first lecture was delivered by Dr. Sudarshan Iyengar, Distinguished Chair Professor in Gandhian Philosophy at IIT Bombay and former Vice-Chancellor of Gujarat Vidyapith, the university founded by Mahatma Gandhi in 1920.

Dr. Iyengar spoke on ‘Spirituality and Ethics in Business: Gandhi’s Thought Perspective.’

In a 45-minute lecture, he said. “In management education unless the thesis is integrated with the main curricula, teaching spirituality as a standalone subject would push the learners to develop it as instrumental rationality. Bringing in Gandhiji and his thought perspective also faces a similar threat. However, if management education incorporates Gandhi’s thought perspective for conducting business, it has potential to build a non-violent and harmonious society.”

Prof. A. B. Kulkarni, one of the senior-most faculty members at SPJIMR, began the evening by speaking of M L Shrikant and his contribution to management education and spirituality in management. He introduced Dr. Iyengar who has to his credit several research papers and books on Gandhian philosophy.

Faculty, staff, students and Dr. Shrikant’s family members were among the audience who gathered at the SPJIMR auditorium for the lecture, which was followed by high tea.

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