March 11th, Afternoon slot, BM /GM

XLRI Jamshedpur

XAT:- 97.13 GK:- 7.5

UG:- 7.58 (B.Tech & M.Tech, Mechanical Engg., IITKGP)

GD Topic- Globalization promotes economic group but wipes out cultures. Only 4 out of 9 present. Our GD was ended after 20 min.

PI – Three professors, same power seating arrangement, senior most Prof. Madhukar Shukla in middle, right side Dr. Supriya K D (Phd -IITKGP) and a lady on the left seat, whom I could not recognize in faculty directory.

SKD – You have almost come to your Alma matter.

Me – Yes, sir. That’s correct. (My XIIth College is near XLRI).

SKD – What course did you pursue at IIT.

Me – B.Tech in Mechanical engineering and M.Tech in Manufacturing Systems engineering. It was a dual degree course five year duration. 

MS – What did you think about the GD?

Me- It could have been better with a couple of more participants. But the lack of ideas and also a clear direction was persistent during the GD. We discussed a lot on human nature and subsequent effect of globalization on culture, but how the globalization promotes economic groups was an area that we failed to elaborate more.

MS – Give me an example of how globalization affects culture?

Me – As we discussed, the globalization is the process of exchange of world views, ideas and other aspect of culture, it paves way for cultural evolution or transformation. Some salient features are transferred from one individual to another. We can look at example of our IT workforce living in US or Europe and see there is remarkable difference in their habit of complying with public space etiquette, but here in India we fail to maintain same level of etiquette or cleanliness in public places for that matter.

MS – I think you had raised this point during GD, did you feel that this example was not given due recognition and that you had to state it again to make a point.

Me – No its not like that. It is just that it strongly relates to our culture and the recent change that is being sought to bring in Indian Culture.

SKD – Tell me the nature of job you performed at your company.

Me – Told that it was in mechanical maintenance at first then project lead for the rest of period.

MS – Your job location was?

Me – Gujarat and Mumbai respectively.

SKD – Tell me the name of some kind of breaks that automobile use?

Me – Disc and Drum brakes, the only two that I could come up with. Explained Disc brakes origin and initial use and subsequent adoption in bikes and luxury cars.

I was glad he did not ask me the mechanics of it.

SKD – Can you tell me the name of one company that makes any of these kinds of brake?

Me – Sorry, I cannot recollect.

LP – Can you state one instance where you had an argument with?

Me – I fought fiercely with a team of logistics people and the matter was escalated to project site leadership. It took some streamlining in the logistics process and that had actually made everyone’s’ life much easier.

LP – Can you give me an example wherein you would not like to hire an Indian national?

Me – (Repeating the question), do you want me to answer this?

LP – Yes I do.

Me – Can you give me some pointer as in which area of expertise?

LP – No, That’s what I am asking you.

Me – Ok, Let just say that work which demands strict professional conduct from individuals is an area where we lack serious attitude.

LP – I am asking for one particular example.

Me – sorry sir I cannot think of a specific area.

SKD – You know recently there was this ban from government on some kind of broadcasting … was the ban justified?

Me – No, Sir. The ban was not the right reaction from the government. First of all, it is in the human nature to do the very thing we are asked not to do; so the ban prompted us to watch, share and discuss vigorously. If GoI thought that broadcasting ban would restrict the citizens in this digital era, then they were clearly wrong. Other thing is that GoI has a control in India, but what about other countries? Other countries can broadcast the same at will, maligning image of India as feared by government.

MS – But, you know the instance where an Indian student was denied the opportunity for studying, citing the reason that an Indian male would not respect women colleagues present in his group.

Me – Yes, sir. That is very unfortunate and was based on misguided impression that was created by ignorance of the real issue.

MS – But these things are happening in India, right? That’s the reason why they are having such impression of Indian people as a whole.

Me – Quite right, Sir. But you remember the recent incident in Australia where Indian woman was followed and stabbed. Situation is bad everywhere, it is just that we got the more negative publicity, subsequent to documentary broadcasting ban.

SKD – Yeah but there would be no documentary on the woman that was stabbed, but the real issue that we are facing now is of bad publicity. How do you think that government should have acted?

Me – Firstly, the knee jerk reaction of banning the broadcasting could have been avoided, and collective public demonstrations the kind of which are organized during election campaigning….or candle light march …

MS – Candle light march had already been done sometime after the incident. This would not solve the negativity that has recently spread all over?

Me – Let me finish this, suppose we organize a candle light march at India gate, publicly condemning the statements of accused and show our solidarity with strength, against the people who harbor such mentality. Let the world know that we do not conform to that mentality and certainly not approve of anyone with such backwardness in thought. People who are gripped with such crude mentality would come to know that they are against a mighty majority that does not approve of their concept of society; and that would send a strong signal to everyone that we are not some intellectually backward mass.

MS – Ok, Thank you.

Everyone nodded, greeted.

Again a short and sweet XLRI interview, I could not make much from their attitude and the kind of question that was asked. it was surprising that not a single MBA rhetoric question was asked. So its best to be prepared that you will be asked anything and even the most unexpected questions.

Also carry a note pad to the GD, it helps in giving a psychological boost that you are prepared and for the practical purpose that you can note down anything which you might want to counter later on.

Final Verdict – Not converted.  ( I guess, I was right in questioning the short and sweet part originally, as both XL interviews turned out to be dud. If I would have known it during the second time, I would have stormed out of interview.)