Mangalore: M V Kamath Conferred Outstanding Manager Award

by Divvy Kant Upadhyay - Daijiworld Media Network Mangalore
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje

 
Mangalore, Dec 10: Chairman of Prasar Bharati Corporation of the Govt of India and Honorary Founding Director of the Manipal Institute of Communications, Dr Madhav Vittal Kamath was felicitated with the Outstanding Manager Award-2007 by the Mangalore Management Association (MMA) at the SDM College of Business Management Campus in the city.
 
Displaying his 'humility' and 'sense of humour' while accepting the award, Chairman of Prasar Bharati, Dr Madhav Vittal Kamath, told the gathering "I do not believe I am a professional manager in any sense, I am just a hack journalist."

Recollecting his days in Bombay in early 40s, Dr MV Kamath informed the gathering that, though he took up a pharmacist's job after graduating in Chemistry, he had a deep desire for becoming a doctor. "In fact till the age of 34, I saved every penny I earned, only to become a doctor"

Emotionally remembering his foray into the world of Journalism, as a correspondent for the Free Press Journal, the Press Trust of India and later in the Illustrated Weekly and Times of India, Dr MV Kamath believes that "life is predestined and guided by some great force which actually runs our lives".
 
Dr MV Kamath expressed his immense happiness by recollecting memories of Late Shri K Vishwanath Kamath who was his classmate way back in 1939 and in whose honour the award which he received was instituted. He also praised the achievements of Shri KV Kamath's son, Mr Vaman Kamath, MD and chief of ICICI Bank.
 
The citation along with the award conferred to Dr MV Kamath by the Mangalore Management Association read that 'the honour bestowed to Dr MV Kamath acknowledges his sterling contribution to the field of journalism, education and literature'
 
Chairman of Karnataka Bank, Shri Ananthakrishna while felicitating Dr MV Kamath addressed him as a great visionary who was still young at the age of 86. He highlighted Dr MV Kamath's unique distinction of having written the history of five famous banks of India.
 

Mangalore University Vice Chancellor, Prof Kveriappa hailed Dr MV Kamath as an "illustrious son of the Coastal belt" of this region. Terming him an "unassuming and unpretentious" leader of sorts, Prof Kaveriappa further described Dr MV Kamath as "a phenomenon who has set benchmarks in Indian journalism"
 
Prof Kaveriappa also highlighted the importance and relevance of print media over other forms of present day electronic media. He made a proud mention of both Dr MV Kamath and Shri Ananthakrishna being the alumnus of Govt College Mangalore, which is now under the Mangalore University. Coincidently earlier this year, Dr MV Kamath was awarded an Honorary doctorate by the University.
 
Dr MV Kamath was appointed the chairman of Prasar Bharti Corporation by the President of India for a six year term in 2003. He has also been honoured with the Padma Bhushan. As a journalist he has met and interacted with the likes of Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, American Presidents like Nixon, Carter, the entire Nehru-gandhi dynasty from pandit Nehru till date, JRD Tata and many other leaders and people of national and international fame.
 
Earlier recipients of the outstanding manager award include Dr Ramdas Pai, Dharmaadhikari Dr Veerendra Hedge, N Vinay Hegde, Mohan Alwa among others. 
 
Shekhar Poojary , Dr Devaraj K and U Rama Rao from the MMA were present at the function.
 

Karnataka Bank Chairman , Shri Ananthakrishna took a dig at print journalism saying that the need of the hour is stop the " negative perspective" and kind of targeted "media activism" which changes the life of people today. He expressed his anguish at the "lack of constructivism" in "today's newspapers" in which only "criminal activities like murder, kidnapping and terrorism" are highlighted.

MV Kamath's favourite Managers.

• Dr MV Kamath mesmerized the gathering of various management heads, by giving them his viewpoint on 'Management' being "the art to be able to influence large sections of society". He hailed Lord Krishna and Bheeshma as excellent managers of human relations. He highlighted the Chanakya's style of management which emcompassed both positive and negative attitude in maneuvering people's minds.
• He compared the "visible managers such as CEOs and MDs" to the "invisible managers like Mahatma Gandhi and many other philosophers and thinkers whose management of people and socities can be 'felt' through ages."
• Giving an example of 'Man' managers, he hailed the efforts of Sardar Vallabhai Patel and VP Menon in being succesfull by making many 'kings and princes' accede to formation of India as a nation. He praised the resilient "caliber and efforts of Subhash Chandra Bose in forming the Indian National Army and giving independent India the brand of 'Jai Hind'."
• Speaking of the common man, he hailed the efforts of a common typical housewife whose management skills run the majority of houses in the country.
• Speaking of business sector, he said "even though we need Ambanis and Narayan Murthys, at the same time we need to take care of millions of small roadside shopkeepers as it is they who keep the economy running in India"