As the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIMA) welcomes the batch of PGP 2017 students, Mirror finds that the 2017-19 batch is a diverse group of students. The premier-B-school has managed to have the most varied batch with 32% non-engineer students and 28% female students. We profile a few of the 395 students in the batch from pockets across the country.

RASHMI TELTUMBDE 25, BBA

THE 25-YEAR-OLD is a pro tennis player who picked up her penchant for the game by casually observing people who played the game. Once ranked among the top 1,000 players in the world, she participated in the US Open and Australian Open in 2009. However, despite being ranked among the best, she decided to pursue BBA from Texas Tech University in the US and later went on to work in a Kolkatabased firm. Speaking to Mirror, she said, “Best tennis training comes at a high price. In India, the sponsorships are tough to come by, which is why I decided not to make it my career. However, as a tennis player, I got the opportunity to be in the same space as Roger Federer. It was memorable.” After her stint at IIMA, Teltumbde wants to take up a job. However, her goal is to start a sports management company that provides a platform for the best talents in the country.

CS PRAKHYAT 21, B TECH

THIS YOUNG student aspires to make it to Hollywood in future. Filmmaking - that he learnt in first year of college has turned out to be his passion. But in a bid to make a film and a director, management skills are required and hence his choice to study management. “I want to join a film institute to get formal training in filmmaking. But what if career in filmmaking does not work? Degree from IIMA is a back-up career plan,” he said. He has made 10 shorts films, one of the most popular being Mechanical Freshie which has got 6.5 lakh views so far. He has participated in 17 film festivals across the world.

APARAJITA SHARMA 24, MASTER IN ECONOMICS AND PUBLIC POLICY

SHARMA WHO did her undergraduate course in journalism and film communications is passionate about working in social sector. As part of her course, she has worked closely with MP and been part of policy making. Her interest is in bridging the gap between the sectors in terms of policy making is what brought her to IIMA. “I feel, there is policy lacuna in our country. I am passionate about working on social issues and hands on approach with policy. I feel, management degree will help me in terms of drawing between policy and management. They cannot be separated and so if there is something that bridges the gap and institutionalises an organisation that works towards benefitting governance system in India, it will help. This is where my interest lies,” she said.

AKANKSHA CHOUDHARY 20, BA ECONOMICS

SHE IS already a winner of a beauty pageant and preparing to represent India in an international beauty pageant in September this year. But her achievement and fame in the glamour world has not changed her mind to achieve her academic goal. So, was the decision to cut from the glamour world difficult? “No, it wasn’t really difficult for me because my academic goal was set. Winning Miss India Elite and representing India in an international pageant has prepared me for such a prestigious B-school. I am doing all these while I am at IIMA as I want to have career in management. I see myself as one of the best consultants,” she said. She said her brief presence at the institute has already started challenging her limitations, pushing her out of boundaries, teaching new skills. “But modelling and beauty competitions are like extra-curricular activities and I would continue doing it,” she said.

GIRISH BAJ 22, B TECH

THIS STUDENT of engineering got an opportunity to work on a college project to make a student’s satellite, Swayam, with team of ISRO. Later he joined a company in Pune and even cracked CAT with high score that helped him make it to IIMA. Baj has medical condition- albinism. His challenges are many but he has ensured that he overcame them to achieve his dream of being at India’s most prestigious B-school. “IIMA gives you a lot of opportunity. And I am hoping to get best of the knowledge from this place,” he said.

ANCHAL TAATYA 29, B TECH

AFTER GRADUATION from NIT, Karnataka, Taatya worked with an NGO working with underprivileged kids. He then switched to launch a start-up, took a job, started his family business and this is where he decided to put his intuitive business skills to rest by having a degree in management. And even as he has enrolled in PGP, he is already a CEO of a start-up Urban Thela based in Delhi. “I have worked on different projects and business on intuitive notes. I am at IIMA to strengthen my academic base in management. Because I want to sustain in business,” he said.