Beaching and Teaching at Visakhapatnam

I was back at the GITAM University campus, Visakhapatnam between 13th and 17th December. It was pleasant to visit their splendid campus again. This is a sprawling 100 Acre facility, which houses nearly fifteen educational institutions including an Engineering college, a Dental College, two Institutes of Management, a Pharmacy college Undergraduate classes, polytechnics…you name it!

GITAM Institute of International Business where I was conducting lectures is one of these institutions. The campus has access from both the Eastern or seaward side as well as the western side. The road that connects these two gates is the main arterial road or backbone. The various colleges are situated along the ribs that extend from this medulla oblongata! Near the eastern gate is a massive playground. A majestic hill overlooks this green meadow. Every conceivable sport or game is played here by the students. The UG and PG hostels are around this playground. I was put up at Santi Sadan the PG hostel.
My typical day at GITAM was spent like this:
Mornings were at six. A brisk walk to the beach with Mr. Giridhar a second year student. I became friends with Giri through Dr. Dumblekhar, another visiting faculty. During my last visit, Dr. Dumblekar had suggested that we go for a walk on the beach. So almost every morning was spent “Beaching and Teaching” as Dr. Dumblekhar calls it! Dr. Dumblekhar is an expert in designing and delivering Management Games. He has an elaborate software that he uses to run these games at B School Management Meets.

After a quick bath, shave etc., I lectured from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM and then from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. During the intervening free time I used to sit in the committee room handling my office through the net and my mobile. My office is wherever I am! Physical space is slowly becoming meaningless for running your business. Please not that I said “running” not delivering your product. In service industry physical meetings with clients is how we deliver our product. I think we should all concentrate on Customer and Client interaction more than on intra office interaction. Most issues (say 75%) can be resolved over mobile or E Mail.

Evenings were spent working on my research papers, book etc. with a brief stroll round the campus after a visit to the Narthans Ganapathy shrine.

On Sunday I visited Kailash Giri a reasonably high mount overlooking the Bay of Bengal! Giri was kind enough to take me there on his Pulsar! The ride on the winding Beach Road was invigorating. There is a ropeway that takes you to the hill top which is a flat plateau. The main attraction are huge statues of Siva and Parvathi. Beyond that is a park and a small shrine with a Siva Lingam.

The entire gamut of tourist attractions of Visakhapatnam is on the Beach Road. Beginning with Beemili Beach, and Rushikonda Beach we pass through the zoological park, Kenneti Park, and Kailashgiri.

A short distance away is VUDA park with Selveeland a water theme park adjacent to it. Beach Road then widens at RK Beach with a nice Promenade and beach with the customary Gandhi statue depicting the Father of Over Nation walking swiftly with a stick in hand. The crow on his head is also a standard feature not to mention the bird droppings which are complimentary!

I also had the opportunity to visit the 150 year old Waltair Club (Waltair is the anglicized name for Visakhapatnam). The bar at the club is called 1883 to commemorate the year of its inauguration!

As Giri had some urgent work at college we rushed back. The ride back was exquisitely exhilarating as we speeded along the smooth road winding its way along the beach front. On our right the slapping of the waves on the pale white shore; on our left the series of small hillocks that line the seashore. Above us the dark canopy of heavens with the stars shining down and the golden disc of the almost full moon shining in the far eastern horizon.