Dholakia's tenure as IIM-A chief ends

After an eventful five-year term marked by programmes, global branding, the institute's tussle with the HRD ministry on the proposed OBC quota, fee subsidy and autonomy issues, Bakul Dholakia, director of Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad (IIM-A) stepped down with the completion of his tenure.

Terming the tenure as 'satisfying', Dholakia said he would have been more satisfied had the proposal to secure more autonomy for the institute had come through.

Speaking to reporters on his tenure at IIM-A, Dholakia said said the institute had submitted a proposal for autonomy in April 2004.

During his term, the growth of gross income from main programmes rose 460 per cent from Rs 18.26 crore in 2002-03 to Rs 84.04 crore in the year 2007-08.

IIM-A has grown from 429 students in 2002 for long duration programmes to 746 this year. The total student strength stood at 2682 now compared to 1,491 five years ago.

All earlier directors of IIM-A including Ravi J Mathai, Pradeep Khandwala and others remained faculty members at the institute till retirement, an aspect Dholakia which he would decide in January 2008.

Candidates for the next director's post include present IIM-A professors G Raghuram, Samir Barua and Pankaj Chandra along with J Ramachandran of IIM Bangalore.

No formal communication for the appointment has been received so far, said Dholakia.

In the interim, the dean of IIM-A, Jayant R Varma would take over the reins of the institute.