Dr. Vikram Sarabhai and IIMA | Issue 1 @ IIMA Archives

OUR FOUNDERS AND BUILDERS

Dr. Vikram Sarabhai and IIMA

"The term "institution builder" perfectly encapsulates Dr. Sarabhai's pivotal role in the planning of the institute from its nascent stage."

As the theme of this article revolves around founders and builders, the focus here is on one of the founding members, Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, an illustrious physicist and pioneer in space research.

Dr. Sarabhai as an institution builder
The term "institution builder" perfectly encapsulates Dr. Sarabhai's pivotal role in the planning of the institute from its nascent stage. See Dr. Sarabhai's handwritten letter, addressed to Prof. George W. Robbins. Prof. Robbins, the Associate Dean of the Graduate School of Business Administration at the University of California, Los Angeles, was the esteemed individual responsible for presenting the 'Robbins report'. This report 'laid down the template for a new institute' (Source: IIMA Archives).

Figure 1: Handwritten letter from Dr. Sarabhai to Prof. George W. Robbins, May 9, 1961

***Institutional Building Volume. Source: IIMA Archives***

Dr. Sarabhai astutely recognized the opportunity to establish a prestigious institution for management education, in Ahmedabad and skilfully persuaded local industrialists, led by the remarkable Shri Kasturbhai Lalbhai, to wholeheartedly support this endeavour. Furthermore, Dr. Sarabhai successfully convinced Dr. Jivraj Mehta, the first Chief Minister of Gujarat, to generously provide the necessary land. In addition to these accomplishments, Dr. Sarabhai played a crucial role in securing support from the esteemed Ford Foundation, and collaboration with the renowned Harvard Business School for the initial five years, ensuring a solid foundation for the institute's success. Moreover, he was instrumental in selecting the internationally acclaimed architect Louis Kahn, who contributed significantly to the development of the institute's physical infrastructure. Dr. Sarabhai's contributions extended beyond the realm of infrastructure. He meticulously developed internal processes, recruited faculty members, and oversaw the creation of the institute's initial management development programmes with the esteemed Dr. Kamla Chowdhry, the first faculty member of IIMA. Dr. Sarabhai's visionary leadership and unwavering dedication were instrumental in shaping the institute into what it is today. His ability to rally support from various stakeholders, his astute collaborations, and his visionary approach left an indelible mark on the institute's success.

Dr. Sarabhai as a member of Planning Committee
To shed light on Dr. Sarabhai's involvement, we have reproduced the letter from the Government of India to Dr. Sarabhai on June 22, 1961. This letter appoints him as a member of the Planning Committee, representing industrial and commercial interests, on the nomination of the Chairman, Planning Committee, Government of India, Dr. Jivraj Mehta.

Figure 2: Appointment of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai as member of the Planning Committee, June 22, 1961

Dr. Sarabhai and the physical presence of the institute
While the formalities for establishing the institute were being completed in 1961, the search for a temporary location for IIMA began. At that time, Dr. Vikram Sarabhai resided in his family home, 'Retreat,' in Shahibaug, and IIMA's location was simply referred to as "IIMA, c/o Vikram Sarabhai, Retreat." During a meeting on January 28, 1962, IIMA's Planning Committee decided that the house of Mrs. N. Bakubhai Charity Trust in Shahibaug could be rented. Nirmala Bakubhai belonged to a prominent business family in Ahmedabad, and her house had been passed on to the Trust. The Planning Committee authorized Dr. Vikram Sarabhai to handle the details (Source: Brick by Brick, Newsletter of the IIMA Archives, Vol.1, Issue 1, September 2022, p. 8).

Figure 3: Letter from Dr. Vikram Sarabhai to Shri Gautam Sarabhai, Managing Trustee, Smt. Nirmala Bakubhai Trust, February 26, 1962

The institute took possession of the bungalow in June 1962. The first major meeting held at the new premises appears to have been the Board meeting on August 3, 1962. Initially, the house was rented for one year, with the contract being periodically renewed until June 30, 1965. The rent for the first year (1962-63) was set at Rs. 13,000, and for the full year of 1963-64, the rent paid amounted to Rs. 22,800. The bungalow consisted of a first floor, which housed the faculty seating and the library, and a ground floor dedicated to administration (Source: Brick by Brick, Newsletter of the IIMA Archives, Vol.1, Issue 1, September 2022, p. 8).

Dr. Sarabhai as the Honorary Director of the Institute
During the institute's early years, Dr. Sarabhai served as the honorary part-time director of IIMA while simultaneously establishing ISRO in 1962, then known as the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR), among other activities. In the second BOG meeting held at 310 Camp Road on June 30, 1962, Dr. Sarabhai was appointed as the Honorary Director of the Institute. Below are the reproduced meeting minutes:

Figure 4: Appointment of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai as the Honorary Director of the Institute

Minutes of the second meeting of the Board of Governors, dated June 30, 1962,
Board of Governors Meeting Minutes. Source: IIMA Archives

Dr. Sarabhai played a crucial role in developing initial collaborations with HBS for five years, as well as in faculty recruitment, as evidenced by his letter dated December 11, 1962.

Figure 5: Letter from Dr. Sarabhai addressed to Dr. Jivraj Mehta, Shri V. Isvaran, Shri Kasturbhai Lalbhai, Dr. Fayette W. Pravin, Shri P. L. Tandon and Prof. M. S. Thacker, December 11, 1962

***Extract from the letter, Institutional Building Volume. Source: IIMA Archives***

Dr. Sarabhai's commitment to strengthening the institutional process at IIMA is evident in his suggestion for a newsletter to facilitate the sharing of Institute happenings with Harvard. "Director (Dr. Sarabhai) suggested that to maintain closer communication between the Institute and HBS, faculty should bring out a newsletter which could also be sent to the Indian training group at Harvard. He informed the faculty members that Indian faculty at Harvard was expected to be back by 15th July and were making preparations for the first year MBA programme." ("Relationship with Harvard and Academic Planning, May 7, 1963" Institutional processes at IIMA: some personal experiences by T. V. Rao, In Institution Building: The IIMA Experience, Vol. II: Subsequent years, Pg. 155, from IIMA Archives).

Figure 6: PGP Inauguration, July 1, 1964

(L-R), M. K. Subramaniam (Chief Administrative Officer, IIMA), Vikram Sarabhai, Balwantrai Mehta
(Chief Minister, Gujarat). Source: IIMA Archives

Dr. Sarabhai was a staunch advocate for maintaining high academic standards at the institute. He recognized the significance of admitting the most exceptional students, irrespective of their financial background. To support this vision, Dr. Sarabhai emphasized the need for a financial aid loan fund scheme, which was duly approved by the Board of Governors (BoG). In a letter addressed to Jayakrishnabhai on December 17, 1964, Dr. Sarabhai underscored the importance of establishing two scholarships annually at the institute through his trust. This correspondence serves as a testament to his unwavering commitment to providing opportunities for deserving students. This principle continues to be upheld to this day.

Figure 7: Letter from Dr. Sarabhai to Shri Jayakrishna Harivallabhdas, December 17, 1964

Another significant aspect is the prominent inclusion of the Sidi Saiyad Jali in the institute's logo. "Prof. K. Balakrishnan, who was in the F&A Area from August 1966 till his retirement in 2001, notes that Kamla Chowdhry gave full credit to Vikram for choosing the [jali]" (The story of our logo Note prepared by Professor Vijaya Sherry Chand, Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, for IIMA Alumnus, Volume 49, Issue 3, October 2017).

Dr. Sarabhai made significant contributions as he recognized the management requirements of the country, including rural and agricultural development in developing India. It was his vision to understand and incorporate agricultural management into the mandate of the Institute, along with various other aspects. His visionary leadership established him as a great institution builder, a legacy that continues to this day. As a result, IIMA has transformed into one of the top business schools globally, maintaining exceptionally high standards of quality.