27 May, 2025, Bengaluru: 

“If you want to be a good scholar, you need to be an engaged one”, said Professor Rishikesha T Krishnan, Director, IIM Bangalore, while addressing participants of the Summer Research Methodology Workshop 2025 at IIM Bangalore, hosted by the Office of Research and Publications (R&P) from 19^th May 2025. The workshop concluded earlier today with the Editors’ Panel and valediction. Altogether 97 candidates from across India, including faculty and PhD students from other Indian Institutes of Management, took part in this workshop. Around 12 IIMB faculty members, who are well published in their respective domains, were involved with the workshop.

Providing valuable insights on ‘Research Leadership’ during the valediction, Professor RT Krishnan listed rigor, insight and relevance as the essential criteria for engaged scholarship. “However, the outcome of all this should be impact; you need to figure out how to extend the benefit of your research beyond academic journals. If you are smart in designing your research, you can take the outcome of your research in different directions to benefit academia, industry, policy making, and more.”

He quoted from papers co-authored by IIMB faculty and Doctoral scholars to explain the model of engaged scholarship further, adding, “To make research more impactful, you have to find interesting problems and provide unique solutions for the same. In India, the different and unique phenomena going around us give us a plethora of ideas to work on our research and publish in top journals. Working in the sustainability domain has also become crucial.”

He summed up his talk listing how to draw an action plan to be successful and impactful in research. “Remember that being a scholar is akin to a marathon, not a sprint, where personal vision as well as aspiration, focus, strategic intent and research plan are vital. View yourself as more than just a teacher – but as an engaged scholar. Benchmark yourself against the best in the world. Be committed to continuous improvement and embrace new technology as well as pedagogy. Manage time judiciously – try to align teaching, research and writing. This should be your individual agenda as a scholar.” He also explained the importance of personal effectiveness adding, “Prioritize and put first things first.”

“As an outstanding teacher, as a rigorous researcher, through contribution to practice, and sometimes through all three, can you be truly impactful. Become experts in your domains, an expert in an emerging method or approach, identify or build a unique dataset and then mine it. Develop a knack to identify interesting problems across domains and ways of addressing them.” He concluded by telling the participants that the best return gift they could give to IIMB faculty engaged in this workshop was to practise all that they have learnt in the workshop.

Mumbai, 27 May 2025: MTR Foods proudly announces its contribution of 10 million+ nutritious meals to children, in collaboration with The Akshaya Patra Foundation. Building on the legacy of its 100-year journey, this milestone reflects MTR’s sustained commitment to addressing hunger, supporting education, and nurturing young futures. It also marks over a decade of impactful collaboration between MTR and The Akshaya Patra Foundation, working together to create lasting change in communities across India.

Since the inception of this collaboration in August 2014, MTR has been instrumental in supporting the PM POSHAN (mid-day meal) programme across Karnataka, directly impacting the lives of close to 60,000 children. The initiative spans across 1,000+ schools in four key cities, including Mysore, Hubli, Bangalore, and Bellary, serving more than 10 million meals to date.

The partnership between MTR and Akshaya Patra Foundation exemplifies how collaborative efforts can create lasting social impact, addressing immediate needs while building foundations for long-term community development. MTR’s support for the PM POSHAN programme through the Akshaya Patra Foundation continues to be a vital part of its CSR journey – one that feeds futures, supports dreams, and reaffirms the company’s purpose of creating healthier lives through the power of food.

Speaking on achieving this milestone, Mr. Sunay Bhasin, CEO, MTR said, “At MTR, we believe that every child deserves the chance to grow, learn, and thrive — and that journey begins with a nutritious meal. Our partnership with The Akshaya Patra Foundation is deeply meaningful to us, as it allows us to play a small part in shaping brighter futures for children in need. Reaching the 10 million+ meal mark is not just a milestone; it’s a reflection of our ongoing commitment to care, compassion, and community. We are inspired to continue this journey and extend our impact in the years to come.”

Mr. Shridhar Venkat, CEO, The Akshaya Patra Foundation, added, “As we mark a decade of meaningful partnership with Orkla India Pvt Ltd (MTR Foods) on World Nutrition Day, we reflect with gratitude on a shared journey rooted in purpose and progress. Over the past 10 years, MTR’s steadfast support has helped us serve over 10 million nutritious meals to nearly 60,000 children across Karnataka. This collaboration stands as a shining example of how corporate purpose and social responsibility can converge to nourish not just children, but a brighter future for our nation. We deeply value MTR’s commitment to enabling nutrition and education and look forward to continuing this impactful association in the years ahead.”