Jaipuria Institute of Management, Jaipur has recently welcomed the 2012-14 batch of Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) students. As per tradition, these first-year students were taken around Jaipur, to help them understand local culture and traditions, and enjoy the great City of Maharajas. Nikita Thomas and Prachi Jaiswal, both students of PGDM 2012-14, look back on the most exciting moments in their ‘JAIPUR DARSHAN’.

Nikita –Wasn’t the outing fun? Did you enjoy yourself?

Prachi – It was absolutely fantastic! I think we started our day on the right note by visiting the famous Kagazii Industry’. The owner, Mr. Mohammad Sharif – an entrepreneur who specialises in manufacturing and exporting handmade paper, made from old scraps, clothes and used paper – is really great. I mean, here is a man making the ‘best out of waste’.

Nikita – hmmm… I think it was a good idea to visit not just the manufactured product outlet, but the factory as well. It was really a great learning experience, watching the process of making paper from waste. Those ladies expertly sorting out the scraps and clothes, and then boiling and churning the scraps in huge machines with added colour, were working pretty hard. I found the whole process pretty interesting, from the scraps being put on a sieving tray, wrapped on both the sides with a cloth and pressed, to the paper being hung for drying after it had been pressed. They looked like hundreds of flags!

Prachi – I simply loved the printing on the dried paper. Mr. Mohammad Sharif told me that the paper lasts for more than 10 years. The Kagazi outlet was so full of dazzling and beautiful products. I was compelled to buy a diary as a souvenir.

Nikita – I think the next stop, the magnificent Amer Fort, was absolutely stunning! Yes, climbing those huge steps was exhausting, but once we got to the top, the view was worth it. The fort tells us about the magnificent history of the great Sawais of Jaipur. We really clicked a lot of photos, didn’t we?

Prachi – We certainly did. Remember the ‘Jal Mahal’ and ‘Hawa Mahal’ we saw on our way to the Pink City Mall? Weren’t they grand?

Nikita – They sure were. By the time I reached Pink City Mall, I was so hungry I just can’t tell you…

Prachi – So was I, and so was everybody… after all the walking around at Amer Fort. How we charged into the Food Court!

Nikita – But the shopping after that was so cool; we almost bought out the entire Mall! The event of the day was when the two of us missed our bus! While the rest of the course was on its way to the Birla Temple, we were totally lost in buying stuff. Remember the panic created by our absence… thank God our warden calmly told us to catch an auto to the Birla Temple. Everyone was relieved to see us, but they really asked us a lot of questions.

Prachi- I think the temple was enchanting. The inlay work on the marble was simply magnificent. In fact, my fatigue vanished with the soothing ‘bhajans.’ It was the right place to conclude our ‘Jaipur Darshan.’

Nikita – I guess the day was at an end so we had to get back to college. I’m looking forward to many such outings now that we are at the Jaipuria Institute of Management, Jaipur.

Jaipuria Institute of Management, Jaipur has recently welcomed the 2012-14 batch of Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) students. On the 7th of July, 2012, these first-year students were taken on a trip around the landmarks of Jaipur, to help them understand the Pink City better. Anmol Agarwal and Prateek Shukla, both students of PGDM 2012-14, take us through their first tour of the city.

Prateek – I think the trip around Jaipur was really cool. What do you think?

Anmol – Awesome and unforgettable! I learned a lot of things, and enjoyed myself a lot. In fact, I woke up very early in the morning that day simply out of excitement. The first stop – the Kagazi Industry – made me realise that you don’t necessarily need crores to start a venture; it can be done with scrap as well.

Prateek – Very true. In fact, I had no idea about the process of paper-making. When I came to know that they make paper with old clothes and waste paper, it amazed me. I think this was the quickest way I could figure out the real idea behind the word ‘recycle’. As a management student, I feel very lucky that Jaipuria Jaipur started us out with this visit. I’ve got the message loud and clear that good entrepreneurship is all about a good idea, some managerial skills, innovation and the ability to take a calculated risk.

Anmol – How did you like Amer Fort? I found it absolutely fascinating!

Prateek – Same here. I could almost imagine the Rajput Kings treading across the fort walls. I think one look at the glorious fort was good enough to understand the ancient Rajputana culture. I could imagine how difficult it must’ve been for an attacking army to get past the moat and climb the wall to take control of Amer Fort.

Anmol – Absolutely. The amazing part was moving straightaway from Amer Fort to the huge Pink Square Mall; seemed like travelling in time from the 16th century to the 21st century. In fact, on the way to the Pink Square Mall, I was going blind with hunger! I was unable to see the beauty of Hawa Mahal or Jal Mahal clearly…

Prateek – I know. The way you rushed up to the food court at Pink Square Mall said it all! But I really liked Hawa Mahal and Jal Mahal. They were so different from Amer. The Queens must’ve really enjoyed staying surrounded by water. Of course, there was a military reason for this. The water body around the Jal Mahal acted as an obstacle.

Anmol – I really would like to know more about how the Jal Mahal was constructed. I’m sure I’ll get a lot of opportunities to do that in the two years at Jaipuria Institute of Management.

Prateek – Sure. I guess this was just the trailer. The Birla Mandir was a nice place to signoff for the day. It’s always great to start something new with the blessings of the Gods.