Text of the MW CEO Rajib Kumar's welcome address at the MW Anniversary Debate 2007

Respected Sheriff of Kolkata, Guest of Honor, Distinguished Speakers, Moderator Sir, Guests, Members of the MW Board of Advisors:

A Very Good Afternoon and a warm welcome to all of you on our 7th Anniversary.
Material World instituted the MW Anniversary Debate in year 2004 in keeping with our vision of a consulting house with a social commitment. Through this annual event along with our other events, our e-zine, our blogs we have endeavored to put forth for discussion issues of industrial and social importance envisaging an audience that would challenge each other intellectually and foster growth through ideas generating therein.
While making available our knowledge to address needs of our varied clientele-be it in areas of executive search and executive value addition along with our recently taken up one umbrella support services for US aspirants in association of the Indus Foundation, USA we have been trying relentlessly to influence decision makers in the circuit so that we can live in an environment which is more intellectually challenging.
MW has neither the dedicated readership base of a publication nor the numbers might of a professional association. In the process of our mission of greater societal and industrial benefit through our services and our vision of influencing decision making we also have to present ourselves a brand which has a profit and loss account to take care of and not surpluses.
Ladies and Gentlemen: Let me dwell on the motion for a couple of minutes, with your permission.
I attained a small part of my higher education in an overseas nation, US, to be specific, in the early 90s…. at that stage the very going to the land of opportunities was an achievement for me.
My take off from the then Dum Dum Airport had a theatric overtone… I was denied visa on Day 1; granted on Day 3 and I was off on Day 4…. I was still shopping in the afternoon on the day I was to board the Air India flight to Chicago.
It was a never-ending flight all of 36 hours what with a bizarre route…. Calcutta to Bombay; Bombay to Delhi; Delhi to London; London to New York; New York to Chicago; Chicago to Toledo…New York to Toledo.
Well Toledo was quite a comedown from the overnight stay in New York City what will dry barren mid western land and huge pick up trucks.
I slit opened the tea bag when it was meant to be dipped; I was perplexed at my American friends addressing the 60 something math professor by his first name and I was curious why my hosts drank their “pop” which was the mid western colloquy equivalent to soft drinks with lots of ice.
Overseas education is a dream of many a student in today’s competitive world. The various benefits, which a student gains through overseas education apparently gives them an edge over others. Overseas education has the potential of transforming lives. The international exposure one gets makes a student competent enough to face the increasing demand of knowledge and skills and present themselves as a complete package for the prospective employers.
Again, that is not to suggest that the decision to opt for overseas education is way out of all woes as perceived by some. Overseas education, with all the associated benefits like better career prospect and a wider perspective of life is also pregnant with the potential of jeopardizing a career if an impressionable mind fails to overcome the stress involved in living life all by oneself in the fast lane.
Again, in an era where international degrees area available right here in India where does overseas education stand?
While trying to make a case for a print media tie up with a leading daily in town, albeit unsuccessfully I was repeatedly confronted by a question as to why we were organizing this debate…
I’ll sign off with an answer to my young interviewers:
We want you to form an independent opinion on this subject and it is our hope that through the deliberations of our distinguished speakers shall aid you in this process.
Phew…aligning this annual debate has always been difficult. Our role as a facilitator well and truly in place.

(Sligted edited from the actual address. The above does not necessarily purport to constitute an official position of the Material World Group)