Even as the debate whether Entrepreneurs are born or made rages on unabated, Kolkata’s premier institution, the Bhawanipur Education Society College (BESC) is walking the talk to empower students and transform them into the entrepreneurs of tomorrow. BESC will soon open the doors of its swank Incubation Centre – a 5000 square feet, state of the art facility that will be dedicated to fostering and nurturing the latent entrepreneurial talents in the students, apart from helping them hone the skill sets required to fruition.

At a time when start-ups are the rage, with young minds taking the plunge to expand the horizons of possibility, the BESC Incubation Centre is slated to emerge as the launching pad of tomorrow’s enterprises, by providing mind warriors with the wherewithal required to convert latent dreams into thriving realities. And, coming from an institution which is known and respected for instilling the spirit of entrepreneurship in its students, the Centre is not only blessed by impeccable lineage, but will also be fortified with existing mentoring systems that are among the best in these parts of the Nation. Not to mention the whole-hearted support of a management that is known to walk the talk of student empowerment, of ensuring the all-round development of students as a rule, as opposed to being an exception.

“It is indeed a matter of great pride for us that some of the most revered entrepreneurs call the BESC as their alma mater. Our contribution, as an institution, in the field of entrepreneurial development too is well established, with most of the students passing out of these hallowed portals taking up some form of commercial activity or the other – imbibed as they have, the spirit of entrepreneurship, the spirit of BESC” said Miraj D. Shah, the Vice Chairman of the institution. As a matter of fact, it will not be an exaggeration to state that if the combined contribution to the state’s exchequer by the entities whose owners owe their allegiance to BESC were to be calculated, it would easily be a record sorts.

“We at BESC aim at empowering students to make them industry ready, as opposed to merely feeding them with academic information. Students are exposed to real life situations, on the shop floor, so that they can learn, hands-on, the acts they will be expected to perform as successful leaders” said Prof Dilip Shah, the Dean of Student Affairs of BESC. Towards this end, not only are students given a free run to organise college events – some of them billed as blockbusters by all those in the know – entirely on their own, but are also exposed to live sessions with an endless stream of professionals who are acknowledged experts in their respective domains. Such interactive sessions with industry experts, it is needless to say, go a long way in providing students with the insight into the working of commercial enterprises, helping them to muster the required knowledge base in the process, that too, in an innovative way, without being a drag on their young minds.

Commerce Plus, a course that is literally what it claims to be and takes students beyond the rigid framework of the syllabus, is one such initiative that is widely acclaimed in academic and industrial circles as a step towards the right direction. From industrial visits to opportunities to sharing the experience of the stalwarts, the programme which has been crafted, based specifically on the inputs provided by employers, has already elicited a spirited response from the industry, if campus recruitment drives are considered to be the indicator of success. “Commerce Plus has been very well received by the industry circles” acknowledged Prof Suman Mukherjee, the Director General of BESC adding “it is a vindication of our single-minded devotion and the effort put in by BESC to bridge the gap between the needs of the industry and what the academia has to offer. I will not be vainglorious and claim that we have already been successful in bridging the industry-academia gap, but will certainly say that in the two years that Commerce Plus has been in existence, it has not failed to throw up even one student who is not gainfully employed.” Prof Mukherjee is characteristically soft in his choice of words – industry sources, especially the ones that have BESC students on their rolls are extremely appreciative. “BESC students, as a rule, are much more than mere employees doing their job – they are more of co-creators, who slip into the designated jobs with élan. They are confident in their gait, follow things up to their logical conclusions and contribute immensely to the ultimate success of the enterprise” said an industrialist who is not only an ex-student of BESC but is also a satisfied employer.

“BESC is one institution that is ever ready to loosen the purse strings to provide students with every conceivable facility” said Nistha Sharma an alumnus who now runs his own successful enterprise. “the entire campus is wi-fi connected, the class rooms incorporate the latest intelligent information dissemination systems, the sports and recreation facilities are at par with the best and the faculties ever ready to support with any intellectual input that the students may need. However, what makes the real difference, makes BESC what it is, is its stoic refusal to stifle creativity by straightjacketing students to follow set rules”.

It may sound surprising to many but BESC does not make attending classes an end it itself. “Attendance is just a means” said Prof Shah, “the end being the acquisition of knowledge, of being empowered. We believe that the entire process has to be voluntary, as opposed to being compulsory, which is why the core of all our efforts is aimed at bringing the excitement of learning into the classrooms.” What is remarkable is the fact that BESC regularly organises Remedial Classes for students who cannot attend their regular classes, no questions asked, and yet flaunts the record of having the maximum number of students graduating with First Class citations from the Calcutta University. If that is not conventional logic standing on its heads, what is?

And it is in this fertile ground of innovative practicality that the seeds of incubation are now being planted.  Shantiniketan, incidentally, was also an idea that was built around a tree. Watch this space, for it won’t be long before the tree of knowledge, of achievement spreads its wings and begins to provide the seeker with sustenance.

For More information:

www.thebeges.edu.in

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Md. Rais Qureshi, the young and indomitable CEO of Sky LED an alumnus of the Bhawanipur Education Society College (BESC) met up with Tristha Sharma, Preiti Jalan and Jenia Giri, students of Corporate Communications of the college. Despite his hectic schedule, Qureshi answered all the queries that the budding communicators had for him, going to the extent of offering them internship opportunities in his organisation, impressed by their flair and the willingness to learn the ropes. The questions were pointed, the answers from the heart. Excerpts:

Q1. Market watchers are pointing at SKY LED as one brand that is on the march. What are the reasons behind the runaway popularity of SKY TV?

It’s great to hear you say that. The recipe is simple and time tested. We are offering great products at affordable price points. Our television sets are state of the art in terms of technology, are ultra-premium  in terms of quality and performance and are priced just right. Naturally the brand is picking up in terms of popularity and I am grateful to all our dealers are re-sellers who are putting in their best efforts to take the brand to the ultimate customers, helping it break through the charts.

Q2. In terms of price, how are SKY TVs priced in comparison to the market leaders? Does the price difference mean a compromise on the quality as well?

We are priced attractively. Call it Invitation pricing if you may, the point is that our products are synonymous with the paradigm of value for money. As you know, our manufacturing base is in China which gives us some natural price advantages. Besides, the components too are sourced from around the world providing us with a further edge in terms of pricing. As our overheads, especially in terms of advertising and branding are pretty low compared to our competitors; we can pass of a substantial amount of the savings to the consumer. Our pricing is because of our lean cost structure and nothing else. Please remember that the market dynamics do not play favorites and we are where we are by the dint of consistently providing quality products at fair prices. Reasonably priced and cheap, are not the same – our prices are reasonable and our quality the farthest from cheap. Compromise is not a word that is in our dictionary.

Q3. Where are SKY TVs manufactured? What advantages do you derive by manufacturing abroad?

Our production base is in the Hunan province of China where we have about 500 people working for us even as we talk.  As for working out of China, the advantages are obvious – we are using their economies of scale, their technological advancements, their manufacturing prowess – the same qualities that they use to dominate the world markers for the benefit of Indian consumers. However, we do not manufacture the entire product in China and perform the final assembling, testing, quality control and other critical functions here in India at our factory in Noida. We are an Indian entity, getting a part of our work done in mainland China and are a proud participant in the Make in India programme.

Q4. Which market segments are you catering in the present? What are your plans for a pan India rollout?

We are currently in the mid segments of the markets where the bulk of the new orders emanate. This is also the segment where the maximum number of replacements are taking place, with conventional television sets being phased out by flat screen sets. The size of this market is enormous to put things mildly and we are happy to be competing with some of the biggest names in the industry, slogging it out, set by set towards curving out our niche in the consumer psyche. We will gradually move upwards, towards the high value, top of the line products as our brand attains the kind of weight required to associate the premium tag.

Geographically too we have aggressive plans for expansion. We are currently localized in the East, North-East and the South in terms of markets and will be going pan-India very soon. As a matter of fact, we are currently in the process of setting up the logistics for such a Nation-wide rollout.

Q5. What steps are you taking to establish the SKY brand, to make it a household name among the consumers?

Brands as we all know, like Rome, are not built in a day. And we too are taking all possible steps to ensure that the Sky name is etched firmly in the hearts of the discerning consumers. It is too early to be talking about the specifics and I do not want to sound vainglorious. Suffice to say, we have thrown our collective hat in the ring and we will not leave without giving it our best shot. We are new, we are young and we are here for the long term.

Q6. Where do you see SKY in 5 years time?

Where else can the Sky be, but above our heads? Our naming is deliberate, we know of our destiny to be at the top and we are working heart and soul to claim what is rightfully ours. The Sky, is not the limit for SKY, it is the destination.

For More Information Contact:

www.skyleds.co

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Arindam Basu is a life that is but an extension of the Canon. An alumnus of Chitrabani, Kolkata, Arindam’s passion is tracing the path of great migrations – of sadhus, charlatans and the hanger on’s in search of nirvana and the glam crowd in search of instant, albeit tinsel fame. The Photographer Emeritus of Core Communique, Arindam’s work has been featured by some of the world’s leading publications in the fields of glamour, lifestyle, travel tourism. His pet passions however, is to frame that moment that captures the pain behind the painted – be that faces, or facades or fanatic cults.

The following pictures are the result of many months of wanderings on a physical and a spiritual plane and tells tales that need no words of description.

While not chasing the next elusive masterpiece where the Rule of Law and the sway of Mark Zuckerberg does not reach, he can be found at:   https://www.facebook.com/arindambasu.sr?fref=ts

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