Research & Publications
Research & Publications
If you are a walking enthusiast, be it morning or evening, you are not likely to have missed Usha Harikrishnan and her warm smile. Voted the "most beautiful face" and the "most elegant presence" on the IRMA campus, Usha is the wife of Prof. Hari Nagarajan, professor and RBI Chair. An MBA from Bangalore University, she has held positions of responsibility in companies like Eureka Forbes and CII, both after marriage. Today, she works as coordinator at an international school in Nadiad. Taking time off her busy schedule she spoke to Network. Read on: Can you go back to the beginning? About your roots, that is. I was born in Tamil Nadu but grew up in a small town known as Arisikere in the Hassan district of Karnataka. I did my tenth standard from there and then moved to Bangalore with my family. So you know Kannada as well as Tamil, right?
Yes, that’s right. I am equally fluent in both. And since I studied at an English medium Convent I am equally conversant with English. My Hindi isn’t the best, even though I can make myself understood in the language (laughs), albeit in a broken way.
Where did you do your college from?
I did my college in Bangalore itself. I went to the Carmel Convent from where I did my B.Com and later enrolled at Bangalore University for an MBA.
Do you remember any special moments from your college days?
There are quite a few, for college was great. Besides doing well at academics I also excelled at sports, especially swimming and high jump. One of the things I remember with relish is the time ace cricketer Ravi Shastri came to college. All of us girls went berserk with ecstasy, he was so handsome those days!
Any reason for doing an MBA over a regular Masters?
Well, I thought acquiring a professional degree would give me a head start in the job market. That is the reason I rooted for an MBA.
You were a state level athlete and also a great singer, right?
Yes, I suppose you can say that (laughs embarrassedly). I was a keen a sportswoman throughout school and college. I also learnt Carnatic music in my childhood. I could have made a career in any of these fields but I chose to complete my studies and get into a professional career. My family’s ethos, too, encouraged my decision.
You have spent much of your life in the south. After marriage you were in the US and later in Delhi. What was your experience with the North and North Indians?
I was in Bangalore too because my husband joined IIM Bangalore as Assistant Professor after completing his PhD from the University of Oklahoma. It was one of the most beautiful campuses I have seen. I have some beautiful memories of walking under jacaranda trees in full bloom. The grounds would be carpeted with their violet leaves.
As far as Delhi is concerned, yes I do find it aggressive yet I remember the city with fondness. That is because of the friends I made there, the kind of stimulating conversations I would
have with them and the warmth and love they gave me. We have a house in NOIDA and I do like going there every once in a while.
What about IRMA? How did you happen to come here, and how do you feel about it?
Hari was working with NCAER (National Council of Applied Economic Research) and he received an offer from IRMA. He was selected after being interviewed but he also said that he would only join if I liked it here. I remember that just before I got into IRMA I found myself feeling a little out of sorts. The semi paved road, the rundown huts and vendors by the roadside did not form an impression really. But then… when the car turned inside the gates, I was struck dumb! The campus was so beautiful and green that my spirits lifted at once. Having lived here for the last four years I have come to love this place.
One final question: You have worked at places like Eureka Forbes and CII where you attained very high positions. What made you give up such a lucrative career?
The way I see it, one has to make choices in life. I was doing very well at CII where I had risen to the position of Deputy Director. But it also meant staying back late in office, having to miss out on healthy socializing and, what concerned me more, was having to compromise on health. Most of the time I wouldn’t be able to get back from work before 9.30 pm. It was then that I had to ask myself what it was that I wanted out of life. The answer wasn’t difficult to find. It was peace and happiness that I wanted more than anything else.
Are you happy with your job at the school?
Oh yes, very! It is very satisfying to work with kids. Their innocence and unconditional love cannot be replaced by the greatest achievements in the corporate world. Mega bucks and material comfort pale in comparison.