IIM-A faculty oppose proposal to change institutes logo

The existing logo, inspired by lattice work or jaalis of the Siddi Saiyyed Mosque in Ahmedabad, has a Sanskrit Shloka “Vidya Viniyogat Vikasa”. Dr Vikram Sarabhai played a key role in picking it, according to the website of IIMA.

Dholakia, who served as IIMA director between 2002 and 2007, said he was aware that at least 45 faculty members had signed the letter.

“The logo is our identity – the jaali and the Sanskrit verse define us and our Indian ethos. For us, it is a symbol of our Indianness, our connect with “vidya”, our link to the institute. It is our commitment to “vikas” of the country, industry, society, students and management discipline. It is our philosophy and mission statement. Any change in the same, either in artistic rendition or change in verse, is an assault on our identity. The change in logo is sure to have a long-lasting impact on the IIMA brand,” stated the letter.

It added that, as part of the proposal for change, two new logos had been proposed — one for international consumption and the other for domestic purposes. The faculty was informed of the proposed changes in the academic council meeting on March 4, it stated.

“The faculty members were never informed that there is a need to redesign the logo. Nor was a committee formed, that we are aware of, whose term of reference include logo redesign. No inputs were sought from faculty; no presentations were made to the Academic Council or any other faculty body,” added the letter.

Dholakia also described the move as violative of the “constitution, ethos and conventions” of IIMA.