Volume : 2 Issue : 7 June 2018 A Monthly Newsletter of SCMS Group of Educational Institutions, Cochin Life and death, The word dead can be interpreted in many a profound thought ways. When you develop dispassionate attitude to life, you are practically 'dead.' If you cultivate the virtue of renunciation, you An Indian trader while traveling in Africa can be considered as 'dead.' If you are was fascinated by a beautiful multi-hued humble, you are 'dead' to your egoistic talking parrot found in the jungle. He tendency. We suffer a lot on this planet managed to catch the bird and put him in only because of our egoistic tendency. a cage. After bringing the parrot to the man’s home in India he fed his pet with The state of consciousness of 'being dead tasty seeds and honey, played music for while alive' is known in yogic parlance as the pet and sincerely tried everything 'samadhi.' Yogis explain this state of possible to make the pet’s life in the consciousness as the heightened form of bliss and ecstasy. cage comfortable. Dr.G.P.C.Nayar Founder & Chairman A person who has given up all desires for When it was time for the man to go to SCMS Group of Educational Institutions sense gratification, who lives free from Africa again next year, he asked his desires, who has given up all sense of parrot if there was any message he could proprietorship and is devoid of false deliver to the parrot’s friends back in the back in the jungle. So he opened up the ego -- he alone can attain real peace, says jungle. The parrot told his master to pass cage, took out the dead bird and tossed Bhagavad Gita on Nishkama Karma. on the message that he was very happy into the garbage heap. Surprisingly the Nishkama Karma is considered in his cage, that he was enjoying each dead parrot all of a sudden opened his non-attachment to the result of personal day, and to convey his love. wings and flew up to a tree. actions in life, but with selfless and loving Back in Africa the trader delivered the The perplexed trader blurted out, “So you motives. It is a central theme in the message to the parrots in the jungle. Just are not dead after all. Why did you act so?” Bhagavad Gita. An important philosophical concept in Karma Yoga, it means to act as he finished his dispatch, one parrot The parrot brusquely answered, “Because unselfishly, or without personal gain in with tears welling up in his eyes fell over that parrot back in Africa sent me a very mind. dead. The man was shocked and important message.” concluded that the parrot must have It is not a stage to be reached at a “What was the message?” the trader been very much closely attached to his particular point of time but a way of life to inquired impatiently. pet parrot. be led with dispassionate attitude. To “The message was: if you want to escape reach this state of consciousness requires On his return to India, the trader reported from your captivity, you must die while you constant awareness of our own thoughts, to his pet parrot what had happened in are alive,” replied the parrot with a sense feedings and actions. To attain this state, the jungle. By the time he finished his of accomplishment. one need not renounce the world, go to account, the pet parrot's eyes welled up Himalayas and do penance or meditation. with tears and he keeled over dead in his This statement has profound meaning. If Anyone can reach this state just by cage. The man was astounded, but you want to be totally free from all changing his attitudes to life! figured that his pet died from the despair sufferings in this world 'you should be dead while you are alive.' of hearing of the death of his close friend Dr.G.P.C.Nayar Tamil Nadu government delegation visits SCMS Neera plant A steering committee of fourteen members constituted by Government of Tamil Nadu visited the Neera plant established by SCMS Institute for Bioscience and Biotech Research & Development at Kalamassery on May 15 for a study and evaluation of harvesting and processing of Neera from coconut trees. Contd. on page 2 The Neera steering committee of Government of Tamil Nadu visits the Neera plant set up by SCMS at Kalamassery. Dr.C.Mohankumar, Director, SIBB R&D is briefing the visitors. 1 Discussions with SCMS officials headed by Prof. Pramod P.Thevannoor, Vice Chairman. Contd. from page 1 The committee includes government SCMS is the first research centre for Neera developed by officials of Agriculture Department of Tamil developing Neera technology in the country Nadu, representatives of farmer producer in the private sector. Neera, the health drink SCMS Biotechnology companies and scientists nominated by developed by SCMS Biotechnology Institute stands out the government from the research Research Institute, is a major milestone in institutes. Dr. C. Mohankumar, Director, the rehabilitation of toddy tappers by the from Neera of other SIBB R &D is the only member from State government. It is not only a health institutions because it Kerala included in the steering committee. drink but also a source of producing value added items like Neera sugar, Neera honey does not contain any Coconut farmers company leaders in the and Neera squash. Though all these items artificial preservative committee are from Kanyakumari, are very sweet it can ideally replace sugar Thanjavur, Pudukkottai and Coimbatore. in the case of diabetic people. This Neera added to extend its Dr. C. Mohankumar, made a presentation health drink is rich in essential amino acids, shelf life. vitamin A, vitamin C, essential minerals and on the Neera making process. Production the like. Neera honey is fat-free whereas of Neera is done after sterilising the Neera sugar is diabetic friendly. Neera developed by SCMS spathes and following a very hygienic Biotechnology Institute stands out from practice by specially trained technicians. Neera of other institutions because it SCMS is the first research Prof. Pramod P.Thevannoor, Vice does not contain any artificial Chairman, Prof. P.C. Pillai, Senior Group centre for developing preservative added to extend its shelf Director, Prof. Baiju Radhakrishnan, Group Neera technology in the life. Only an SCMS patented bio mix is used to prevent auto fermentation of Director, Dr. G.Sashi Kumar, Principal, country in the private Neera. Neera has a shelf life of three SSTM and Dr. Sethulakshmi Nair, Deputy sector. months in normal room temperature Director, SIBB R &D participated in the and six months in refrigerated condition. discussions. The Neera steering committee of Government of Tamil Nadu at SCMS Campus. 2 SCMS News - Cochin Volume 2 Issue 7 June 2018 F aculty Development Programme Case Writing and Case Teaching Skills The most crucial element of management Prof.Doris John, Senior Faculty-Research, wrapping up/debriefing, and additional education is developing the student's ability Amity Research Centre, Chennai and readings. The session concluded by to critically evaluate information and think. Dr.Sanjeev Prashar, Professor in explaining various sources of information The student must acquire skills that enable Marketing, IIM Raipur were the resource related to case study publishing like the him to form a view of the future and then be persons. case centre website. able to act upon it to profit from the coming Prof. Doris John dealt with topics like The second day opportunity. The students who have introduction to case writing, components acquired proper thinking skills will grow into of a good case, case writing process, Dr. Sanjeev Prashar, Professor in maturity ready to face challenges of their preparation of teaching note and Marketing, IIM Raipur handled the second lives. publishing the case. Dr.Sanjeev Prashar day sessions about case teaching Important pedagogical tool covered areas like simulated case study, pedagogy. In the first session he started structural analysis, running the case, and with simulation exercise through which he The case study methodology is an post-case analysis. explained various elements in the case important pedagogical tool to strengthen such as gaps in the information, dilemma, the thinking skills of students. The case The first day and requirement of multiple perspectives, method of teaching is based on the belief The first session on the first day by Prof. good and bad decisions, and how we can that students in management education Doris John started with a discussion on a conclude the case study analysis. The can significantly improve their analytical case study titled 'HLL vs. P&G: Price Wars second session was about structural ability through studying, analysing, and – An Effective Business Strategy?' She analysis in which he explained the discussing actual business scenarios. explained different types of cases, the importance of KASH (Knowledge Attitude Cases develop the skills of logical thinking, case development process which Skill Habits) values including purpose, searching for relevant information, included: trigger selection, case structure position, profile, and pairing while bringing analysing and evaluating facts, and preparation, data investigation/search, the case to classroom. What are the drawing conclusions needed for business preparation of first draft, editing content requirements to take a decision by decision-making. and language, preparation of final draft, explaining KASH was further explained developing teaching plan , developing through simulation activities. KASH value The case study methodology teaching note analysis, classroom testing, metrics to analyse the learning capabilities is an important pedagogical and publishing. In the next session she of both the teacher and student were tool to strengthen the thinking elucidated on how a teaching plan can be explained in the session.