CARTS 2010 - Comments

CARTS was my first “formal” exposure to the field of creativity & arts. Till that point I believed that the field was completely abstract and esoteric – hence not suited to the rationality-oriented minds.

However, coming from a pure science & technology background, it was a welcome & refreshing experiment to opt for this course. The curriculum provides a framework to appreciate not only man-made “masterpieces” especially in music, arts, literature and scientific discoveries, but also helps educate & train one’s senses & sensibilities to treasure the various natural creations around us.

While going through this course, I got a glimpse of the “method to the madness” in the field of creativity & arts. I understood better why certain songs & pieces of music feel so haunting, why certain paintings are so mesmerizing, why certain pieces of literature are all-time classics, what situations create humor, and how have great thinkers tapped into their creative side to discover unprecedented solutions and expressed profound ideas in concise but powerful & creative forms – many of which changed the course of mankind.

My overall experience of CARTS was enhanced by Prof. Shekar’s own passion for the subject, his breadth & depth of knowledge in this field, and his ability to bring lucid examples from diverse fields at ease (including his core specialization in Quantitative Methods & Information Systems). It’s elevating to realize that creativity & rationality are parts of the same “continuum”.
Avnish Kshatriya
PGSEM, IIMB


"Creativity in Arts and Sciences is a well rounded course that seeks to establish a firm relationship between creativity, the medium in which it is presented and the author. It enables the student to analyze a work of art by identifying its component elements and investigating how those elements are connected together using creative approaches. Music, visual media and literature were taken in turns by Prof Shekar who did an exemplary job of explaining how specific tools are used to produce creative works of art in each of these.

Personally, the biggest takeaway I got from this course is the realization that the underlying tenets of creativity remain the same in all forms of art. One needs to implement them in an aesthetically pleasing manner. The talent and originality of the author dictates the difference here. The concept of creativity and its implementation in Arts and Sciences is too vast a field to cover in a single term, but Prof Shekar conducts a tight and well organized course that leaves the student much better equipped to further his/her own investigations into the subject, which is what education is all about."
Sandeep S Nair
PGP 2009-11, IIMB


The CARTS course gave me a fresh perspective of looking at art, cinema, literature and music. I have begun to notice a change in the way I have started noticing and appreciating the finer details of these. The biggest takeaway from the course is that creativity demands hard work and anyone can be creative if they make an attempt. Creativity has no defined scope - we can be creative in almost anything we wish to be creative in. I hope in the future this course also introduces "creativity in decision making", which I feel will be very useful for managers.
Monisha Nakra
PGP 2009-11, IIMB


In today’s fast-paced and complex environment, whether one pursues a management, artistic or administrative career, it has become highly important to be able to come up with new ideas, to be able to quickly solve problems, and adapt to different scenarios. As the world moves towards automation of manual work and development of intellectual property, creativity has become the most important asset of an individual who wants to meaningfully contribute to his or her family, firm, community and country. Moreover, creative ability provides deep emotional satisfaction to the self. The question is, how does one become consistently creative?

It has traditionally been thought that creativity is an innate gift, or that some people simply are more creative than others due to the hard-wiring in their brains. This is true only to a certain extent. Creativity is as much a process as anything else. As Arthur Koestler argues in his excellent book 'The Act of Creation', a new idea is formed when two distinct patterns of thought clash or combine with each other. For different thought patterns to exist, one has to first be open-minded and accept different points of view. One has to embrace chaos, generate a million strands of thought, and then let these strands combine merrily. David Bohm has argued that creativity lies in creating orders from previous simpler orders. While going through mechanistic activities, sometimes we come across conflicting thoughts or dilemmas. Those who enjoy them and work on them break barriers and get new insights. Those who shun dilemmas or chaos in effect shun their potential to be creative.

Given the above, the first step towards becoming creative is getting exposed to the creations of the greats, and to learn to appreciate their creations. Whether it is Escher’s use of tessellations and his paintings of impossible objects, or Archimedes’ leaps of imaginations in geometry, or Hugo’s writings which awe you with their literary and philosophical excellence, history is scattered with many masterpieces and gems. To be able to delight in them and understand them is the first step in joining the company of the greats. While we are it, it is important to reiterate that the creative process is not just applicable to science, mathematics and fine arts. These fields are often referred because they survive solely on creative activity. In fact, the creative process is applicable to every human endeavor, and to every facet of life.

In this light, I would highly recommend the course ‘Creativity in Arts and Sciences’ taught by Prof. B Shekar. Not only does he introduce you to beautiful music, movies, literature and science, he lets you explore deeper with highly effective theories that he has formed in over twenty years. These theories help to explain what consciously and unconsciously goes on in the mind of an artist, and how an artist is influenced and builds upon the works of others. For instance, music that appears pleasing to the ears is rarely so by accident or chance. A musician faces a number of trade-offs, controls many variables, and highly engineers the final output. Creativity especially comes into its own against such odds. In fact, one of the principal benefits of the course is that you will be able to intelligently analyze a creative work instead of just satisfying yourself with layman impressions.

Another big plus is the high energy and enthusiasm with which the professor teaches the course, which leads to students actively participating in the discussions. These often result in interesting and interactive sessions. Passion is important in all activities for excellence, but nowhere is it more important than original work. Good ideas don’t come easily; it is only when we truly believe in something that we are able to synthesize something new. So while you enjoy the course and learn about creativity, remember that the professor is teaching you an equally important thing, the passion for creativity. And do lend your opinions during the discussions. They will be highly appreciated.
Kalpesh Muchhal
PGP 2009-11, IIMB


CARTS was a unique course in almost every aspect. I felt it was aimed at giving the students an opportunity to observe and experience the day-to-day things differently, which many of us overlook because of the hectic lifestyle. The entire course was like a composition where one could calmly lean back in the chair and listen to the various perspectives with which different people see the same thing differently. A major section of the course was on creativity in different arts and it was very interesting to note the different concepts that go into directing a film or a music piece. After this course, I can say that I have begun appreciating movies, music, art etc. much more as now I am able to identify the different elements which the director weaves together to produce the desired effect. This is a course unlike any other offered at IIMB and is definitely worth experiencing.
Tushar Sharma
PGP 2009-11, IIMB


Throughout my entire MBA, both in Ireland and during my time at IIMB, no other course asked me to think in the way we were encouraged to think in CARTS. An MBA naturally is intensely theory based and involves a great deal of ‘tried and tested’ approaches. CARTS challenged all these norms and in my opinion gave us a strong basis for effective creative thinking that can empower us to find better solutions or approach problems from new found perspectives.

Not only was it deeply interesting and engaging to learn about classic art, film and music, focusing a great deal on the Hindi genre, it was possible to apply the learning’s from the class into everyday business and life situations, which have already been of great benefit to me. In fact, recently I found myself referring to Turner’s Art in the context of communication and incorporated it into a presentation that I made in Dublin to good effect.

I believe this course has helped me to delve into a part of the brain that I had previously failed to activate. The phrase, “do what you have always done, get what you have always got’ comes to mind as CARTS is a course that prevents us from staying in the comfort of our ingrained or accepted way of thinking, and asks us to delve a little deeper and approach things differently, which can help us discover new frontiers!

Thank you Sir for your unbridled passion and energy. It’s infectious and for that alone your course is not to be missed, let alone the other factors that make it so beneficial and unique in the modern day business school.
John McInroy
Exchange Student 2010, IIMB


What I learnt?To appreciate the art in science and math, and to appreciate the math in music and art. Earlier I used to like paintings that were almost real, now I have learnt to appreciate art in all its forms and glories.

What was good ?
The course had an alluring and eclectic collection of art and music and cinema clippings that were mind boggling. Not just music catering to various sections of the class but also, the lectures on seeking and appreciating art in its bare bones form was quite enthralling. To prove simple yet profound concepts like Pythagoras theorem practically and to see it from the mathematician’s eye was quite exquisite. This coupled with Mathematicians biography and their true life stories made the class interesting.

This was the first time, I was introduced to Escher’s art work and to the book les Miserables. Being an ex-painter, Escher’s works were stupefying.

On the whole this course rocked!!
Sumathi
PGP 2008-10, IIMB


The course you have offered was really “Great”. To me, the perspective with which I used to look at any creative work (may be song, novel, even mathematic equations etc) has changed.

Earlier I used to appreciate them very subtly, but now I can look (more correctly, trying to look) at the underlying microscopic creative elements which are not so obvious. Though I have no exposure/understanding of classical music and even I don’t know how to play a musical instrument, but it is you and your smooth and effective teaching effort which made me find beauty and creativity in it.
Manish Kumar Urele
PGP 2009-11, IIMB


I would like to thank you for initiating and teaching this refreshing course in the Institute.
I really admire the infectious enthusiasm that you bring to the class, in spite of obvious detractors. I hope that I’m able to garner some of it in my work and life ahead and learn to do what I love doing despite any objections or criticisms.

I’m an avid reader and writer and liked the fact that you included one of my authors – Chekov. I’m especially thankful to you for introducing me to the wonderful world of cinema. One that I was unable to appreciate given the kind of movies that we are exposed to.

The learnings from this course might not be tangible but I’m sure that I shall carry them with me hereafter in life.
Thank you for the one of the most pleasant classes I have taken so far. I hope and wish that you continue to keep running the course hereafter as well.
Madhulika Kaul
PGP 2009-11, IIMB


My taking up CARTS was unplanned - that quarter, I did not participate in the elective choosing process as I had decided to take a break - and later when I realized I should/must plod on with the courses, it was one of the few courses available to me. I forget but it might even have just been allotted to me by some PGSEM staff.

I came in as to most of my courses in the 2nd year after the first weekend - where the context is set - so I did not have a clue in the first class what to expect. I saw you with Bose speakers, playing some nice Carnatic music, and just sat back to enjoy it. It got more and more interesting from there.

I am not sure if you had meant to answer these questions in the course of the course - but I was able to find answers to my longstanding questions that I had - "Why are men attracted to woman", "Why do we like Banturithi or A R Rahman", "Why are we stunned by the visual beauty of a Van Gogh" - Further, sitting through the course made me ask myself what "liking something" was, what "attraction is" - resonance with the Golden ratio in some form?

I had always felt there was a formula to churning out pop hits - and your first few classes on sounds - proved there was indeed a pattern to a hum-worthy song. One more thing I hopefully wont forget from the class is the realization that silence is aural blackness.

I could go on about more things that I learnt, but the key thing was offbeat courses play creative catalysts - help us find inspiration, think of things beyond the ordinary, for life, anything beautiful - a Mozart, a Alfred Hitchcock is extraordinary.

For the cutthroat, quant-driven hordes trying to make the I-Banks and McKinseys, or plod through their course requirements, this course is highly recommended - if only to make them think differently, to pause and ponder, and aim either for something different or aim for the same thing differently.
Vinod Kannan
PGSEM, IIMB