Move aside – MahaMandi 2014 the NITIE B-school event with a difference is here

Yes, that time of the year is here again wherein students of NITIE get into the business groove and think beyond their typical classroom comfort zone to actually go out and sell stuff right on the streets of Mumbai. Students of this b-school will be performing this task as part of their annual event "MahaMandi 2014" which is all set to roll off on August 9, 2014. What’s more? Well, this massive event is being presented by MTV this time around, making it bigger and better.

MahaMandi, a unique brainchild of NITIE is conducted with the motto – ‘Earn while you learn’ or as we more fondly say ‘Socho, Becho, Seekho’ (Think, Learn and Earn).

MahaMandi 2014: What is the event all about?

The event requires students to come up with out-of-the-box ideas as they jostle about the streets of Mumbai trying to sell educational toys to the common and sometimes the ‘not-so’ common man. The most important aspect of this event is that these toys have been made and collected from two NGOs – CRY and Navnirmiti and all the proceedings from their sale will be used by them to fulfill the needs and dreams of a number of underprivileged children.

MahaMandi blends the idea of social responsibility with the need for practical learning. It gives the students a platform to experiment with strategies where sky is their limit as they come up with innovative means to mince and convince people into buying their stuff. So, in this event for the students – ‘The street is their stage’!

The learning experience

MahaMandi is an embodiment of perseverance. Wherein, students face a few rejections before managing to sell a toy. The rejections are a learning experience for any student and each rejection makes the student better equipped to approach people to sell their product.

The student sees the practical application of consumer behavior and notices that a few customers are apprehensive of buying the product. But the selling of the first product makes up for the initial disappointment. However, at the end of the day by making this small contribution towards a noble cause, students as well as customers are left with a smile on their faces.

How it is advertised

With every year, MahaMandi continues to script a new success story. And each year students find new avenues to advertise MahaMandi. The flash mob taking place at R-City Mall, Ghatkopar on August 8, 2014 is an example for the innovative techniques used by students to create awareness about their event.

Success story of previous years

MahaMandi has gained the reputation of being one of the most sought after B-School events year after year. It was a big success last year with more than 15 lakh rupees being earned as revenue in a single day.

Led by the students of NITIE, there was a huge participation from their peers across prestigious B-schools both in and around Mumbai such as NMIMS, SIBM-Pune,IIT-Bombay(SJMSOM), KJ Somaiya to name a few. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the event and hence preparations are in full swing to make it much bigger and better.

MahaMandi is a potpourri of intellect, willingness to help, social responsibility and fiscal empowerment for a greater good. MahaMandi not only allows students to become part of something special but it also leaves them with some good memories, at the end of the day.