No CAT? No Problem! How Navya Nanda Made Her Way to IIM Ahmedabad

Saurav Pandey September 5, 2024

High-Profile Admission

[{"selector":"#anim-a54de25d-3437-4c61-b454-270e66e5e85e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":5000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cfe352b6-c6f4-48dc-8eb5-d1a4336d8c6e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":5000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a44af58e-7342-477b-a18c-517d85b78704","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-75de3306-3cf0-4dd0-aaab-cbbc048bb2cf","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-360deg) translate3d(0px, 178.22946%, 0) rotate(360deg)","rotate(-360deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(360deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Navya Naveli Nanda, daughter of Shweta Bachchan and granddaughter of Amitabh Bachchan, has started the Blended Post Graduate Programme (BPGP) MBA at IIM Ahmedabad. Image: Instagram/Navya

Program Controversy

[{"selector":"#anim-38069485-ced5-4875-961e-c061af04f124","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":5000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8450cdca-cd00-4bf4-bfba-f43d24ad0b3b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":5000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0a2cec68-859e-4474-857a-5ac6874b58a3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-20e22056-e320-4981-b4bc-eac7c920ef89","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-360deg) translate3d(0px, 178.22946%, 0) rotate(360deg)","rotate(-360deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(360deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The BPGP MBA has faced criticism, with some questioning its validity compared to traditional MBA programs and speculating about her admission process. Image: Instagram/Navya

Educational Achievements

[{"selector":"#anim-b7021625-15ba-4648-a8ce-c9f35af57ddc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":5000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5551d237-72e6-424f-9c73-f2be297cb522","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":5000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5d69ccf5-d566-41e2-aa18-0fd432301639","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-90a0c36a-1f3f-4b8f-8646-0a11600553b3","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-360deg) translate3d(0px, 178.22946%, 0) rotate(360deg)","rotate(-360deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(360deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Fordham University in Digital Technology and UX Design, underlining her strong academic foundation. Image: Instagram/Navya

Social Contribution

[{"selector":"#anim-a8d8ddc5-e36f-4098-8d17-e1f8878d2074","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":5000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fe406132-2b9b-4dca-8f9b-45ad5e7ce072","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":5000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b1a450cc-759f-424b-aa95-77d619c02563","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4cb923d2-2e42-4caa-b2ce-661606c4243a","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-360deg) translate3d(0px, 429.84733%, 0) rotate(360deg)","rotate(-360deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(360deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Navya leads Project Naveli, focusing on gender equality initiatives. Image: Instagram/Navya

Family Business Role

[{"selector":"#anim-b1118f31-b0f3-41b6-ab28-e8a9b8a5679e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":5000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4efe8877-6db6-490e-9b85-fe214f7110ec","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":5000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fc6f7f78-a0a5-452e-9c85-632b906f6abf","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e9151feb-934a-4fe7-a1d9-913956f73f2a","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-360deg) translate3d(0px, 429.84733%, 0) rotate(360deg)","rotate(-360deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(360deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] She is also involved in managing her family’s business ventures. Image: Instagram/Navya

Debate on Admission

[{"selector":"#anim-d8d15912-ce11-46e1-bef1-b82679c2bce3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":5000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1f814563-99cc-47b6-bde0-8384f33cb831","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":5000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-373c24e8-8d2f-46be-8b1b-457a1bbbc750","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4b0f73bc-9064-4b2a-8ca9-a5276fc52a42","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-360deg) translate3d(0px, 292.29634%, 0) rotate(360deg)","rotate(-360deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(360deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] There’s been public debate about whether her celebrity background played a role in her admission. Image: Instagram/Navya

Faculty Support

[{"selector":"#anim-345916a2-6be3-4edd-8cff-ba16fa65ebd0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":5000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ffd9cccb-0a32-4ceb-9647-b55cb007adb3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":5000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ffb3f36e-5f46-4a23-9d3c-6495b397559c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ee5fb11a-f1b7-4fab-8b3c-041dba33b2f6","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-360deg) translate3d(0px, 227.49719%, 0) rotate(360deg)","rotate(-360deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(360deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] IIM Ahmedabad’s Promila Agarwal supported Navya, noting her impressive CV and the rigour of the BPGP program. Image: Instagram/Navya

Social Media Presence

[{"selector":"#anim-202a5cc4-c6b9-4ea9-a2c3-55f6d5a2206b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":5000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-86a506c2-4266-4630-b0e8-341411130d65","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":5000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5b576f1e-3c34-461a-a4ce-82f5711d2be7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e1437da0-cae5-456f-88df-8a043ff5c682","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-360deg) translate3d(0px, 292.29634%, 0) rotate(360deg)","rotate(-360deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(360deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Navya announced her admission via Instagram, sharing her excitement and experiences at the campus. Image: Instagram/Navya

Celebratory Moments

[{"selector":"#anim-05ac2a19-144f-4a6b-8c9e-6d85f3e5a3f3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":5000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7b5c3547-56ff-49ab-a3cd-5b3e00bf3c10","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":5000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-525b0762-026e-42f3-ba2c-09fa3b7b50d5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6c657dc6-7622-43cd-a814-9101cdcbed14","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-360deg) translate3d(0px, 292.29634%, 0) rotate(360deg)","rotate(-360deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(360deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] She celebrated her achievement with a cake-cutting ceremony and acknowledged her teacher’s support. Image: Instagram/Navya

Two-Year Journey

[{"selector":"#anim-66de80c8-528b-44b9-8e1e-a57bf0c380ce","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":5000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8773455e-580d-4ae2-86ab-f82889cb4a7a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":5000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b481e5d0-b1e7-43f7-937e-736c9ff5aa8c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-81b99f6d-593d-4bae-9166-877acf0fb2ab","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-360deg) translate3d(0px, 223.45678%, 0) rotate(360deg)","rotate(-360deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(360deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Navya’s time at IIM Ahmedabad will be a mix of academic challenges and public attention as she navigates her MBA studies. Image: Instagram/Navya