Who solves a problem anyway?

I had got an interview call from 3 to 4 good (tier 2) MBA institutes of the country last year. In order to convert them into admissions and do well in my interviews I had met a lot of people who had done MBA from better institutes. One such meeting was with one of my seniors. She was to take my mock, practice (mild and fun sort of) interview.

I met her at one of the café coffee day outlets. First question she asked me was why do you want to do MBA?

I almost knew that this was to come, so had prepared that really well. I quickly snapped at that saying that MBA is the only programme that prepares one to solve the problems of the real world. It gives one an approach and a knack to solve problems!

Fantastic, was replied. Arguably one of the most good looking and successful (if you measure success by the kind of B-School you go to) ladies of her batch was floored by this answer. “Really well thought” was her reply.

She cleared a few more of my doubts and then we ended our small, interactive and enriching meet.

It has been more than one year to this meeting and I often wonder if I truly mean, what I had told that day.

This thought gives rise to couple of profound doubts.

Do we really, know what problems are out there in the “REAL” world? If by any chance we do, are we really able to solve these problems?

As an intern in a micro finance cooperative and a volunteer teacher at one of the support schools, I thought that that was it to the problem solving front.

That was certainly it, only if one wants to flaunt about his contributions to the society, however with the kind of realistic people around me, I can hardly be caught in that trap.

“The space between two of their houses is even lesser than the space between two rooms of our flat, we help those people buying better houses” I told in high pride to one of my flat mates, and a close friend.

“But you can never increase land though” Was his modest reply.

I have not tried to judge if that was a comment out of mere cynicism, or a sarcastic statement, or just a sighing remark.

But at times I wonder if we can really SOLVE any problem?