Xavier Institute of Social Service (XISS), Ranchi, organised a seminar on Bottom-Up Enterprise: Insights from Subsistence Marketplaces and Marketplace Literacy at the Fr Michael Van den Bogaert SJ Memorial Auditorium. The event provided a platform for faculty members and students to exchange ideas on innovative approaches to subsistence marketplaces and marketplace literacy.

Professor Madhu Viswanathan, a renowned academician currently serving as a Professor in the Department of Marketing at Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, USA was the speaker of this seminar. He is also Professor Emeritus and Research Professor at the Gies College of Business, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, USA.

Dr Joseph Marianus Kujur SJ, Director, XISS in his welcome address highlighted the evolving perceptions of marginalized people worldwide and the importance of subsistence marketplaces. Dr Amar E. Tigga, Dean Academics then introduced Professor Viswanathan before the audience. Earlier, the event began with a welcome address by Dr B.P. Mahapatra, Head, Marketing Management Programme, who highlighted the seminar's relevance to the programme's objectives and the importance of sensitising students to subsistence marketplaces.

In his address, Professor Viswanathan shared insights from his experiences of subsistence marketplaces across countries such as Mexico, Uganda, Tanzania etc. He stated that Bottom-up approach, is important in understanding micro-level consumers for product development and to comprehend the challenges faced by low-income individuals.

He also talked about the need for visible content, the integration of research, education, and social enterprise, and the focus on economic and social sustainability in subsistence marketplaces. He introduced the concept of Photographic Thinking and stressed the significance of Emotional Quotient (EQ) over Intelligence Quotient (IQ).

The seminar concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr Pratyush Ranjan, Assistant Professor. The seminar was also attended by Assistant Director, Faculty Members and First & Second-Year students of the Marketing Management Programme. Prof Viswanathan also interacted with the faculty members of the institute where he conducted an immersive and interactive workshop for using the bottom-up approach in education, research, social, and business enterprise.