It was an event that marked the first step for fresh Business Management graduates to step out into the world and stand true to their lessons and learning at IIM Raipur. As the beginning of new phase of their lives 41 students of the Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGP) were awarded their diplomas at the 2nd Convocation of the Indian Institute of Management on Saturday, March 30, 2013.
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| Dignitaries lighting the lamp |
Decked in their robes, the students of the graduating batch were addressed and motivated by none other than Shri Sam Pitroda, Advisor to the Prime Minister, who was the Chief Guest for the solemn occasion. The students were also encouraged by Shri Hari S Bhartia, Chairman, Board of Governors (BoG) and Prof. B.S.Sahay, Director IIM Raipur. The students felt every bit inspired to take with confidence their initial tread in the corporate world.
The Convocation ceremony began with the traditional lighting of the lamp and rendering of Saraswati Vandana, invoking the Goddess of Learning to bless the ceremony and all participating. Shri Hari S. Bhartia then announced the formal beginning of the Convocation.
In such an austere environment, the Director of IIM Raipur, Prof. B.S.Sahay, released the Director’s report
where he informed the audience of various achievements made by the Institute in the past year.
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| Director reporting the milestones of IIM Raipur for the year 2012-13 |
Predominantly he stressed on several new courses being started at IIM Raipur in keeping with its core values of providing world class management education and training, to produce relevant and high quality research and groom future academicians. For instance, he told that IIM Raipur besides its Flagship Post Graduate Program in Management (PGP) programme has also started the Fellow Program in Management (FPM), Executive Fellow Program in Management (EFPM) and Post Graduate Management Program for Working Executives (PGPWE), keeping in mind the needs of the industry here and preparing future ethical leaders who could contribute to the development of local, regional and national economy. He also informed that IIM Raipur had associated with international institutes of repute for encouraging flow and constructive sharing of cross cultural knowledge and sustaining faculty and students exchange and exposure. Some of the institutes with which IIM
Raipur has signed MoU are Grenoble Ecole de Management, France; IESEG School of Management, France; HLL Leipzig Graduate School of Management, Germany; AIT Bangkok, Thailand, ALBA Graduate Business School, Greece and IPADE Business School, Mexico. Prof. B.S.Sahay also reiterated IIM Raipur’s commitment to contribute to the growth and development of the state and asked the students to display professionalism with social and national commitment as well as develop their selves into responsible ideal citizens. He said;
“As you step into the world with innumerable opportunities do remember that there are a set of responsibilities that you carry - a responsibility that ensures the growth of the society and nation, a responsibility that you will ensure the ethical code and emerge as leaders in a world of mercurial values. My dear students, you must dream big, you must think big and must to do big.”
The director also threw light on the placements of the graduating batch illustrating that prominent recruiters made their presence felt in the placement process on the campus. Despite the economic slowdown, a total of 52 companies had shown interest. Offers were made in various functional areas spanning Finance, Operations, Marketing, Sales, General Management and Strategy. These companies were among the market leaders in their segments. Some of the prominent companies which participated in the process were HSBC, Ranbaxy, JSPL, Hero MotoCorp, Maruti Suzuki, Godrej & Boyce, Vedanta, ICICI Bank, Yes Bank, Usha International, HT Media, BPCL, Infosys BPO etc.
Shri Hari S. Bhartia, Chairman, Board of Governors, gave his welcome address. Thanking the Central Government for its continuous support and encouragement, he opined that “at the heart of business lies in the values of honesty, service, respect, integrity and personal accountability”. Furthering this notion was one of the ideals of the Institute which believed in creating ethical leaders who are not only committed to business, commerce and industry but are also socially conscious towards their contribution in nation building and bring in name for the country globally. He firmly said that, “As an Institute IIM Raipur aspires to create leaders who are responsible towards the society and nation.” With this mantra for making it big in the corporate world, he further encouraged the students to understand the graduating ceremony as a new beginning where they will be facing range of possibilities & realities. He also advised them to take an informed choice and always remember that success is measured in terms of 'character' for which they were groomed by IIM Raipur.
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| Shri Sam Pitroda addressing the students |
The chief guest on the occasion was Shri Sam Pitroda, who is an internationally respected development thinker, policy maker, telecom inventor and entrepreneur who has spent over four decades in Information and Communications Technology and related human and national developments initiatives. Credited with having laid the foundation of India´s technology and telecommunications revolution in the 1980s, Mr. Pitroda has been a leading campaigner to help bridge the global digital divide. He is currently Adviser to the Prime Minister of India on Public Information Infrastructure and Innovations and has undertaken the ambitious task of providing a plan for creating digital infrastructure in the country for enhancing governance and improving delivery of public services. He is also the Chairman of the National Innovation Council (NInC), which is working on several initiatives to boost innovation performance in the country. He holds close to 100 worldwide patents and has published and lectured widely in the US, Europe, Latin America and Asia. Delivering the convocation address, he asked the students to dream, to dare and to share their dreams and have faith in them, “The time to take a step forward to do ‘crazy’ stuff is now, because if you don’t do it now, you will not be able to accomplish it ever. Dream and don’t give heed to those who say that you are on a wrong track,…. believe in the might of self and the power of dreams, of a vision which will help you achieve whatever you want to achieve in life.” He also shared with the students the lessons he had learnt in his life, he urged the students to:
Focus on Job,
Focus and develop a Disciplined life,
Cultivate a Positive attitude, remember that “the glass is always half full”
Understand and follow Corporate Roles and Relationships,
Be a team player,
Innovate, develop a multidisciplinary approach and sharp analytical abilities and
Develop the art of self-review. “Develop a sense of what you are, where have you reached and what you have to do.”
The students indeed were motivated by his words.
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| Batch 2011-13 taking their pledge |
Excitement filled the air as the students were awarded medals and their diplomas with proud parents beaming with joy. Amidst thunderous applause the medals were awarded by Shri Sam Pitroda who stood as an ideal and icon for the young minds. Medals for meritorious performance and all round leadership potential were awarded namely:
The Board of Governer’s Chairman Gold medal for best academic performance in the graduating class was awarded to Kanika Khandelwal.
The Director’s Gold Medal for second best academic performance in the graduating class was awarded to Navjeet Siddhu.
The Post-Graduation Programme Chairman Gold Medal for the third best academic performance in the graduating class was awarded to Mayank Raizada and Amit Singh.
Best overall performance medal for outstanding all round performance including excellent organizational abilities, leadership qualities, overall conduct, institution building and active participation in extra-curricular activities was awarded to Srinath Vijayan.
The Convocation came to an end with the national anthem followed by a sumptuous dinner.
