The Indian Institute of Management Nagpur welcomed its fifth batch of PGP students (2019-21) in the Inauguration Programme at the NIT Community Hall on June 24th, 2019. The event was graced by Mr Nitin Bawankule, Country Director for Google Cloud, and attended by the students of PGP-1 and 2, IIMN faculty, staff and parents of the new joinees.
Prof Thiagu Ranganathan, Admissions Chairperson began the event with an account of the selection process that ensured that the most deserving candidates from backgrounds as diverse as chemistry, psychology, and hospitality management, in addition to engineering, made it to the Institute. “Fairness is more important than efficiency,” he stated to emphasize that the process of selection did not compromise on quality over efficient execution.
This was followed by the Chief Guest’s speech. Mr Nitin Bawankule is an alumnus of VNIT, Nagpur and IIM Bangalore (Class of 1994). In an interactive address, he spoke to the new batch about the importance of values and practices such as upskilling, embracing change, thinking big, networking, teamwork and a problem-solving attitude. Citing examples from various industry giants, he explained to the students that reinvention and the ability to think long term were key to remaining relevant in the industry. In addition to this, he also advised the students to remain humble, optimistic, retain integrity and put personal well-being first. He ended with a note to the students about recognizing their privilege and giving back to society.
Director Prof L S Murty then addressed the students, congratulating them and their parents for achieving this milestone. He emphasized that parents would have to continue to support their children throughout the two-year journey in which students might encounter many ups and downs. Speaking about the Institute, Prof Murty referred to the logo and motto of IIMN as signifying constant growth and evolution in the pursuit of the ultimate truth. This journey, while aided by members of the faculty, will also involve rigorous self-reflection and exploration on the students’ part, he said. He also said that the new batch would be unique in terms of being the first batch to experience both the present as well as the upcoming permanent campus of IIMN at MIHAN. Prof Murty concluded with valuable advice to the new batch in the form of an analogy – that of a grinding wheel that goes on incessantly. It is up to the tools to apply themselves to the wheel to sharpen themselves, abrasive though the process may be. An implement that has applied itself to the grinding wheel correctly would have extracted the maximum benefit from the process.
The podium was finally occupied by Prof Deeparghya Mukherjee, PGP Chairperson. He expressed his hope that the batch would uphold the professional values inculcated in their previous workplaces at the Institute as well. He then proceeded to announce the names of the awardees of the Certificates of Merit (term-wise toppers from each section) and the Director’s Merit List (top 5 percent of the batch) among the PGP 2018-20 Batch. The Certificates of Merit were awarded to Aditya Prakash, T Bharath, Ankita Joshi, Jomy George, and Soumya Ojha. Suraj Tiwary, T Bharath, Ankita Joshi, Jomy George, Soumya Ojha and Rajat Goyal also received the Director’s Merit Certificates. The certificates were awarded to the students by Mr Bawankule.
The programme was followed by high tea and an interaction between students of both PGP batches.