CONVOCATION 2011-2013

April fool’s day was around the corner and I wished the following weekend to be a long, convoluted figment of our collective imagination. Monday onwards GIM will settle itself in the background of our lives, forever. 3o^th march was the convocation for the batch of 2013 and thereafter, officially the best will be behind us.

29^th March

Most of the students had already arrived on campus as there was a rehearsal planned early next morning. Some of the students had never left after the final exams since it was the best opportunity to relax and to absorb the ‘Susegaad’ vibe one last time- Who knows when our next ungodly hour visit to the Panjim Nescafe would be. All of us arriving from our respective cities were battling the question of whether we had come from home or come back to it.

Needless to say 29^th Night was one big celebration. Some had decided to participate in the revelries at the hostel for the last time, while others had picked up their bikes and cars and decided to spend the night reminiscing at a friendly neighbourhood beach shack.

30^th March (Morning)

Readers unfamiliar with the rigours of an MBA life would probably be surprised to know that regardless of the fact that most parties/Adda sessions/hangouts the previous night lasted till early dawn (or even later)- every single student turned up on time early morning for the convocation rehearsal.

The rehearsal really made us appreciate the operational dynamics of organizing the convocation day- 240 students had to be marched into the MPH (Multipurpose hall), the guests had to be escorted in, speeches had to be made, degrees had to be handed over and finally the grand dinner had to be had.

The rehearsal wound up quickly and we were given a couple of hours to refresh, feed and groom ourselves.

30^th March (Afternoon)

We were required to assemble in the Acad block at 4 in the afternoon, dressed in our formal best to collect the convocation gowns and for the batch photograph. Jairam Ramesh’s claim of the convocation gown being a ‘barbaric colonial practice’ in context of the Indian summer is a relevant debate, however it is a debate for another day. One look at the batch photographs and the convocation albums on facebook and you realize that the gown truly makes the convocation look like the more polished, aristocratic brother of the ‘farewell’.

30^th March (Evening)

A single line of 240 students entered the MPH and were overwhelmed by the sight of the hall decked in its full glory. The scene was almost Hogwarts like with the chairmen and the members of the governing board seated on the dais in red robes. The faculty also adorning the red robe had occupied the front seats. The great mass of black robed students was sitting in the centre surrounded by the camera friendly parents. Snapshot clicks were reverberating in the auditorium throughout the ceremony.

The chief guest for our convocation ceremony was the much esteemed Mr Kishor Chaukar, MD and CEO of TATA Industries (Retd). The ceremony opened with the invocation by the chairman of the board- Mr R Gopalakrishnan, followed by the director’s address by Dr Sunil Rai, who stepped in as the new director of GIM in the academic year 2012-2013. He informed the stakeholders about the vast expansion our campus has seen in the last year in terms of infrastructure and capacity building and how we are inching closer to becoming the most environment friendly campus in the country. He also mentioned the high number of admission applications this year and how they have been consistently rising in number irrespective of the economic environment. In the address he also congratulated many students and faculty for garnering various accolades over the past academic year and making our institution proud.

Immediately after the address we had the awarding of the diplomas and medals. All of the students were called one by one on stage to receive their diploma from Mr Kishor Chaukar. After all the diplomas had been handed over, Mr Chaukar was invited on stage to give the convocation address. In his speech he highlighted the need for good managers in our country in the coming years. He also shared his experience of being in the corporate field and managing such a big conglomerate and the challenges that ensued in his day to day dealings. He also talked about ethics and presented to us quite a few ethical paradoxes, the likes of which we will encounter day in and day out in the corporate world. ‘None of the decisions are wrong decisions, but each decision is a reflection of the decision maker’ he said. In the middle of his speech what suddenly caught everyone’s attention was his bold proclamation- ‘earn as much money as you can!’ he went on to explain that there is nothing wrong with earning money per say, if it is done in an ethical and judicious manner.

After his speech there was a vote of thanks by the chairperson- Mr R Gopalakrishnan, where he thanked the faculty for nurturing the students so well over the past two years; the parents for being present for the ceremony and wished the graduating batch much success and a very bright future ahead.

It was now time to head for the grand dinner and to start saying final goodbyes. Many students were leaving on the same night and the majority of them were leaving by the next day. There was some consolation in the fact that most of us would be seeing each other in a couple of weeks in the commercial hubs of Bombay, Bangalore, Chennai and Delhi- but there was also an underlying apprehension about these cities, as two years in GIM had made us incapable of making any other place home.

Bon voyage!

We are wanderers, each one of us

Some looking for paths laid down, some making their own

Each searching for an essence that’s sown

A smooth sail or a journey on the rickety bus

Nights together I sketched my dream

Under a dim light hoping to clearly see

I genuflect under the skies to let me be

My head brimming with thoughts bursting into a stream

A million miles away with its light guides me, a star

Armed, I begin my journey to meet others like me

Immeasurable memories that formed the roots of my tree

The lights dim for another feat to begin, near yet too far.

As the clouds drew the curtains, the “Candle Passing Ceremony“ began with honouring winners of various events conducted on campus .  The PGP2s hand over a candle to the PGP1s, a symbolic handing over of GIM legacy to be cherished and nurtured. Standing in a circle the PGP2s held lit candles while the GIM song was played, a wave of patriotism flood our hearts. Memories and experiences were passed along with these candles that were handed over to the junior batch.

It is these moments in life when you begin to count your numbers in reverse..when a journey comes to an end. A tradition at GIM was felicitated by the entire faculty clan and the students to bid an informal adieu to a batch that brought glory to the institute. 

Vanakkam Sangamam 2013

A college with myriad cultural backgrounds never ceases to dull down. It’s that time of the year in which a series of celebrations take place in different parts of south India. Bringing this zeal on campus, students together organised Sangamam2013.  A confluence of South India kick started with the Uriyadi, a pot breaking competition, where students have to hit a pot hung from rope, blind-folded.

Hot Sunday evening, the grounds turned to a battle field with men marching down and preparing to show off their masculinity. A game of tug-of-war began with a humongous rope, which could probably be used to tow ships! Students divided into teams of two and the tipping of the rope over the line began. Simultaneously, the cafeteria was decorated with beautiful rangoli designs done adeptly by students.

The cultural evening started with a devotional song and a traditional dance by PGP2 women folk. With graceful steps and swaying moves they captured hearts and left an everlasting pride for our culture. Bringing in the local dance forms, students put up brilliant, energetic performances one after the other. As an irrefrangible rule, all the men folk graced the stage in dhotis and an additional aviator sunglasses added spunk to the attire. Challenging these performances, men in suits and women in patialas from Punjab gave a power packed dance. Ultimately, a confluence in true sense.

As the curtains were drawn in, students rushed to experience the final and grand feature of south Indian culture, a banana leaf meal. A smorgasbord of dishes was served which could satiate hunger just at sight. Leaves were neatly laid down and volunteers swiftly and efficiently served the meal in batches and managed the growing crowd. With food in opulence, celebration of music, art and dance, over the years, has only lead to strong relations and respect for one another’s culture and values. GIM -a place to be, a world to see!