“In India, we keep talking about jobs. But the jobs do not come from the existing enterprises. Large enterprises worldwide do not create new jobs after the first four, five or ten years; it is the small, mid-size enterprises which create jobs. It is highly needed to actively encourage more entrepreneurship and leadership. It is absolutely important that our economy grows,” said Sunil Kant Munjal, Joint Managing Director of Hero MotoCorp and Chairman of Hero Corporate Services Pvt Ltd, upon whom this year’s Sir Jehangir Ghandy Medal for Social and Industrial Peace was conferred.
The Xavier School of Management (XLRI) hosted its 60th annual convocation on April 2. T V Narendran, Chairman, Board of Governors at XLRI and Managing Director of Tata Steel India and South East Asia; Fr E Abraham S J, Director of XLRI; Pranabesh Ray, Dean of Academics at XLRI and other dignitaries were present at the event.
587 XLRI students received their graduating certificates and medals at the ceremony. Additionally, the second batch of the 2014-16 batch of the global MBA programme, launched by XLRI in partnership with Weatherhead School of Management, USA and the School of Economics and Management of Shanghai’s Tongji University also received their certificates.
The presidential address
Narendran, in his presidential address to the students and others present, said, “I encourage you to develop a habit of lifelong learning so that you continue to be an asset to your organisation and the society at large. Always remember to serve the society around you with compassion, honesty and integrity.”
He further added, “XLRI not only lays emphasis on high-quality, management-centric education but also focuses on inculcating values and skill-sets required to become responsible corporate citizens. It is this emphasis on becoming a well-rounded individual that sets XLRI apart from other business schools in the country. The institution has always helped mould and assist students to become thoughtful and fine human beings.”
Commemorating Sunil Kant Munjal’s efforts
In continuation of forty seven years of tradition, XLRI conferred the prestigious Sir Jehangir Ghandy Medal for Social and Industrial Peace on Sunil Kant Munjal.
Munjal said, “I humbly accept this great honour. This recognition is not mine alone; this is due to thousands of people within our organisations and those working with the organisation.”
He dedicated the medal to his father, the Late B M Munjal, who incidentally was the recipient of the same award about sixteen years ago.
Delivering the convocation speech to the graduating students, Munjal said, “We are a nation on the move. We are building new infrastructure and projects in India. We know that what was seen for a long time as India’s liability, which is the large number of people; is now being called our demographic dividend. It is also true that we can only bring alive this dividend if we train, skill and educate all the people; and that would be a powerful nation.”
Fr E Abraham S Jsaid, “I would like to take this opportunity to express my most sincere congratulations to our 587 students who are graduating today. This is the largest batch that XLRI has ever had. As you move on to the next phase of your work-life journey, strive to live the kind of life that XLRI envisions us to live – to be leaders who contribute their mite to their respective organisations and also have a sensitive social conscience.”