The Indian Institute of Management Nagpur conducted its 3rd convocation for the batch of 2017-19. A total of 55 students of the Post-Graduate Programme (PGP) in Management graduated. Kishore Biyani, Founder and Group CEO, Future Group, was the chief guest.
Director LS Murty’s presentation elaborated on the growth the institute has seen in the past year, including reconstitution of the Board, increase in student intake, student achievements, growth of the faculty, introduction of new courses, establishment of a Centre for Entrepreneurship and the IIM Nagpur Foundation for Entrepreneurship Development (InFED).
He spoke of the progress made towards the development of IIM Nagpur’s permanent campus in MIHAN.
Prof Murty said that the motto, satyam cha swádhyáya pravachanécha (Truth is eternal. It doesn’t change with context), from the Taittiriya Upanishad , best encapsulated the values of the institute. He concluded with a congratulatory note to the students and expressed his desire to maintain a life-long relationship with them.
Focus on the East
CP Gurnani, Chairman, Board of Governors, IIM Nagpur, shared insights from his interaction with Kishore Biyani, as well as his own experience. Citing an example from cricket, he said a sportsman of the stature of Sachin Tendulkar would focus on the value he would offer to the team, instead of fussing about following younger captains.
Young managers, he said, would be known by the value they bring to their team, and the trust and relationships they build with their peers over their long careers. He expressed the desire that leadership in India should be East-looking, focussing on entrepreneurial growth in Asia, instead of following the traditional orientation towards the West, and hoped that IIM Nagpur would touch greater heights.
The Indian Institute of Management Nagpur Gold Medal for scholastic performance was awarded to Vaibhav Gupta, while the Indian Institute of Management Nagpur Gold Medal for best all round performance was awarded to Yash Pramod Thakur.
‘Find a way and learn’
In a thought-provoking speech, Future Group Founder and Group CEO Kishore Biyani spoke about the values that guide him and his leadership ethos. He recounted how the Future Group promotes introspection and constant improvement of the self, while maintaining a futuristic outlook. He said, “We believe in the power of flow. This is a value inspired from nature. Nature rarely stops. It always finds a way, no matter what the obstacles are. Often, in life or in business, we encounter challenges or want to be 100 per cent sure before we move on to something. Instead, it is better to move on, find a way and learn and correct in the journey.”
He said that he sought role models in Dhirubhai Ambani and Dr Verghese Kurien, who inspired him to dream big and fight against all odds, in the pursuit of growth. Concluding on an inspiring note, he exhorted the students to rewrite the rules, and seek originality while retaining values in a constantly evolving world.