Who said that with each passing year family members drift away and lose contact? With Spandan 2006, SPJIMR invited all it’s Alumni to spend a nostalgic evening walking down memory lane by revisiting those memorable college years, renewing old acquaintances and meeting new SPJIMR family members. The SPJIMR Alumni have seen great success and carved a niche for themselves in the highly competitive and dynamic corporate arena in the leading companies across the world or creating their own success stories as flourishing entrepreneurs. In keeping with tradition, SPJIMR made the Alumni feel special by felicitating the batches of 1986, 1991, 1996 and 2001 by honoring and presenting them with special mementos.
Spandan 2006, the annual Alumni meet of SPJIMR is not only an event that provides the Alumni with opportunities for networking and socializing amongst the SPJIMR family but also to helps them to catch up on all the latest happenings in the institute that you have missed out on. The participants of SPJIMR enlightened the audience on the many new initiatives taken by SPJIMR like the Consultants Interest Group that gives the participants the right exposure and provide the platform to showcase their potential in the corporate arena.
The event started with the traditional lamp lighting ceremony by the honorable chief guest Gulzaar Saab, Director Prof. Rajan Saxena, Joint Director, Prof. Sunil Rai and Registrar Mrs. Varsha Parab. Speaking at the event, the SPJIMR Director, Dr Rajan Saxena refreshed old memories and said that from the ‘Batch of Origin’ that passed out from the Institute in 1983, to twenty batches down the line in 2002, the Alumni have been the epitome of the philosophy, beliefs and values that SPJIMR stands for. They have been the true ambassadors of SPJIMR and their success has done the institute proud.
The icing on the cake was the surreal interaction with the modern day Ghalib himself, Gulzar Saab at SPJIMR. A brilliant filmmaker, noted poet, sensitive lyricist and a creative writer – all rolled in one. Gulzar Saab wrote his first film lyric in the early ’60s. In the decades since, he has penned a string of timeless songs. He has won 5 National Awards and 18 Filmfare Trophies topping it with the Sahitya Academy Award in 2003 for his collection of short stories “Dhuaan”. The Government of India has also conferred him with the National Honour of Padmabushan.
Gulzar Saab’s magical verses re-ignited many a passion, tugging at the heartstrings of the spellbound audience when he spoke of his
‘Aasmaan Ka Tukda’
‘Hum bhi rang birangi sheesho mein chhupe
Apne aasmaan ke tukde ko dhoondhne lage’
He enthralled one and all by reading out from his collection of poems with subjects ranging from the freshness of childhood to the wistful yearnings of love. Their poignancy and simplicity gripped the Alumni as they relished the couplets with resounding cheers and showed childlike enthusiasm as they requested for more. He also shared with the audience his intimate relationship with books and the generation next’s growing distance from them because of the computer age was also reflected in his rendition.
The legendary personality spoke about the renewing challenges that life throws our way with his
‘Zindagi ki baazi khatm ho jaaye
Toh patte phir se bataate hain’
The audience were invited to an enthusiastic interaction where he discussed some of his favourites nazms, purposefully chose to refrain from discussing movies as he felt that there was scope to discuss many more exciting topics. He revealed to the audience that he savors everything of his past and regaled them with a few lines from his poem
‘Wahin tehkhaane mein rakhi hai yaadein
Jab bhi jee chahta hain, chala jaata hoon
Aur so jaata hoon chupke se’
The mesmerized audience gave him a standing ovation and continued to applaud even as he graciously accepted their love and adoration, thanking them in turn.
Delivering the vote of thanks the Joint Director of SPJIMR, Professor Sunil Rai spoke of the pride of the institute, the Alumni of SPJIMR as an integral part of our collective aspiration and that they have all remained a valued part of the extended SPJIMR family. He reiterated that they have contributed enormously in building the knowledge base of the participants by sharing their insightful real-world experiences. He said that SPJIMR have a lot more to learn from them and that he looked forward to the Alumni’s greater participation.