Yadon ki Barat - Down the Memory Lane at Ruby Jubilee Reunion 74-79 Batch Alumni BITS Pilani

Members of every major religion undertake pilgrimages and for the alumni of Birla Institute of Technology and Science - BITS Pilani which is one among the top ranking universities in India today visiting their alma mater years after their graduation, is undoubtedly a pilgrimage. For each one of them, Pilani is just not a destination where one arrives but rather the spirit with which one undertakes and continues the journey.

Irrespective of whatever degree they did at Pilani, wherever they came from and whatever their life journey had taken them to, there was one thing they all shared in common and that was passion for the Alma mater. Each one of them agreed that their stay at Pilani had left an indelible mark on their lives. This batch like the other batches have indeed enhanced the reputation and raised the profile of BITS Pilani both nationally and internationally through their successes, contributions and support. Each one of them undoubtedly had been a dreamer, performer, achiever and a leader in applying technology to improve lives across society. Each one of them had no hesitation in agreeing that their stay at Pilani had left an indelible mark on their lives.

When it comes to Alumni Alma mater connect, BITS Pilani undoubtedly is no way less than the Ivy league institutions. Unlike many other institutions, the alumni of BITS do not believe in resting in the glory of their Alma mater but passionately believe in adding glory to their Alma mater by their achievements and contributions.

The Batch of 1974 celebrated its Silver Jubilee Reunion SJR in 2004 during Oct 1-3 and has the reputation for triggering the race for large SJR turnout year after year. With PQ Passion Quotient for alma mater peaking, this batch organized Ruby Jubilee Reunion RJR during 22-24 Feb 2019. The RJR had 91 batchmates and 39 of them had their spouses accompanying. The RJR undoubtedly was a stellar constellation of Chairmen, Managing Directors, COOs, CEOs, CTOs, CIOs, Scientists, Presidents and Vice Presidents, Techies, Entrepreneurs, Media Moghuls, Academicians, Distinguished Professors, Bankers, Realtors as well as Consultants. The batchmates came from different Indian Cities which included Delhi, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai etc and also from different countries New Zealand, Australia, Tanzania (Africa), Netherlands (Europe), Dubai, Oman, Sharjah and several parts of Unites States of America – USA.

It is indeed a matter of great pride that the gentle giant “Biju” Raghavan Mayur the globally acclaimed Poll Guru Founder and President of Technometrica Market Intelligence who has an enviable record of accurately predicting US Presidential polls including that of Donald Trump is from this batch. Marathon maniac Bhasker Sharma who has run half century of marathons including the Boston Marathon is from this batch.

Immediately after the arrival on 22 Feb 2019 evening, the batch had the all time favorite Alu Bonda, Paneer Pakoda Shikanji chai for snacks at VFAST the guest house of the Institute and went for a stroll across the campus. The most famous Rajasthani food Dal Bhati Churma Dinner with mouth water harvesting hot hot Jelebis started with a Rajasthani Folk music program by Vishnu Bhopa Bhopi group from a nearby village of Pilani. The haunting music and songs had everyone sitting around bonfire enthralled.

On 23 Feb 2019, they went around the campus to visit the Sharda Peeth Saraswati Temple, Birla Science Centre, Student Activities Centre (SAC), various hostels, laboratories, Skylab, Central Library etc. In the New Academic Block NASB Auditorium, the alumni assembled to a rousing welcome by Dr Rajeev Sakhuja Associate Dean Alumni Relations. Prof Arya Kumar Dean Alumni Relations addressed the gathering. Prof Souvik Bhattacharyya Vice Chancellor BITS Pilani gave an overview of all campuses, and highlighted the achievements in terms of National and Global Rankings including the Institution of Excellence status. Pointing to the burning issue of faculty shortages, he gave a clarion call to the alumni to support the institute in as many ways as possible. The Vice Chancellor was very touched when more than a dozen alumni of 74-79 batch offered to be adjunct faculty irrespective of money matters in order to overcome burning issue of faculty shortages. In fact, "Tabby" Tapan Desai who has been delivering lectures at BITS Pilani Goa Campus for the past so many years is a Proud to be BITSian from this batch.

Prof AK Sarkar proposed vote of thanks and all the dignitaries which included Prof Krishna Mohan a very popular faculty during 70s were honored with mementos. The session ended with never say no samosas and gulab jamuns. After the group photo session at Rotunda, the batch had their lunch at Ram Budh Mess relishing the famous Saturday lunch menu of alu paratas, pumpkin sabji and fruit salad. The spouses went on a shopping spree around Pilani while the batch mates went around rediwalas, Connaught place Vinod for Bread Tikkis and Bluemoon for milk shakes. A team of lead alumni addressed current students in the NAB auditorium and answered a volley of questions fielded by the current students.

After a short tea session at IC Institute Cafeteria, the batch attired in Royal Rajasthan colourful Red, Pink and Kesar safas (headgears) entered the auditorium in short Audi to a thunderous round of bholay kay bhai bam, bholay kay bhai bam, bholay kay bhai bam bholay. The current music club gave an unforgettable nostalgic welcome to the seniors with unforgettable songs of yesteryears. The indomitable Master of Ceremony Sanjay Dharwadkar “Dharu” anchored the audi proceedings. Sunit Rikhi triggered nostalgia with his immortal poem “Hur hava ke jhonke mein Pilani ki khushboo dhoondhta hoon” and when the line “Hur oonchi deevar ke peechae Meera bhavan dhoondhta hoon” was recited, the roar hit the upper end of Richter scale.

Bindaas BITSian Uncle Tom CM Ramesh with his soul filling voice had the entire audience asking for more. Hemant Kumar Daga considered one of the most intelligent in this batch with his inimitable style of singing had all the batch mates Yodeling with him. “Moif” Sanjev Das Mohapatra had the audience enthralled with his keyboard rendering. Ms Anuradha wife of Vivek Dalmia with her mesmerizing voice sang a song elevating further the spirits of one and all. Gaya Prasad and Rajiv Milind rendered thought provoking poems. Srini Kulkarni carried the gathering on yadon ki barat with his rewritten Yaad Na Jaye Beete Dino Kee singing. The music club played all time great songs Eagles Hotel California and God of Electric Guitar Eric Clapton Cocaine. The audi session concluded with Dean Nattu BR Natarajan presently Professor at Banasthali World’s Largest Fully Residential Women’s University did the customary vote of thanks congratulating the trio CS Goel, Mukesh Asija and Rajiv Milind the movers and shakers behind the Ruby Jubilee Reunion and gave a clarion call for the GJR Golden Jubilee Reunion in 2024. The dinner at Shankar Vyas mess with the menu replicating the famous Sunday lunch – Puri, Pulav, Matter Paneer and Cassata.

With 24 Feb 2019 Sunrise and a new day dawning, the batchmates were up early for a sumptuous breakfast to celebrate the birthday of Krish Krishnamoorthy Director at Toshiba America Electronic Components Inc. San Francisco Bay Area and wedding anniversary of Hemant who had been a senior executive at Reliance Jamnagar. With emotions choking and tight hugs the farewell happened leaving behind Yaadein Yaadein Yaadein.

For more details see www.bitsaa.org/

About BITSAA: BITS Alumni Association (BITSAA) has emerged as one of the strongest alumni networks of any university. BITSAA International engages in charitable and educational activities by raising funds for setting up endowments, creating scholarships, rewarding teaching and research and generally promoting the development of resources at Birla Institute of Technology and Science at Pilani, Dubai, Goa & Hyderabad campuses. BITSAA International also aims to strengthen the ties, friendship and communication amongst former students, alumni faculty and friends of the Institute. BITSAA International provides a number of channels for people to stay connected with each other and with Birla Institute of Technology & Science. Notable other alumni initiatives for BITS Pilani include Prof SSR Memorial Teaching Excellence Award, Atma Nirbara multi crore Pilani Resource Centre by 75-80 batch alumni, Prashant Anuradha Palakurthi Research Endowment and many more. For more on BITSAA see https://www.bitsaa.org/

Prof BR Natarajan
BITS Pilani Alumnus
Pilani Rajasthan India 333031
Phone: +91-9799476406
Email: brnatarajan@bitsaa.org
Website: https://www.bitsaa.org/

This release was published on openPR.