SPANDAN 2006 : Alumni Meet
December16, 2006

With a record number of over 150 alumni coming out in full force to make the SPANDAN 2006 event a monumental success, SPJIMR has guaranteed that people will continue to talk about this memorable evening for years to come! The exceptional team of the Alumni committee headed by the Registrar, Mrs Varsha Parab has raised the bar for the events to come by meticulously planning and flawlessly executing SPANDAN 2006 and turning it into a grand triumph.

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.

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 Gulzar saab with the National Honour of Padmabushan.

Gulzar Saheb's magical verses reignited many a passion, tugging at the heartstrings of the spellbound audience when he spoke of his 'Aasmaan ka tokda' -Hum bhi rang be-rangi sheesho mein chuppe apne aasmaan ke tokde ko dhoondne 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. He also shared with the audience his intimate relationship with books and the generation next's growing distance from them.

This legendary personality spoke about the renewing challenges that life throws our way with his "jindagi ki baazi khatm ho jaye to patte phir se batate hain.." The audience were invited to an enthusiastic interaction where he discussed some of his favorite nazms, purposefully refraining from movies as he felt that there were 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 tehkhane mein rakhi hai yaaden ...jab bhi ji chahta hai.chala jata hun aur so jata hun 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 the alumni and that he looked forward to the alumnis' greater participation.