Kolkata, : Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, celebrated its 64thFoundation Day celebrations by hosting the 35th Lecture of Institute Lecture Series by Dr. Ajai Chowdhry on the subject, "India as a product nation...from middle income trap to a developed nation" and the Distinguished Alumnus Award ceremony at the campus auditorium today.
The event began with the introduction to the Institute Lecture Series by Professor Soumyakanti Chakraborty, Chairperson, MBA Programme. He said, “The Institute Lecture Series is more than just a series of talks; it is a platform for insightful discussion, intellectual growth, and inspiration. Each lecture brings our students, faculty, and guests into contact with influential voices from academia, industry, government, and beyond, offering perspectives that challenge us to think deeply about the social, economic, and technological transformations that define our era. Through these interactions, we aim to cultivate a broader and more nuanced understanding of our role as responsible citizens and future leaders. Today, it is our privilege to welcome Dr. Ajai Chowdhry, Co-Founder of HCL and Chairman of the EPIC Foundation, as our esteemed Chief Guest”.
While introducing the Distinguished Alumnus award by Professor Sumanta Basu, Dean (Development & External Relations), he said, “"The Distinguished Alumnus Award (DAA) was instituted in the Year 2011, the Golden Jubilee Year of the Institute. So far, 75 of our illustrious alumni have been conferred with this Award. With three awards being conferred this evening we reach the total number of 78. This Distinguished Alumnus Award of 2024 is our modest way of honouring and felicitating those of our alumni who have made significant contributions to corporate leadership, entrepreneurship and public policy. This award is also meant to confer recognition on those of our alumni who have contributed to IIMC through their continued support and engagement in activities related to institutional development". He concluded by saying that "the Distinguished Alumnus Award ceremony is a way of celebrating our collective glory that has been made us Joka Tribe, as our students proudly call themselves. This ceremony gives us a forum to celebrate our pursuit of excellence, camaraderie, connect, collective learning, and our firm commitment to see the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta reach greater heights as it prepares for the future."
IIM Calcutta Director-in-charge, Professor Saibal Chottapdhyay delivered the welcome speech and introduced the Chief Guest. In his welcome address he said, “It is my distinct honour to welcome each one of you as we gather today to celebrate the 64th Annual Foundation Day of IIM Calcutta. This year, we are extremely fortunate to have amongst us Dr. Ajai Chowdhry, Founder- HCL, Chairman – EPIC Foundation as the Chief Guest of today’s event. On behalf of the Institute, I sincerely thank him for accepting our invitation to grace today’s occasion as the chief guest. Ladies and Gentlemen! As we reflect on the years gone by, we remember the founding principles that guided our establishment: a commitment to excellence, a passion for knowledge, and a desire to foster innovation. These ideals continue to drive us forward, inspiring generations of learners and leaders and towards pursuing the vision of the Institute i.e. to be an international centre of excellence in all aspects of management education.
As we look to the future, let us remain adaptable and forward-thinking. The world is changing rapidly, and we must equip our students with the skills necessary to thrive in an ever-evolving landscape. Together, we can continue to build an institution that excels in academia and contributes meaningfully to our communities. Thank you all for being a part of this special day. Here’s to our shared journey and the many milestones yet to come!”.
The 64th Foundation Day and 35th lecture of Institute Lecture Series was delivered by Dr Ajai Chowdhry, Co-Founder - HCL and Chairman - EPIC Foundation. He spoke on the subject, "India as a product nation...from middle income trap to a developed nation".
The event concluded with a ‘Vote of Thanks’ after a ‘Q&A’ session by Professor Bhaskar Chakrabarti, Dean (Academic Programmes).
The IIMC DAA Awardees 2024:
Shri Sameer Gupta
Group Chief Analytics Officer & Managing Director, DBS Bank
IIMC Alumnus – 30th PGP Batch
Throughout a distinguished career spanning almost three decades, Sameer Gupta has led transformative initiatives across major financial institutions and multinational corporations. As Group Chief Analytics Officer & Managing Director at DBS Bank since 2017, he spearheaded the DataFirst and AI transformations, establishing advanced analytics & AI capabilities and implementing a data-driven agile model across the bank. Sameer's growth as a multifaceted leader has been shaped by his international experience across Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Having lived and worked in London, India, and Singapore, he brings a broad global perspective to his leadership and decision-making.
Shri Venkat Viswanathan,
Founder & Chairperson, LatentView Analytics Ltd.
IIMC Alumnus – 30th PGP Batch
Venkat Viswanathan is a first-generation entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience in data analytics & AI, technology, and management consulting. As the Founder and Chairperson, Venkat is the visionary behind LatentView Analytics and served as the CEO of the company from 2006 to 2014. Beyond his role at LatentView, Venkat is a mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs and an active
figure in the startup ecosystem. He has earned numerous accolades, including the “Distinguished Alumnus Award from IIT Madras” in 2017 and the “Entrepreneur of the Year” award in 2014 from CII.
Shri Sanjoy Mukherjee, IPS
Director General & Inspector General of Police (Apex Scale), West Bengal
IIMC Alumnus 23rd PGP Batch
Shri Mukherjee took over the charge of Director General & Inspector General of Police, West Bengal on the 19 th of March, 2024. Shri Mukherjee has received the President’s Police Medal for Meritorious Service and President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service. Shri Mukherjee was then awarded the highly prestigious Chief Minister’s Police Medal for Outstanding Service. Shri Sanjoy Mukherjee IPS is known for his exceptional honesty, integrity, impartiality, professional competence, team leadership, innovative mind, high sincerity in every assignment, humility, courtesy and unwavering social commitment.
The award ceremony was followed by an address by Shri Shrikrishna Kulkarni, Chairperson, Board of Governors, IIM Calcutta. He said, “On the one hand we are witnessing phenomenal progress in technology with Artificial Intelligence being at the heart of this progress. On the other hand, conflictsare increasing around the globe. These conflicts are in all spheres of human endeavor – not just geopolitical, but also economic, commercial, social, inter-personal etc. With so much intelligence and knowledge available to all of us, why we are unable to reduce these conflicts. Are these conflicts which we are witnessing around us, manifestations of the conflicts within us in any way?
It is often said that the wise have lesser conflicts. Why is this so? What is the difference between “intelligence” and “wisdom”? Is wisdom an ability to be reflective, introspective and tolerant of ambiguity? Is wisdom the ability to think beyond our prejudices? Is it the humility to accept the limitations of our knowledge? What quality is necessary to acquire wisdom? A wise man has noted as follows: “knowledge speaks but wisdom listens”.
The one quality that keeps coming to my mind is “inner integrity”. I would like to suggest that “inner integrity”, be considered as the degree of alignment of the positive and negative aspects in our minds, with our intentions, words and actions.
Our inner integrity significantly impacts society. Ethical leadership is crucial in our organizations and communities. Leaders who prioritize inner integrity inspire trust and commitment, fostering environments where people feel valued and respected.
This kind of leadership not only drives success but also encourages social responsibility. Crucially, inner integrity is paramount in a social setting of a teacher and students. Leaders without inner integrity send out energy bereft of positivity, resulting in organizations and communities that are a sea of mistrust – Yatha Raja tatha praja!
As we strive to live authentically, let us remember that our inner integrity is the cornerstone of our character. Let it guide your actions and decisions. As you cultivate this essential quality within yourself, you will undoubtedly inspire others to do the same. Remember, your inner integrity matters – cultivate it, and watch how it transforms your life and the lives of those around you.”
The entire event was concluded with a ‘Vote of Thanks’ by Professor Soumyakanti Chakraborty, Chairperson, MBA Programme.
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