Newsdigest for the IITD Alumni Association

1.Annual Gathering of IITians at Gurgaon
IIT Delhi Alumni Association (NCR) Gurgaon chapter organized its annual bash at Gurgaon on 9th December 2006 at MDI Campus. This year's extravaganza included musical programme and Fire Display show to attract greater participation. Event was a great success and was filled with fun and frolic for more than 250 gathering of both alumni and their families.

This event was supported by Elnova Pvt. Ltd (Vishnu Sahai, 69/BT/EL), Fortis Healthcare Ltd (Daljit Singh, 74/BT/CH), Hewlett-Packard Sales India Ltd. (Ravi Raj Sagar, 78/BT/ME), Classteacher Learning Systems (Sameer Buti, 95/BT/ME) and Pepsico (Frito-lay Division).


For the first time one could see 25 percent participation by the enthusiastic younger alumni.
For this event organizers had received confirmations of participation from more than 350 alumni and their family surpassing all previous targets. However, a note of little discontent was that even after their conformation by e-mails, 47 percent of the alumni did not turn-up. This was of course little disappointment for the organizing team.

It will not be out of place to mention that around 400 IITD alumni are spread all over the upcoming millennium city Gurgaon, occupying key positions in society and industry. According to Dr. Deepak Dogra and Ashok Panjwani attempt will be made to focus activities as well as any such technology development initiatives that are critical to give a kick start to the booming industry of Gurgaon. This push is particularly important at a time when Gurgaon is leaping towards one of the biggest industrial and IT hub in the country. Since IITs have produced the best technical talent in the world, it is befitting that they fill this vacuum and provide leadership and guidance for any such initiatives towards the technological growth of Gurgaon in the future. This would be beneficial to the citizen of Gurgaon, as basic issues of concern like water, power and infrastructure would be brainstormed.


President IITD Alumni Association also shared his thoughts and vision of and the linkages that would result with the alma mater to ensure greater glory to the institute and greater recognition to IITDAA.

The celebration ended with a Fire Display and gala dinner.

2. Silver Jubilee Reunion Batch of 1982.

SILVER JUBILEE REUNION BATCH 1982

The Silver Jubilee Reunion of 1982 Batch, held from 28-30 December 2006 at IIT Delhi, was attended by 53 alumni and their families. The Reunion got off to an early start with some of the 1982 its arriving as early as 27^th December to spend time with locally resident alumni. They also took a tour of the city visiting their old time favorite hang outs in town. With the D-Day (28^th December) nearing some half-a-dozen participants had already checked in at Nalanda Guest House. The 28^th morning started with the first formal activity of the SJ event (visits to the Laboratories / Departments, etc.) where the faculty and laboratory staff were eagerly waiting to welcome the alumni.

This was followed by lunch at the Sports Stadium. After lunch, the Director and faculty and the alumni present, who were about three-dozen strong by now, moved to the Senate Room for the customary meeting with the faculty members; while the families enjoyed games at Hockey Grounds. During the meeting, the Director appraised the Silver Jubilee Batch Alumni about the landmarks the Institute had achieved till date and its plan for the future. The alumni introduced themselves and briefed the gathering about their careers and achievements over the twenty five years since graduation. Thereafter there was a lively, free and frank exchange of views on all relevant issues. The Alumni with their families then moved to the Director’s Lodge for the Director’s Tea and enjoyed a delightful high tea with delectable snacks in the idyllic setting of the lawns. The Director presented the gentlemen alumni with the Institute tie and the lady alumni with shawls.

By 7:30 pm the center of action moved to the RCA Terrace. The group was there in full strength to enjoy the music, dancing, eats, etc. at the RCA Terrace.

At 11:00 p.m. dinner had to be served to bring Day -1 to an end - before the clock would force it to be called Day 2. The celebrations stretched well beyond midnight moving over to the Nalanda Guest House and the alumni staying there. A good number of those living in the NCR reluctantly left for home, hoping to be back early next morning to catch up with more of the fun.

Day-2 started on breakfast hosted by Jwala Hostel, which was a scrumptious spread surpassing any standards for a hostel.

The SJ batch then gathered on a grassy mound with the Main Building in the backdrop for the tree plantation ceremony, leaving at the Institute a permanent reminder of the Silver Jubilee; and a group photograph to carry back indelible memories of the reunion.

The group reassembled at Nalanda to board the bus and many cars to head for the venue for the night out planned at BEST WESTERN RESORTS Country Club off the 56 km. Milestone on NH-8 (Jaipur Highway). A well laid out buffet with ample indoor seating awaited them. There was good news that some alumni scheduled to join on Day 1, but delayed by rescheduled / rerouted flights finally caught up and joined the celebrations.

Lunch over, the lawns enveloped in a warm, bright, late afternoon winter sunshine beckoned. Some just lazed and “gupped”. For the children / families there was plenty to do - animal rides, cricket, tug of war, tambola (a hit with the ladies), card games, chess, animal / bird cage(s), skittles/bowling track, swings, hammocks, etc.

The entertainment being led by the DJ playing favorite music tracks the dance floor was packed and the dancing lively. Narrations and recollections from the IIT days were well mixed with a wide variety of snacks. The festivities, of course, went on well beyond midnight.

Morning of Day 3 started on more of an individual focus, with families packing up and fewer and smaller groups of 2 or 3 seen chatting and still catching up. With no planned activity, breakfast was a relaxed affair. Packed and with still time to spare some were seen enjoying / relaxing in the bright warm sunshine on the lush green lawns. And finally, by 12:45 pm the bus was loaded and ready to leave for the trip back to Nalanda Guest House, IIT campus. And so came to an end the STORY of SJ '82.

3. PanIIT 2006

The PanIIT 2006 held in Mumbai from 23-25 December. More than 4000 alumni participated in the PanIIT 2006. PanIIT 2006 is a first of its kind event, which brings together IIT alumni from across the world on single platform to work together to transform Indian into a global powerhouse. The event’s theme was Inspire to involve and Transform.

PanIIT 2006 was a platform to consolidate these efforts and, at the same time, inspire and involve a large number of IITians in nation-building activities.

Distinguished Alumni (DA) event held on 22^nd Dec at NSC, Mumbai. All Distinguished Alumni are invited (DA, DASA, OCND) of IITD. Theme of DA meeting was: a) Technical Education (b) Collaborative Ecosystem (c) Rural Entrepreneurship (d) The Saptadrishti Project then followed by cocktails & dinner meeting with top CEOs/Chairman of corporate Mumbai. Shri S.M. Krishna, Governor of Maharashtra, presided chief guest and Shri Kapil Sibal, Union Minister of Science & Technology, Chief Guest and Guest of honour was Shri Vilasrao Deshmukh, CM of Maharashtra. DA meeting helped to chart out future course of action for PanIIT.

Many of the keynote presentations from the alumni conference are available as on-demand webcasts at http://www.24framesdigital.com/paniit2006/.