Life at IIM Calcutta came to a formal end for another batch of students on the 3rd of April 2010. With the successful completion of its 45th Annual Convocation ceremonies IIM Calcutta has successfully educated another batch of students to face the challenges of business in the real world.

Sandeep Pandey, the Berkeley-educated social activist, and Magsaysay award winner was the chief guest for the occasion. His speech served as a reminder of all that we forget too often during the day-to-day of corporate life. He stressed the importance of the primary sector of the economy and on the need for ethics in every stage of corporate decision making. He sat down to general applause, acknowledgement that his ideas resonated with most in the auditorium at one level or another.

The day began when the latest batch of graduating doctoral students, PGDM, PGDCM and PGPEX students marched in the Convocation parade led by members of the faculty. Chairman-PGP, Prof. Prashant Mishra, Chairman-FP, Prof. Bhaskar Chakravarty and Chairman-PGPEX Prof. Biju Paul Abraham spoke about each of the programs and awarded academic honours to the top performing students. A variety of other extra-curricular awards were also given out. Chairman Board of Governors, Rediff-founder and IIM Calcutta old boy, Ajit Balakrishnan spent his time at the podium recounting how IIM Calcutta fared in thought leadership for the year and highlighted research achievements by faculty. The ceremonies concluded with mellifluous music and the national anthem.

The day ended with everyone marching out in their robes and with a rain of black convocation caps on the steps of IIM Calcutta’s iconic auditorium looking resplendent alongside the lake bathed in stunning lighting. As family members applauded and looked on proudly, the students took every last opportunity to take pictures and catch up with friends, perhaps for the last time in a long time.

Convocations are sombre affairs masked under the garb of revelry. Achievements etched in paper and invisible bonds sealed for a lifetime, the latest batch of graduates to bear the title of “Alumni of IIM Calcutta” marched onwards; exiting the main gate of the institute onto the long road of life.