BITS Alumni Association BITSAA – Delhi celebrated the Golden Jubilee on Saturday 29 September 2007 by organizing a Seminar on Restructuring Indian Education System – Challenges & Opportunities at the Taj Mahal Hotel New Delhi.
The proceedings started with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp and invocation in the voice of proud to be a BITSian Shanti Sharma (nee Vaidyanathan)
Proud to be a BITSian Shri Prithviraj Chavan Minister of State in Prime Minister’s Office and General Secretary of the Congress Party was the Chief Guest and Dr Narendra Jadhav Vice Chancellor Pune University & Ex RBI Economic Advisor delivered the keynote address. In his inaugural address, the chief guest appreciated the role of BITS Pilani in fostering Industry University Collaboration so vital for the nation building task and lamented that while the nation had raced to attain the quantity figures in higher education focus was needed on the quality aspects. Dr Jadhav thundered that the nation should not wait any further in encouraging innovations in the education system.
In the session on Restructuring Higher Education which was chaired by Shri S M Agarwal Advisor Board of Directors Hindustan Times Ltd, Prof L K Maheshwari Vice Chancellor BITS Pilani and Proud to be a BITSian Dr L S Ganesh currently Professor and Head of the Department of Management Studies IIT Madras spoke on Innovations at the Universities. Proud to be a BITSiam Dr Vinod K Agarwal Chairman & CEO SemIndia and Mr Adesh Jain Chairman International Project Management Association (IPMA) spoke on the Industries Perspective.
The final session on Applied Research: University – Industry Partnership was chaired by proud to be a BITSian Chairman Steel Authority of India (SAIL) Shri S K Roongta. The Industry perspective was presented by Proud to be a BITSian Shri Yogesh C Vaidya Chairman STG International and Mr Prabir Jha Global Head HR & Corporate Communication Dr Reddy’s Laboratories (DRL). The University Response aspects were presented by Shri Hemant Kumar Senior Vice President Texmaco and Prof D Acharya former Chairman AICTE and presently Director IIT Kharagpur.
The evening cultural activities shifted to the Stein Auditorium in India Habitat Centre with kick off speech by Shri Prithviraj Chavan. BITSAA Delhi honored the dignitaries present which included veteran Prof I J Nagrath. Vice Chancellor BITS Pilani honored the BITSAA Delhi buddies who had organized the Golden Jubilee celebrations. Proud to be a BITSian Raj Kumar who conquered South Pole was yet another star for the evening.
It was nostalgia all over when Dinesh Sharma in his evergreen Saigal Voice transformed the Stein Auditorium to that of BITS Pilani Auditorium. BITS alumnus Shri Sharma from Jaipur rendered the Manna Dey song A meri zohr Zabi and established that Love indeed strengthens with age. Mr Puri a class mate of Prof I J Nagrath sang a swinging difficult number and had the audience eating out of his hands.
The folks from the Music Club of BITS Pilani by their performance made it clear to the audience that if today’s leaders came from BITS Pilani yesterday, tomorrow’s leaders come from BITS Pilani today. Dr L S Ganesh veteran of the music club of 70s at Pilani sang a passionate number to remind everyone that his Music still expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.
For the Golden Jubilee celebrations steel major SAIL and Manufacturing Giant Bharat Forge were the Principal Sponsors while pmguruonline.com, Jindal Stainless, Best Western Resort Country Club, Hindustan Prefab Ltd and Ralli Properties were the Associate Sponsors.
The celebrations concluded with a grand dinner session at India Habitat Centre.
