Convocation 2007

TAPMI celebrated the 21^st Annual Convocation day on 24^th March 2007. The Batch of 2005 – 2007 received their Post-Graduate Degrees in Management on this solemn Saturday evening at Valley View International, Manipal. It was a moment of pride for the institution, the parents of all the students who received their degrees, and also, a moment of respect for the junior students, who saw their seniors adorn the stage after two years of rigorous hard work.

Shri Lakshmi Narayanan, the Vice Chairman of Cognizant Technology Solutions was the Chief Guest on this occasion. In his Convocation address, the Chief Guest spoke of the importance of entrepreneurship, innovation and embedded leadership in today’s organizations. In the course of his lucid speech he shared an anecdote which illustrated holistic approach and shared responsibility for a robust society:

A farmer bought quality seeds not only for his farm but for all the farms surrounding his fields. On being asked, why, he answered: to make sure that the quality of pollens from the surrounding farms are not inferior! Thus by buying superior quality seeds for his neighbors, he ensured the quality product of his farm as well!

Shri Narayanan has played a key role in the global information technology industry for the past 25 years. Since 1994, he has been instrumental in formulating the Cognizant’s strategy, building and managing the organization’s development centers in India.

The evening began with the lighting of the lamp and an invocation song. It was followed by a short speech by Dr. K. K. Pai, who congratulated the institute on taking the big step towards the construction of the new campus. The Director, Prof D. Nagabrahmam, read the annual report. He spoke of the achievements of the students and faculty in the past year. The faculty was commended for the distinctions they have achieved in their respective research fields. Everyone was proud to learn that the outgoing batch had made their mark in the outside world, by winning some of the most coveted prizes in the management festival circuit. This was followed by the oath taken by the students and the graduation ceremony.

For the first time this year students from the Executive Post Graduate Programme conducted at the Bangalore centre (TAPMI – CEE), also received their degrees at Manipal.

No batch is complete without a set of extra-ordinary achievers! The Special Merit Awards were presented by the Chairman, Shri K. K. Pai, to the outstanding performers of the batch. This year, the three most meritorious students, in the order of their ranks, were Dr. Sandesh Ramesh Prabhu, Mr. Rohit Nishant and Mr. M. Arun Kumar. Dr. Sandesh Prabhu also bagged the Dr. S. Dandapani Award for Academic Excellence and the Agrevo “Student of the Year” award. Mr. M. Arun Kumar received the Dr. A. S. Aiyer Memorial Award for being the most meritorious student in Finance. Ms. Harini Kandimalla and Ms. Aparna Setya, received the Smt. Gangamma Ammannaya Award as the best lady students in Marketing and Finance, respectively.

One of the biggest assets of TAPMI is the quantum of research and academic work that is carried out in the institute throughout the year. This includes collaborative research projects by the students and the faculty members. The compilation of all these papers, in the form of three Compendiums –Academic Research Papers, Market Research Papers and NGO Projects, were released by the members of the Governing Council. The annual newsletter Update 2007, which compiles the achievements and events of the academic year gone by, was also released on this occasion.

The evening ended with vote of thanks and the National Anthem. This was followed by dinner on the Valley View lawns. By the time, the students and their parents started leaving there was a feeling of nostalgia creeping in. An institution teaches you a lot more than the courses. It teaches one to carry with oneself a mark of the alma mater, so that wherever he/she goes, the values carry far and wide! It is no wonder that the pollens from surrounding farms are so important: the challenge is to take everyone along on the path of success. TAPMI wishes the batch of 2005 – 07 the very best on their journey called life!