5TH GLOBAL ALUMNI MEET AT PANJAB UNIVERSITY

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The Hon’ble Vice-President of India and Chancellor of Panjab University (PU), Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar, today urged PU alumni to actively contribute to the growth and development of their alma mater. 

A large number of PU alumni, including the Governor of Gujarat, Acharya Devvrat; former Governor and Commissioner of Police of Delhi, Mr K.K. Paul; former Director General of the National Disaster Response Force, Mr Atul Karwal; Padma Bhushan awardee and Editor-in-Chief of The Print, Mr Shekhar Gupta; former Secretary to the President of India, Ms Omita Paul; Chairman & CEO of Nova Asset Management, USA, Dr Arun Verma; Global Senior Director at Jaguar Land Rover, North America, Dr Amandeep S. Bhullar; and International Strategic Advisor to the Hinduja Group, Mr Sunil Chadha, were present on the occasion.

The Alumni Meet was organised on the theme of “Promoting Collaboration for Excellence & Sustainability.”

Addressing the 5th Global Alumni Meet of PU at the packed PU Law Auditorium, Shri Dhankhar emphasised the vital role that alumni can play in shaping the future of both the university and the nation. 

Calling upon the alumni to give back to Panjab University by leveraging its resources and uplifting the institution to new heights, Shri Dhankhar stressed the significance of alumni involvement in areas such as curriculum development, governance mechanisms, and fostering critical thinking and innovation within the university. "It is institutions that are crucibles of innovation and research. They catalyse big change, they create concepts," he noted, emphasising that universities like Panjab University can play a key role in driving progress and transformation. 

Shri Dhankhar also highlighted the immense power that alumni can unlock by coming together in a structured and organised manner. “Just imagine the power of the alumni of institutions if they act in a structured manner. If they nurture their alma mater, the results will not be geometrical, they will be incremental!” He encouraged the alumni to actively participate in the university’s growth by contributing time, expertise, and resources.

Shri Dhankhar infused his speech with both humour and deep reflection, urging the alumni to come together and form a Confederation of Alumni Associations. “The collective strength that alumni can bring to support their alma mater is immense,” he remarked, underscoring how unity could amplify their impact in strengthening Panjab University’s ecosystem. 

Shri Dhankhar also posed a thought-provoking question to the alumni: “Has the rich resource of alumni of this prestigious university exploited its resources, its talent, or potential to nurture this institution?” 

Encouraging alumni to focus on entrepreneurship and national progress, Shri Dhankhar also called for them to inspire the next generation of leaders, particularly in the field of entrepreneurship. He urged them to guide the youth in becoming drivers of change and progress. “We must inspire the youth in entrepreneurship, helping them become drivers of change,” said Shri Dhankhar, noting that this is the right moment for such contributions, as India approaches the last quarter of its first centenary. 

The Vice-President emphasised that Panjab University alumni could play a key role in shaping the national landscape through active engagement under the framework of the National Education Policy (NEP). He also pointed out that the transformation of India into a Viksit Bharat (Developed India) significantly depends on the vital contributions of higher educational institutions. He called on the alumni to become part of a collective effort to engage more think tanks under the NEP banner and to contribute to India’s educational reforms.During his address, Shri Dhankhar stressed that when it comes to national interest, partisan approaches should be set aside and the focus should be solely on the nation’s progress. He said, "Let our instinct be fired only by nationalism." He further added that the country cannot afford to engage in politics at the cost of national unity and development. Expressing concern over some states not adopting the National Education Policy 2020, Shri Dhankhar noted that this was “inconceivable on any rational ground” and attributed this lack of adoption to insufficient pressure from academia, intelligentsia, and journalism. 

The Vice-President also cautioned against the forces working against the nation’s progress, particularly those driven by fiscal power and self-interest. “Such forces are powerful because they are fuelled by fiscal power, which is very tempting. When people fall prey to it, they forget the nation-first principle for a moment,” he observed. He urged that disorder should not be allowed to prevail, and that the nation’s progress must remain paramount. 

In symbolic but powerful support to "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam Campaign", Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar and his spouse Dr Sudesh Dhankhar planted saplings at the Panjab University campus in memory of their late mothers, Smt Kesari Devi and Smt Bhagwati Devi.

Congratulating the alumni for excelling in their respective fields, the Governor of Gujarat and an alumnus of Panjab University Centre for Distance and Online Education, Acharya Devvrat, highlighted how their achievements serve as an inspiration to current students, who will play a vital role in building a Viksit Bharat. In his motivational address, he celebrated the university’s legacy of shaping global leaders and reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to academic excellence, leaving the audience motivated and proud. 

Acharya Devvrat gave an illustration of a moral lesson involving a monkey and a bird regarding a fire incident, where the bird said she wanted to always be remembered as someone who tried to extinguish the fire, and the monkey as instigating the fire. He urged everyone to be like the bird, decreasing divides and not increasing them. He also praised Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi for his leadership. 

While addressing the gathering, former Governor and an alumnus of Panjab University’s Chemistry Department, Dr Krishan Kant Paul (Retd. IPS), shared cherished memories of his journey at Panjab University, weaving a tapestry of personal anecdotes that resonated deeply with the audience. Recalling his childhood, he spoke of how his father, a faculty member at PU, created an intellectually stimulating environment at home, where thought-provoking discussions were a daily norm. 

Dr Paul reminisced about joining PU in 1964 as a student of the Honours School in Chemistry. He spoke fondly of his active participation in sports and highlighted the innovative and cost-effective efforts undertaken by faculty in those days, driven not by abundant resources but by high morale and an unshakable commitment to progress.

In his nostalgic speech, Mr Shekhar Gupta, the founder of The Print and an alumnus of Panjab University’s School of Communication Studies, expressed his deep gratitude and honour at being remembered by his alma mater. Reflecting on his journey, he shared how, when he came to study journalism, he was initially unaware of PU's towering strength in science and its pivotal role in fostering basic research. He recounted the serendipitous turn of events that led him to join the Department of Journalism. On a visit to the university to get his marksheet corrected, he learned about the entrance test for the journalism course happening that very afternoon. Taking a chance, he appeared for the test, cleared it, and embarked on a life-changing academic journey. His speech highlighted the unpredictable yet transformative role Panjab University played in shaping his career.

Reflecting on the vibrant campus life of the late 1970s, Mr Gupta spoke about the excellent sports facilities, including the tennis courts, which were a hub of activity and camaraderie. However, he wished that Panjab University would invest more in enhancing its sports infrastructure, emphasising its importance in nurturing holistic development among students. He also recounted his early career at The Indian Express after the lifting of the Emergency, a transformative period that shaped his journalistic journey. His speech was a mix of nostalgia, personal anecdotes, and a vision for PU's future, leaving the audience inspired. He said that India needs to have more public universities.

Mr Atul Karwal, IPS officer and Director General of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and an alumnus of the University Business School, Panjab University, delivered an engaging and insightful speech that captivated the alumni and guests. Reflecting on his time at Panjab University, he shared humorous and relatable stories from his student days. He credited his alma mater for broadening his perspective.

He went on to narrate his inspiring journey into the Indian Police Service (IPS) in 1988 and his subsequent rise to head the NDRF. Karwal recalled a moment of national pride on 6 February 2023, when India pledged its support to Turkey following a devastating earthquake. Within hours, a team of 152 rescuers, equipped with essential tools and vehicles, was dispatched to Turkey, providing critical humanitarian assistance. The Indian team’s efforts were widely praised, enhancing India's global standing and improving bilateral relations with Turkey, he added.

Earlier, PU Vice Chancellor Prof. Renu Vig welcomed the Vice-President of India and all the alumni at the Alumni Meet. She thanked Shri Dhankhar, who is also the ex-officio Chancellor of Panjab University, for his constant support to the university and his concern for its welfare. She described him as a guiding force behind the academic and research ecosystem of the campus. She also mentioned various alumni who had arrived from different countries to participate in the Global Alumni Meet.

Celebrating achievements, fostering collaboration, and strengthening ties with their alma mater, more than 1,200 alumni from across the globe participated in the day-long global meet. Highlights of the day included honouring the Golden Batch (1974) and Silver Batch (1999), departmental meets hosted by various departments and centres, and special citations for outstanding alumni.