A meeting of the alumni students of Mahatma Education Society’s Mahatma Night Degree College of Arts and Commerce was organized on Tuesday, 20th December, 2016. Venue of the meeting was the ground floor multipurpose hall of the Chembur Campus and time 7.00 p.m.
The objective of the Alumni meeting was to provide a platform for alumni to gather and network. It was an opportunity for them to catch up with the college and teachers and find ways and possibilities of connecting with the college to benefit from it and to offer it help and services. It was an occasion to muse down memory lane and recall happy college days.
The meeting started at 7.00 p.m. with Principal Padma Rangan madam addressing the gathering. She welcomed the students and took attendance. Students from several batches had reported. There were groups of students from as old as the 1999 batch. Students passing out from 2006, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 were present. Over 145 students attended the function. Teachers present were Professor Dongre, Professor Dube of Mahatma Night Junior College, Dr. Lata Krishnan, Professor Eknath Zhrekar, Professor Anaya Markandeya, Professor Tushar Pawar, Professor Harsh Shukla and Professor Vijayalaxmi Saini. Principal Dr. Padma Rangan Chaired the meeting.
During the formal function Principal Padma Rangan spoke to the students and expressed her joy in seeing a large turn out of alumni for the meet. She welcomed them wholeheartedly. She said it was the homecoming of the students to their Alma Mater. Madam said that the alumni represented the college in society. The alumni were their champions and stood for the ideals for which it stands. The college Principal and teachers were all proud of the achievements, progress and positions held by the alumni in society today.
Principal Madam felicitated the MMS Masters in Management Studies graduates who had successfully completed their course from Pillai Institute of Management Studies & Research, Rasyani and requested them to introduce themselves detailing position held at workplace. The students were happy to explain that Dr. K. M. Vasudevan Pillai, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Mahatma Education Society’s Pillai Group of Institutions sponsored 10 topper students of 2012 batch to the MMS course and also offered them placement facility. These MMS students shared their experience and expressed their gratitude to the college, Principal and Pillai Sir for their successful career.
Principal Padma Rangan Madam appealed to the alumni to donate a reference book to the college. She requested each one of them to donate one reference book of their choice to the college library. She wanted to create a section in the library where she would stock these books and document it as donated by the alumni of MNDC.
Padma Madam offered the students an opportunity to enroll for the YEP Youth Employability Programme as she is conducting this for the T.Y.B.Com. students. She reassured the alumni that if sufficient alumni enrolled, she would start a separate YEP batch for them. She invited them to the campus interviews organized in college and said that they may participate incase they are looking for a better career or change of job.
Students from 1999, 2011 and 2012 came up in groups to speak to the Principal and teachers. Students from 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 also came forward to talk and share. They were excited to explain their progress and position in life. Many students were well placed in government and private organizations. They held positions in the finance departments, Logistics companies, HR Departments, banks, insurance companies etc. Many had started their own enterprises and were successful entrepreneurs.
While the alumni arrived in batches and addressed the gathering there was cheering, laughter and joy in the air. They came with flowers and chocolates to meet their friends, teachers and Principal. Principal Padma Rangan was felicitated with a bouquet of flowers. A cake was cut and snacks distributed. The formal function was followed by music and dance. The alumni all shook a leg and clicked pictures with old friends and teachers. Nostalgic moments, peels of laughter, hugs and tears of joy all came to an end as the alumni meet closed at 9.30 p.m.
The power of social media brought them to the Alumni meet. While students, teachers and alumni connect on social media, the success of the alumni meet and its large turn out is a proof that face-to-face meetings are real, valuable and still popular. Alumni meets are precious! It was decided to start a WhatsApp group and Gmail group of the alumni students to enable a smart connect, sharing and interaction with the alumni.