The Hindu : New Delhi News : Not just another alumni meet

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Aug 05, 2006

New Delhi

New Delhi

Not just another alumni meet

Madhur Tankha

NEW DELHi: The ball has been set rolling for the annual Pan IIT Alumni Global Conference at Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai on December 23. The three-day event is expected to see the participation of 5,000 delegates comprising Indian Institutes of Technology alumni, United Progressive Alliance's ministers, bureaucrats and international entrepreneurs from across the world.

The event will not be just another congregation of IIT alumni. In fact, it will be about starting a movement in which issues like how IITians can give something back to society and contribute towards the task of nation building will be explored.

The conference will encourage IIT alumni to take up large and small projects to build the country into a knowledge economy and improve standards of living.

Speaking at a press conference here on Friday, Mastek Limited Chairman Ashank Desai said: "In the upcoming conference, IIT will not stand for Indian Institutes of Technology but for `Inspire, Involve and Transform'. The event will not be just about speeches but about inspiring IITians to involve themselves in nation building. The event will be marked by formation of groups to take up small and large projects and the panel discussion on various issues will involve bureaucrats, politicians, academia and industry executives so that some concrete action is taken on the ground. Issues discussed at the event will include how to lift 260 million people out of poverty in one generation and how can people learn from successful entrepreneurs."

During the three-day event, various topics like "Getting the Governance You Want" will be covered in a series of sessions with time for networking.

Also on the cards is a Bollywood night in which well-known Hindi film personalities will perform live and an interactive session with the Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar will be held.

Pan IIT India Chairman Pradeep Gupta said: "Over the years, more than 3 lakh individuals have graduated from the seven IITs across the country, getting into various key positions in the country and abroad. Having tasted success and made names for themselves, these IITians have never lost their affinity for their country. They all hold a common dream of seeing India at the helm of global affairs, as a country looked upon by all the other nations and a country that is prosperous and developed."