Udupi: Manipal University alumni get nostalgic at reunion

Bellevision Media Network

Udupi, 21 Dec 2015: Memories of decades ago came flooding back to their minds as they stepped on the campus of Manipal University for a reunion. Third weekend of December every year is when the University holds a formal reunion function. And, on Saturday December 19, there were about 500-odd ‘old students’ from the different institutions reliving the past in what they said was a, ‘Completely transformed Manipal.’

 

The formal reunion function at the lawns of Fortune Inn Valley View was an occasion for all of them to come together. Individually, the institutions chalked out programmes for their alumni -- Beaches, dinners, parties, sight-seeing and visiting favourite spots – just as they did three, four or more decades ago. It was a nostalgic and memorable week-end in Manipal for all of them.

 

 

A number of the 1966 batch of engineering students were here and one among them, M G George Muthoot, now chairman of The Muthoot Group, was honored with the Distinguished Alumnus Award 2015. He joined in Mechanical Engineering from Manipal Institute Technology in 1966 and thereafter attended various Executive Management Courses at Harvard Business School. He joined the family business at a young age and became its Managing Director in 1979. He took over as the Chairman of the Group in 1993.

 

George Muthoot recalled the ‘good old days,’ in a speech lasting well over half an hour. He spoke of the good times he had with friends from different parts of the country, how he picked up 11 languages in those 4 years, except Konkani, and credited Manipal University for what he is today. ‘This has greatly helped me in my family business, because when we spread our business pan India, I could speak to people in their tongue,’ he said.

 

‘I spent the most bubbling years of my youth here in Manipal. I cherish those years and the learning that immensely benefited me at every stage of my professional life. I had no choice for caste, creed or religion and different customs, traditions and practices. I enjoyed everything,’ he said.

 

‘But for the Pai family, I would not have become an engineer,’ he added. ‘All those who have gone from Manipal have become outstanding people in their chosen fields. He mentioned Microsoft’s Satya Nadella and Nokia’s Rajeev Suri who are alumni of this great institution. ‘When I read that they too are from the same engineering institute where I studied, I was truly happy.’

 

Vice President Faculty Development and Alumni Relations, Dr K Ramnarayan while welcoming the gathering said, ‘Each one of you is a star and the lodestar is George Muthoot. We thank you for coming back and for maintaining the link. Each one of you is an ambassador, each one of you represents Manipal wherever you are and the ambassadorship is life long. Delivering the closing remarks, Director Alumni Relations Prasanna Kailaje thanked the alumni for coming from far off places. He said Manipal University was in the process of bringing together all the alumni and hoped to have more of them here the next time.