The Millenium frenzy that has gripped the world’s imagination has caught the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, (IIMA) in its sway as well.

In December this year, at least a 1,000 IIMA alumni are expected to converge in their alma mater for a three-day millennium bash, which will include sessions for some serious discussions along with events associated with traditional reunions.

In IIMA’s perception, the ‘millennium reunion’ scheduled for December 24-26 this year, is a "once in-a-lifetime-opportunity" for the students, past and present, to come together to bid adieu to the outgoing millennium and ring in the new one. This premier management institute has spawned some of the greatest managers of the corporate world, with some even acquiring the status of management gurus, but few have been able to revisit their alma mater, for whatever reasons.

And reunions, largely dependent on student and faculty initiative, have always been an ‘now-on and now-off affair’ at the IIMA. It is after a gap of around three years that a reunion is being organised at the institute. "This millennium bash is being positioned as a once in-a-lifetime chance for IIMAites to meet up. That’s the USP of this reunion," says Mr Pushkaraj Shenai, alumni secretary and a second-year post-graduate programnmne (PGP) student at IIMA.

The high point of the reunion will be a talk by a management guru figure, who will not be an IIMA alumnus. "Normally, one would have to shell out a lot of money to listen to a management guru but here it would be free," he explains. An added bonus will be an evening of ghazals to be rendered by one of the leading maestros.

Talking about the activities to be conducted at the reunion, Prof Manikutty, chairman, Alumni Relations & Activities Committee (ARAAC) says: "The main objective is to impart to the reunion a flavour of academics done here and to evoke nostalgia among the alumni of their student days at the institute".

"We want to make the reunion as comfortable, as enjoyable and as memorable as possible for the alumni," adds Pushkaraj. In keeping with this objective, mock classes by the faculty, management refresher seminars, alumni presentations and dinners have been lined up. However, with the alumni spread out across the length and breadth of the globe, tracking them down is no easy task. But already efforts are underway to get in touch with ex-students. "The institute’s alumni department is putting up an exclusive alumni web-site, which is likely to go on-line by August," says Prof Manikutty.

An IIMA alumnus has chapters in US, Singapore, Australia, with the UK chapter expected to become operational soon. Within the country, chapters are active in cities like Pune, Bangalore, Baroda, Hyderabad and of course Ahmedabad in addition to the four metros, which account for a chunk of the alumuni population.

Adds Pushkaraj, "The dorm (dormitory) bonding at IIMA is stronger than the institute culture. On the Internet, we even have cool list categorising ex-students on dorm basis in addition to batchwise listing."

"We are already in touch with 1 around 10 batch representatives and chapter co-ordinators, who will pass the word around. We have already received confirmations from quite a few overseas ex-students," says Pushkaraj.

As far as marshalling financial resources for an event of this magnitude goes, the institute will rely mainly on the institute’s internal funds, in addition to donations and corporate sponsorship. "Funds have never been a problem for the institute. In fact, corporates themselves are eager to sponsor IIMA events, which could be because of the brand equity it gives them to be associated with the institute, he elaborates.

And the country’s premier institute readies to welcome its own back, a novel plan of putting up seed fund exclusively for IIMA alumuni through donations and institute resources is gradually taking shape.

Compiled from Economic Times