The Indian Institute of Management Bodh Gaya organized its fifth convocation on 6th May 2023 with great elan and grandeur. 199 students for Master of Business Administration (2021-23) were conferred with their respective degrees. The convocation ceremony witnessed the chanting of the Shlokas by the students of IIM Bodh Gaya starting with the Ganesh Vandana followed by the Shikshavalli. Mr. Gaurav Gupta, Founder and CEO of an RBI-licensed NBFC-cum-Fintech Company MoneyWide, declared the convocation open. Ms. Falguni Nayar, Founder and CEO of Nykaa, Mr. Gaurav Gupta, and Dr. Vinita S. Sahay, Director of IIM Bodh Gaya, lit the inaugural lamp and commenced the convocation. Following this, as a customary tradition, students recited the Saraswati Vandana.
After the release of the Convocation Souvenir by Ms. Falguni Nayar, Dr. Sahay presented the Annual Report, congratulated the graduating students, and emphasized the significance of teachers, educators, and people responsible for education in scaling up and skilling up the students of our country, with a population of 1.4 billion and a median age of 28. She stated that the institute strives to cultivate socially responsible and mindful leaders and seriously considered Atmanirbhar Bharat’s mission to spread the word about entrepreneurship. She also mentioned the launch of two full-time residential MBA programmes, MBA (Hospital & Healthcare Management) and MBA (Digital Business Management), for the academic year 2023-24. She advised students, “When entire humanity is in a state of flux, I hope you would have learned the lessons to remain stable, to be in the moment, to witness all that happening and yet be rooted in trueness.” The Director’s address was followed by a presentation, providing glimpses of the Institute’s upcoming campus.
Mr. Gaurav Gupta, a member of BoG, in his welcome address, reflected on the changes in society and the business environment in India since he was a 22-year-old student at an IIM campus 25 years ago. He discussed the effectiveness of UPI in contemporary India. He spoke with pride about the success of Indian startups such as Ola, Oyo, Razorpay, and Zomato, stating, “This is the power of the new India, confident India, and the India that says I can and I will.” He advised students, “Focus on continuous learning and upscaling, and irrespective of how successful you become, always treat others with respect and dignity.”
Later, the Director of IIM Bodh Gaya administered the Management Oath to all graduating MBA students. The Chairman’s Gold Medal, the Director’s Gold Medal, and the Best Student Award were later presented to Sarthak Patidar, Kartikeya, and Ankit Kumar, respectively. After this, students received their degrees from dignitaries.
In her Convocation Address, Ms. Falguni Nayar said, “In today’s world, being equipped with knowledge and higher education is more important. It is imperative to have the ability to think fast, consistently grasp knowledge, and land on your feet. It is a great reminder that change is the only constant, and everything we know can completely turn for the better or worse.” She cited the example of Bodhgaya and Buddha’s journey to enlightenment to highlight the importance of persistence, empathy, and compassion. She advised the graduates to follow their dreams, take risks, learn from their failures, and believe in themselves and their vision. Finally, Mr. Gaurav Gupta announced the closing of the convocation, and the ceremony concluded with the National Anthem.
For the third consecutive year, IIM Bodh Gaya chose to shun the conventional convocation gowns and go completely ethnic. All the students, dignitaries, and faculty members were dressed in traditional Indian attire made of the Bhagalpuri silk, with sarees by females and kurta pajamas by males. The use of Bhagalpuri silk, known for its smooth and delicate texture, enriches the traditional attire with a touch of elegance and is also a nod to the indigenous textiles of Bihar.
