IIM Bangalore is all set to host a series of events to mark their Foundation Week for the momentous Golden Jubilee. The 4-day celebration will be inaugurated by the Hon’ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, on 26th October 2023.
The first day of the celebrations, to be held at the IIMB Auditorium between 4 pm and 5 pm will include the President delivering an address, releasing a book on the IIMB campus, and a film on IIMB. She will also digitally flag off ‘Swarna Twaran’, the 50-hour Golden Jubilee relay walkathon on campus by students, faculty, staff, and alumni of the institute. The Hon’ble Governor of Karnataka, Shri Thaawar Chand Gehlot, will participate in the inauguration and address the gathering. The event will include addresses by Dr. Devi Prasad Shetty, Chairperson, Board of Governors, IIM Bangalore, and Prof. Rishikesha T Krishnan, Director, IIM Bangalore. This inauguration is a restricted event due to protocols involving the President’s visit.
The book to be released by the President is titled: ‘The Making of a Campus: IIM Bangalore’. Authored by Kiran Keswani, it tells the story of the architecture of IIM Bangalore and of the people who have inhabited its ‘spaces’ and made it into the ‘place’ that it is. It shares how this campus came into being and how it has been experienced over time. The book includes narratives built from talking to IIMB’s faculty and staff as well as tells the story of the design and planning efforts of Chief Architect Dr. Balkrishna Doshi, Architect Achyut Kanvinde, and Architect Sanjay Mohe towards the making of this campus. The book is designed as a visual commentary on the architecture of the IIMB campus and is illustrated with color photographs. The photographs depict different phases of development – from the time when the canopies and creepers had not yet entirely enveloped the buildings.
The events to be held on 27th October include the presentation of Young Achievement Awards and Staff Recreation Club (SRC) Awards by the Director from 10 am to 11 am; felicitation of former employees from 11 am to 12 noon; cultural program by the IIMB community from 2.30 pm to 5.30 pm; Business Quiz Finale for alumni and students and Alumni Shark Tank Finale for alumni and students from 6 pm to 10 pm – all at the IIMB Auditorium.
On Foundation Day, on 28th October, there is an Alumni Leadership Conclave on Corporate Excellence, and the presentation of Alumni Service Awards will be held from 9.30 am to 1.30 pm, at the Auditorium. The Director’s Foundation Day address will take place from 2 pm to 2.30 pm, at the Auditorium. The Foundation Day Lecture on, ‘Reimagining Capitalism in a World on Fire’, to be held at the Auditorium from 2.30 pm to 4.30 pm, will be led by American Economist Professor Rebecca Henderson of the Harvard Business School. Dr. Henderson is one of 25 University Professors at Harvard, a Research Fellow at the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) and a Fellow of both The British Academy and of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. She also has more than 25 years of major public board experience. The awards for long service for IIMB faculty and staff will be presented at the Auditorium from 4.30 pm to 5.30 pm.
On 28th October, from 6 pm to 8 pm, IIMB’s PGP alumna and noted classical vocalist Manasi Prasad and her group will present ‘Suvarna Sangeet’ – a grand music presentation by a 50-member ensemble bringing together a wide range of music genres, from Indian classical to Western classical with fusion and world music elements. Members of the IIMB student music and dance clubs ‘Dhwani’ and ‘Taal’ will be part of the event. The concert is open to the public and will be held at the Open Air Theatre. Rooted in tradition, yet incorporating global influences, the music presentation is envisaged as a reflection of IIMB’s own ethos of bringing together the best of India and the world. The music is produced and arranged by pianist and producer Shadrach Solomon, and the ensemble features a chorus of singers, Indian veena, flute, violin, and percussion players as well as a Western string ensemble, guitars, keys, and drums. Incorporating lyrics in Sanskrit, Kannada, Hindi, and English, the performance aims to reflect diversity and harmony.
The day will also include the conclusion of the 50-hour relay walkathon at 8 pm (IIMB Main Building parking lot).
A program will be held by the Student Cultural Team with the alumni, from 8.30 pm to 9.30 pm, at L Square and auditorium.
On 29th October, the Alumni Life Fest, Alumni Stand-up Comedy, and alumni interaction with the IIMB Director will be held from 10 am to 1.30 pm, at the Auditorium. While the speakers and panelists would comprise IIMB alumni, the moderators will be IIMB faculty, alumni and students. A program by EEP participants will be held at the auditorium from 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm. The 100 Children Orchestra by the students of Sathya Sai Grama will be held from 6 pm to 7.30 pm, at the OAT.
A Hindi play titled, ‘Gagan Damama Bajyo’ will be presented by the troupe ‘TheatreNama’, on 29th October, from 7.30 pm to 9.30 pm, at the Auditorium. Written by actor-playwright-poet Piyush Mishra and directed by Aashish Rana, the play chronicles the thought process and experiences of the revolutionary hero of the Indian independence movement, Bhagat Singh. Established in Bangalore in 2021, TheatreNama offers theatre in a varied mix of genres, aiming to reach a wide audience through their captivating performances. The troupe has a strength of about 140 members who strive to create a community of theatre lovers.
The Golden Jubilee Foundation Week celebrations at IIM Bangalore also include many other activities and events, some of them online.
