The students’ sports complex at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta is all set to get a makeover with a gift of Rs 54 lakh from the institute’s Class of 1987.
IIM Calcutta organised a felicitation ceremony on campus to thank the PGP 22nd batch for its generous contribution. A foundation stone for the upgrade of the multi-utility sports court for basketball, tennis and football was unveiled on the occasion.
IIM Calcutta director Uttam Kumar Sarkar and dean (new initiatives and external relations) Manish Thakur were present at the event attended by faculty members, officials, staff and students. The PGP 22nd batch was represented by Aurindam Dey while other batchmates from across India and abroad joined the event virtually.
“I am happy to know of the generous endowment given by the PGP 22nd batch to help upgrade the state-of-the-art facilities for our sports complex. We at IIM Calcutta are thankful to all our alumni for continuous efforts of giving back,” Sarkar said.
Thakur appreciated the 22nd PGP batch for the thoughtful gesture. “At IIMC, we have a strong culture of students pursuing sporting activities along with academics. Skills sucha as team-building, leadership, time management, commitment and strategy are all developed on the playing field. I am grateful to the 22nd batch for its generosity and the re-affirmation of emotional connection with the alma mater,” Thakur said.
Dey of the Class of 1987 was proud to be present on campus. “The year 2022 is a landmark one as it marks the 35th anniversary of our passing out from this prestigious institution. I would like to thank K. Ganeshan, my classmate, for all his efforts in bringing this dream to fruition and all members of our batch for their generous contribution. I hope all future students at Joka benefit from the life lessons learnt on court in their careers and lives ahead,” said Dey, president-projects, IMR Resources.
Dey shared memories of his Joka days. “Ours was the second batch that conducted the Trout and Ries Tennis Ball Cricketing Tournament which was played with much merriment. The tournament is named after marketing gurus Jack Trout and Al Ries.
Another fond memory is of playing water football when the fields would fill up with overflowing water of from lake after a heavy monsoon spell,” the IIM Calcutta alumnus recalled.