One of the country's premier B-school XLRI, hosted its 65th annual convocation on Saturday evening.

The virtual convocation ceremony was held to bid a final farewell to the 2019-21 batch.

Sandeep Kataria, global CEO, Bata Corporation, graced the convocation ceremony as the chief guest.

T. V. Narendran, chairman, Board of Governors at XLRI managing director Tata Steel, Fr. Paul Fernandes, director of XLRI, Ashis K. Pani, dean, academics at XLRI, graduating students and their parents connected virtually.

On this significant day, 506 XLRI students virtually received their graduating certificates and medals, including 178 and 181 students of Postgraduate Programmes in Management - BM, and HRM; 101 students of 15-months PGDM (General Management) Program; 06 students of Fellow Program in Management (FPM) and 40 students of the 2018- 2021 batch of PGDM-BM Programme (Evening).

On the occasion T. V. Narendran, chairman, Board of Governors, XLRI, in his address said, "It is indeed a privilege for me to witness the 65th Convocation ceremony as the chairman of the Governing Board . XLRI was established in 1949, soon after India gained Independence, and for over seven decades has consistently striven to uphold its mission to help shape competent business leaders yet upholding high personal values and societal concerns. The industrial township of Jamshedpur is indeed fortunate to have such a progressive management school that offers much more than management-centric education programs. XLRI has always placed high importance on its students adopting ethical conduct, cultivating a values-driven culture, and shaping an integral character formation of its students."

Congratulating the students on their graduation day, Narendran said, "It is rare that we come across multiple large challenges in such a short period - a life-threatening pandemic, climate weirding as a consequence of climate change and an economic downturn. In these trying times, I wish each of you all the very best in all your future endeavors, and I urge you to remember these times shall also pass, and we shall overcome these challenges as a business school, as a nation, and as a global family."

Fr. Paul Fernandes, director, XLRI, congratulated the graduating students and advised them to uphold the values they have imbibed at XLRI to be responsible leaders who are extraordinary professionals with a sensitive conscience.

"It is indeed my pleasure to extend a warm welcome to all of you. This is the second time the convocation is being held virtually due to Covid restrictions. We would have been delighted to see all of you on the campus witnessing the graduates receiving your medals and diplomas physically. We are proud of your achievements and brilliant accomplishments, and my heartfelt appreciation to the faculty and staff of XLRI for assisting you on your academic journey, "he said.

This year XLRI conferred the prestigious Sir Jehangir Ghandy Medal for Social and Industrial Peace on Sandeep Kataria, Global CEO, Bata Corporation. He also delivered the convocation address.

Accepting the medal Kataria said, "I am truly humbled and feel privileged to accept the Sir Jehangir Ghandy Medal for Industrial and Social Peace. I want to express my gratitude to the governing board of XLRI for bestowing on me the prestigious Sir Jehangir Ghandy Medal for Social and Industrial Peace. While any recognition is a privilege, one received from the alma mater is truly special. I am told that I am the first alumni to be bestowed upon this honour and while I humbly accept this esteemed medal, I am sure there are many more deserving alumni members. We will be seeing more familiar names on this list soon”.

Delivering the convocation address to the students he said, " Hearty congratulations as you graduate from this prestigious and outstanding institution. Despite the challenges that the pandemic has thrown at you, I am sure through your hard work and innovativeness, along with ample help from the hard-working faculty members, you have grown tremendously. You are ready to take on the new normal."

Sir Jehangir Ghandy Medal for Industrial and Social Peace, instituted by XLRI in 1966, in honor of the Late Sir Jehangir Ghandy, former Chairman of the Board of Governors- XLRI is awarded to those business leaders who have contributed towards the growth of their respective organizations and also impacted the growth of our nation in a significant way.

The medal was instituted by XLRI in gratitude for Sir Jehangir Ghandy's yeoman contribution to XLRI and the society at large.

One of the oldest medals instituted by a higher education institution, the medal is awarded during XLRIs annual convocation ceremony to recognize outstanding contributions in the field of industrial and social peace in the country.

In the past years, the medal was conferred on eminent business leaders like N R Narayana Murthy, chairman emeritus, and chief Mentor, Infosys Technologies Ltd. in 2012, Shiv Nadar, founder and chairman HCL and Shiv Nadar Foundation in 2013, Arundhati Bhattacharya, former chairman, State Bank of India in 2014, Mallika Srinivasan, chairman and CEO, TAFE (Tractors and Farm Equipment Limited) in 2015, Sunil Kant Munjal, joint managing director of Hero MotoCorp and chairman, Hero Corporate Services Pvt. Ltd. in 2016, Adi Godrej, chairman, The Godrej Group in 2017, Anu Aga, former Chairperson of Thermax Ltd in 2019 and Sanjiv Mehta, chairman and managing director of Hindustan Unilever Ltd in 2020.