“Many a time’s memories rush forward unbidden, and yet if
given a time to recollect the moments, The incidents are recounted in an effortless rhythm.”
The warm evening of October 13, 2012 saw FORE School of
Management lit up with more than just flowers and lights; it was lit up with
the sense of excitement and more importantly a sense of nostalgia as the
present students of FORE geared up to meet the esteemed alumni. With all the committees joining hands to
prepare for the final day, it was essentially an effort of the FORE Alumni
Network along with the Think Tank team and Team Nexus. The annual meet responsible for bringing
together the past and the present of FORE, started in the evening amidst warm
welcome by the students with ‘tikas’ and warm smiles all around. Once the alumni and directors assembled in
the Virajam Auditorium, the comparers of the day Amrit Sagar and Pallavi had
the ball rolling.
The evening started with a warm recollection of what college
life was all about with these words by Amrit “What memories over the years to
us come by, with a never a thought of the old building’s lack! No one minded the cracked windowsills;
or the stairs so worn, many took spills.” With these words he built up the
nostalgic note for the evening, where everyone sat recollecting their past.
With the traditional lighting of the ceremonial lamp, the proceedings were
officially initiated. Thereafter, Dr. Anupam Narula, Professor in charge FORE School
of Management addressed the audience with his welcome note, and the show
finally began.
In his usual enigmatic style, Dr. J.K. Das, Director FORE
School of Management, bid a warm welcome to his past students –the alumni to
their Alma Mater. His words were enough
to bring alive the charm of the evening as everyone sat enraptured by his
knowledge and the memorable moments that he helped remember. He was followed by
Vice President Treasurer, Dr. B.B.L Madhukar who honored the dais with his
evergreen words. His subtle charisma coupled with his unique ideas brought a
new fire to the evening. Thereafter Mr.
R.C. Sharma, President, took up the dais to bid welcome to the gathered
alumni. He reminded one and all of how
FORE had come such long way since its inception, proudly talking about the
upcoming building at Sonipat as well as the ongoing construction in the present
building. Following him was President Emeritus, Professor R.P. Billimoria who,
in his usual fashion, kept his speech short and sweet but filled with an
enigmatic essence. Last, but not the
least, to embrace the dais was the President of FORE Alumni Association, Mr.
Sachin Jain. His words not only pepped
up the liveliness of the evening but also served as a reminder of all the
wonderful ways in which FORE alumni can be in touch, be it through the FORE Face
book page, or other efforts.
And as Mr. Sachin bid farewell to the dais, it was time for
the awards. Back after a hiatus of four years the awards were Alumni
Recognition Awards given for Executive Leadership, Entrepreneurship and for
Public Contribution. This time the recipients of the awards were Mr. Rakesh
Mathur, Mr. Sanjeev Bajaj and Ms. Anjum Chopra respectively.
As each recipient received his/ her award, they recounted
moments spent at FORE and how it had shaped them to be the person they are
today. The first up on the dais was Mr. Rakesh Mathur, the current director
(sales) for Industrial Technologies, who not only has had an exemplary career of
17 years but has also managed a$22 million plus portfolio. He fondly remembered
all of his teachers and talked about how he is still in touch with the faculty
at FORE as they had a huge role to play in making him the person he is today.
Up next was Mr. Sanjeev Bajaj, Managing Director of Bajaj Holdings &
Investment Limited, since April 2012. A part of FMG 2, he very rightly
proclaimed that FORE was as much a part of his life as he was of FORE and
talked of how the learning that we receive at the college turn back to help us
in endless moments in life. To end the awards was none other than Ms. Anjum
Chopra, the recipient of Arjuna Award (for her achievement and contribution to
women’s cricket in India.) With her subtle sense of humor and invigorating
charm she added a new wave to the evening, reminding one and all of the
multitude ways in which FORE served as a source of great fun and even greater
memories. Her adventures served as an inspiration to the students, a reminder
to the audience, and a delight to the teachers.
The night seemed never to end, such was the charm that
spread and this charm was further carried on by the cultural event that the
students had planned. Before the advent of the events, the crowd got together
for a short game of FORE Tambola and the enthusiasm with which the alumni
responded to the questions about their own FORE was overwhelming. Not a single
memory was lost, not a single fact mistaken, and the alumni and faculty
together enjoyed the game with the innocent competitiveness that drives us all.
No sooner had the game ended, that the cultural event
started. The students of FORE had endeavored to give the alumni a brief
flashback journey into their two years spent at FORE and thus using skit, power
point presentations and a sensational band performance, the students managed to
revive the feeling that being a Foreian is all about. Depicting the life of a
kid who just got into FORE, the skit was a delightful attempt at showcasing the
highlights of an MBA graduate- the scary examinations, the excessive case
studies, the first crush, the placement victory. The band performance in the
end acted as the cherry on the cake, leaving everyone mesmerized as the crowd
hummed to tunes of songs old and new.
It was with a silent grace that the evening came to an end.
However as the alumni were guided to
food and cocktail, the atmosphere was such that it was evident that though the
evening might have ended, the feeling of being a part of FORE lives on forever,
only to be relived once again year after year.
