PGP 75 – Looking back with nostalgia and gratitude

“We had joy, we had fun!
We had seasons in the sun…”

…Over fifty years ago, we walked through the red-brick arches of IIM Ahmedabad, not knowing just how profoundly the next two years would shape the course of our lives. We were privileged to live and learn in a work of art designed by Louis Kahn, surrounded by inspiring spaces that sparked thought and conversation. We studied under Harvard-trained faculty who pushed us to think harder, write better, and argue more persuasively.

We remember the daily walk to the case unit, the struggles to make CP, the all-nighters spent crafting our WAC reports, racing to get them typed and handed in before the deadline. The comfort of bun-maska and steaming chai at the Retreat. The frenzied dorm competitions, the football and cricket matches, the marathon run in those hallowed surroundings! Evenings when Roberta Flack played at the DJ, or a classmate strummed a guitar with many voices joining in. Visits to Lala’s shop, and lazy bike rides to Law Gardens for Anjeer ice cream – the varied flavors we tasted forever imprinted on our hearts!

These moments—big and small—became the fabric of our IIMA years, binding us together in ways that time and distance have not diminished. In those two incredible years, IIMA took us from bright-eyed youngsters to managers who set out to conquer the corporate, the academic and the public service worlds.

Now, as we celebrate our 50th reunion and observe the kaleidoscope of our lives, we have the opportunity to give back to the institution that equipped us to be the best we could be. As we look back with nostalgia, we should also look back with gratitude.

Think about it – this will be the last milestone reunion of this magnitude for us, at the place where it all began. It is our chance to come together one more time to celebrate and as a class give back to the institution that gave us so much… Our class gift will be a lasting legacy for PGP75—one that reflects our gratitude to the amazing institution that shaped us, honors the many batchmates who are no longer with us, and makes an impact for the future generations yet to walk through these brick and stone corridors.

We hope to raise INR 4 crores as a reunion gift, as that will enable supporting bright, meritorious students through scholarships, or advancing faculty research or support funding that can elevate IIMA’s reputation even higher internationally. Other batches have typically set goals of INR 3.5 to 5.0 crores. The IIMA endowment fund has been professionally set up and managed for the past few years, and ensures that all donations go to the Institute for their designated purpose, and are reported on and stewarded with donors. To give you an idea of the impact of donations, INR 3.5 crore (about USD 420,000) can change lives by funding two first-year scholarships for about 10 years. Similarly, INR 2.5–3.0 crore (about USD 300,000–360,000) can establish a Chaired Professorship, enabling faculty to pursue impactful research that raises IIMA’s standing in the world, and adds further lustre to our own diplomas. Gifts to the general endowment, which allow for earnings to be used where most needed – whether to retain a critical faculty member, invest in technology, renovate facilities, fund student emergencies… are particularly valuable – I can attest to that as a former dean!

What matters most is not which option we choose—but that we all participate. The amount you give is personal; the act of giving is what will make this gift truly ours. You can decide whether you wish to be recognized for your gift, or wish to give anonymously. That choice is yours. Both approaches will be counted towards our class gift when you pledge through the class gift page, and identify the donation as for the PGP 1975 batch donation drive. Here is the link to a dedicated endowment page for our class gift, where you will have the ability to pledge first, and give later. There are giving instructions for classmates in India and abroad as well.

Several of us have made initial gifts and tested that the system works. I hope you will join us in honoring the past 50 years by opening doors for IIMA’s future — showing, once again, that fabulous PGP75 winning spirit!

Together, let us create an enduring mark on IIMA’s future, just as it has left its mark on ours!

Warmest regards,
Sri
Srilata Zaheer (nee Govindswamy, PGP 1975)
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