XLRI Felicitates Eminent Alumni at Distinguished Alumnus Awards; celebrates Annual Homecoming 2016

Xavier School of Management (XLRI) Jamshedpur hosted 2 days long celebrations of Annual Homecoming 2016 on December 10 & 11, 2016 with around 250 XL Alumni participating in this years Homecoming held at XLRI Campus, Jamshedpur.
The highlight of XLRI Annual Homecoming the Distinguished Alumnus Awards Ceremony was hosted on 10th December. This year 8 prominent alumni of the institute received the Distinguished Alumnus Awards in 5 categories.

Mr. Deepak Kumar Hota, Chairman & MD, BEML Ltd. and Mr. Prabir Jha, Global Chief People Officer, Cipla received the award in Practicing manager category. The academician category saw Prof. Vasanthi Srinivasan, Professor of OB and HRM, IIM Bangaloreand Fr. (Dr.) Paul Fernandes, SJ., Vice-Chancellor, Xavier University Bhubaneswar & Director, XIM, Bhubaneswar receiving the award. Mr. Sandeep Upadhyay, MD & CEO, Centrum Infrastructure Advisory Ltd got the award in Young achiever category. Mr. Joshua Karthik Rallapati,CEO and Co-Founder, Stories in Motion was the recipient of the award in Entrepreneur category. In the Allied Fields category Mr. K. Pandiarajan, Minister for School Education, Tamil Nadu and Mr. Abhijit Bhaduri, Advisor to senior business leaders received the award.

Mr. T. V. Narendran (Chairman, Board of Governors at XLRI & MD - Tata Steel India and South East Asia), Mr. Rana Sinha (Former Managing Director, Tata Hitachi Construction Machinery Co. Ltd & National President, XLRI Alumni Association) and Prof. Pranabesh Ray (Chairperson, Alumni, XLRI) were also present on the occasion.

On the occasion, a book on Fr. E.H. McGrath S.J. (Former Director, XLRI) was released at the inaugural session by Fr. E. Abraham S.J. Director, XLRI in presence of Fr. McGrath himself, the XLRI Alumni and the entire XL family. Fr. E.H. McGrath, S.J was Director of XLRI from 1959 to 62, and 1981-82.Father conducted several courses for management and trade union groups at XLRI. Under his guidance, during the 60s, XLRI started offering courses for unions in collaboration with the steel unions at the Steel Worker College.

The book titled The Legendary Fr. Ed McGrath S.J. Revered Teacher, Inspiring Forever is an initiative of his students and XL alumni which contains photos of Fr. Edward McGrath, S.J. and tributes from generations of his students. The foreword of the book written by Mr. Ratan Tata, the interim chairman of Tata Sons, where he reminisces his interactions with Fr. McGrath, Father McGrath was amongst the first few people I met when I was assigned to Jamshedpur. Over the years I have met Fr. McGrath on many occasions and have watched with admiration, the growth of XLRI in Jamshedpur to an institution of significance and standing. Fr. McGrath has become as much of an institution himself in Jamshedpur as the formal institution with which he has been so closely associated.

On the occasion of Distinguished Alumnus Award ceremony, Mr. T V Narendran, Chairman- Board of Governors, XLRI said, To the outside world the reputation of any business school is invariably linked to the contribution rendered by its alumni to the world at large and the world of business in particular. For over six decades thousands of post-graduate management students like you all have graduated from the portals of XLRI and rendered yeoman service to organizations and institutions across public and private sectors and various other walks of life. Needless to say, most organizations have come to expect outstanding performance from an XL graduate. XLRI persistently strives to help shape students to consistently meet the high expectations of the world and industry at large for decades perhaps it is this single-minded focus that helps XLRI in upholding its reputation as a top ranking B-School brand in India. Fr. E. Abraham S.J., Director, XLRI said at the event, The momentum that the College is presently experiencing is due in large measure to the alumni of XLRI. Your lives and career achievements are critical building-blocks impacting XLRIs reputation. If you are successful, people know that XLRI had a helping hand in that success and they admire the institute. If you pursue your professional journeys with integrity and responsibility then we have fulfilled our mission. We would like to believe that your career and your character were shaped to some extent by the values that you imbibed at XLRI.

Addressing the alumni at the award function, Fr. Abraham said, You have been a source of inspiration for our students, you have given your time and your moral and financial support to this institute, and you have been XLRIs finest ambassadors to the outside world, I would like to envision the role of XL Alumni in leaving behind a lasting legacy. Most of you hold key positions of responsibility and can strive to use your power and influence for sustainable development for our society, which is crucial for lasting economic and human progress for our future generations.

XLRI-Xavier School of Management, Jamshedpur is a premier, private management institute in India founded in 1949 by Fr Quinn Enright, S.J. in the steel city of Jamshedpur. Over the last six decades, the institute has grown into a top-ranking business management school of international repute with a wide portfolio of management programs and research publications. Its alumni are spread around the globe and have demonstrated responsible business leadership in their organizations. XLRI continually strives to contribute its mite to the professional growth and management of numerous organizations and institutions across industry sectors. XLRI has been awarded two prestigious International Accreditations, viz., AACSB - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business and AMBA - Association of MBAs. XLRI has also earned the National Board of Accreditation (NBA) accreditation.