Network Past Issues

MILAAP 2009
Rendezvous with Memories
Suruchi Singh

Milaap 2009 turned out to be a successful endeavour in reinforcing and strengthening the ties between the alumni and the alma mater. IRMA and its alumni are inseparable, and this was proved by the resounding success of Milaap. The event, held on 24–25 January 2009, provided an opportunity for IRMANs of the previous batches to bask in the memory of yesteryears, the golden days that they had spent on campus. “Bees Saal Baad” (Twenty years later) of the 1988–1990 batch (PRM 9) was also integrated with Milaap 2009. Over 120 alumni participated.
The event provided us an opportunity to interact with the alumni and share their experiences and views on a plethora of issues. It was heartening to see the alumni arrive a day early, on January 23, 2009. As we interacted with them over the next two or three days, I sensed that the umbilical cord with IRMA has not yet been cut. After all, they are a part of the grand IRMA family. They were all excited and enthusiastic, having come with great expectations of meeting old friends with whom they had spent some of the best years of their lives. And we too made sure that the alumni and their families experienced a delightful and happy time on campus.
The event began with an inaugural address by the Director of IRMA, Prof. Vivek Bhandari, followed by a speech by the President of the Alumni Association, Mr Satyendra Arya.
As the events unfolded over these two days, we gained valuable insights during panel discussions and workshops. A discussion on “What it takes to be a successful rural manager”, which was attended by Rajeev Khandelwal, Jagdish Rao, Rahul Kumar, and Meher Gadekar among others, was truly inspiring and infused us with fresh enthusiasm. We were once again reminded of the responsibilities that we have set out to shoulder.
The event “Future of Microfinance: Contours and Trajectories” was particularly useful as it gave us many valuable insights into this important issue. We were also advised how to better equip ourselves to deal with the many challenges that we as rural managers working in the area of microfinance would have to face. Apart from such serious discussions, we also had many cultural events such as Hulla Gulla, a carnival for everyone, and Jashna, a cultural programme organised by the current batches. These added fun and colour to the event. And then there was the unforgettable Anand Run, which witnessed the participation of residents of Anand city, IRMA alumni, and others. The event evoked the spirit of sportsmanship, which has long been the hallmark of IRMANs. It is an attitude that sets them apart from the rest, which gives them enough gumption to take the world in their stride.
We were all astonished to see the vigour and enthusiasm with which the alumni participated in every event. I was surprised and impressed by the way they had managed to retain the same spirit even after so many years. Hadn’t the intervening years transformed them? Would we remain as lively always? I pondered this question over the next few days. Perhaps I will have an answer at a later stage of my life when I have gained more experience of how life works. Milaap taught me to live every moment of life fully, to take each moment as it comes for we have only one life to live. Interaction with many alumni helped me understand what it means to be a true IRMAN and what it takes. We have a glorious past, with a rich legacy and a proud tradition, and we need to make every effort to preserve it, enrich it, and carry it forward.
We learn many things in the classroom, but I feel that real learning comes from outside the classroom where we grapple with ground realities, where we face real difficulties, and where we strive to find the most practical and effective solutions to our problems. As part of the Milaap team, we learnt how to conceive, plan, and organise events, how to overcome our shortcomings, and how to shoulder our responsibilities. We also learnt how to work in teams and how to co-ordinate various activities. Many of us discovered skills and facets of our personalities of which we were unaware until then. Someone is creative, someone has good leadership qualities, someone has good PR skills, someone can keep his cool even in the most distressing situations—these were things we discovered about ourselves and each other. Milaap gave us an opportunity to rediscover ourselves. It gave us a lot of confidence knowing that despite several odds we would be able to steer a clear course to our destination. Sailing is never easy, but it becomes easier if we know the direction and the destination.
Milaap is the one event I will be looking forward to eagerly when I leave this campus. I know my longing will be suffused with the nostalgia of days gone by, fond memories of professors and friends, visions of lush green lawns and beautiful birds, dreams perfumed by the fresh smell of untouched books. This is what will compel me to return to this heaven on earth again and again.
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Participant, PRM 29, Institute of Rural Management, Anand.
Email: p29034@irma.ac.in