From 1943 student to Bollywood lyricist,PU alumni have a ball

PU Dean (Alumni Relations) Prof Bhupinder Singh Bhoop delivered the thematic address where he elaborated on the various headways on the front of Panjab University Alumni Association (PUAA) in terms of enrollment of alumni into the folds of PUAA as life members or patron members.

A small movie on Panjab University prepared by School of Communication Studies was also shown on the occasion. In his inaugural address,N N Vohra emphasised the need to propagate marketable quality education and proposed the introduction of applied multi-disciplinary courses with better employment prospects. He cautioned against the mushrooming growth of institutes catering to inept education.

As many as 255 alumni members of the 1970 or earlier batches were felicitated,each with a plaque of individualised commendation as Distinguished Alumnus Award and an impressive robe of honor. The highlight was when a son,Prof R C Sobti,honored his father S D Sobti of the 1946 batch and honoring of the seniormost alumnus of 1943,Dr Kuldip Kaur. A souvenir of the Alumni Meet was also released on the occasion by the dignitaries on the dais.

A panel discussion,coordinated by Prof B S Brar,Dean University Instruction,PU was held on the topic,Made for each other: Alumni and Alma Mater where Ambassador P S Sahai,Prof Sukhdev Kumar (Emeritus fellow,Canada),Arun Arora (Founder CEO of Sony Entertainment Ltd.) and Maj Gen M S Kandal shared their respective views. In a nutshell,they accentuated the need for alumni to work in tandem with alma mater for strengthening the infrastructural support and improvement of education,ethical values and student recruitments.

Others who graced the occasion included included Prof R P Bambah,former V-C,Panjab University,Prof M M Puri,Former V-C,Panjab University,Dr Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia,V-C,SGGSW University,Fatehgarh Sahib,Punjab,Dr K C Bhardwaj,V-C,Ch Devi Lal University,Sirsa,Prof P S Jaswal,V-C,Rajiv Gandhi Nat Univ of Law,Patiala,Prof Gurjeet Singh,Former V-C,Rajiv Gandhi Nat Univ of Law,Patiala,Prof Prem K Khosla V-C,Shoolini University,Solan,Rajpal Singh [Indian Hockey captain who led the team to gold,silver and bronze medals during the Asia Cup (2007) CWG and Asian Games (2010),S Jagmohan S Kang,former Punjab Cabinet minister,,Irshad Kamil,award-winning lyricist of Love Aaj Kal,Madhya Pradesh ADGP Sukhraj Singh,IPS, PUAA Vice-President Subhash C Kohli and Dr Bhag Singh Chahal of Canada.

Later in the evening,Dev Dildar captivated the audience with his spellbinding classical and sufiana recitals and performances. Department level alumni meetings were also held,where the alumni tended to interact with their departmental peers and students.