Sambalpur: More girls received their Masters in Business Administration (MBA) degrees at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Sambalpur in Odisha on Saturday than boys. According to the Institute, the degree recipients comprised 60% girls.
Another major attraction at the 9th Convocation Ceremony of the Institute – at which Dr P K Mishra, principal secretary to the Prime Minister, was the chief guest – was Dr Girish Mohan Gupta, an 84-year-old retired nuclear scientist with two PhDs under his belt. The octogenarian, who believes that he is just 62, received his MBA degree as a working professional from Dr Mishra.
According to officials, 370 students received their MBA degrees during Saturday’s event. They included 316 students from the 9th regular MBA batch, 38 from the second Executive MBA batch. The remaining 10 were from the batch of working professionals.
During his address, Dr Mishra landed the gender ratio and suggested that it be lifted to 80%. Prof Mahadeo Jaiswal, director, IIM, Sambalpur, said that the Institute is at an advanced stage of becoming a triple-crowned IIM that will include the AACSB, EFMD and BGA affiliations.
Meanwhile, all eyes were on Dr Gupta, who held on to his degree with pride.
A former scientist of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), he spent decades working on cutting-edge nuclear research, contributing significantly to India’s advancements in atomic science. Over the years, he completed two doctorates in different disciplines and continued to publish and mentor young researchers.
He was an inspiration, not only for the students, but others, who believe that age is a hurdle.
“I do not feel old. I play cricket and badminton. I feel that I am just 62. I contributed towards setting up the first nuclear breeding reactor in Asia and the second in the world. I still work from 10 to 6 every day and I feel physically fit and young,” the nuclear scientist who diligently attended classes with people nearly half his age at the study centre in New Delhi said.
