AMRITSAR: The Alumni Meet - 2024 of the Guru Nanak Dev University was held here today at Sri Guru Granth Sahib Bhawan of the University. Many graduates from a variety of fields, including the judiciary, IAS, customs and excise, and many more from PCS, defense services, industrialists, academicians, and directors of industries attended the alumni meet. Holy Shabads were recited before the inaugural ceremony got underway followed by a floral greeting of the dignitaries.
Chief guest Dr. Harinder Pal Singh, Director of Fortis Escort Hospital & Research Centre, Amritsar, chaired the meeting, which was presided over by Vice Chancellor Prof. Jaspal Singh Sandhu. Prof. Atul Khanna, Dean of the Alumni Association (AA), greeted the university's alumni and spoke on the value of a strong community among faculty and alumni, which is crucial for pushing the university's academic program to new heights. Prof. Khanna also gave a brief report on the aims and operations of the GNDU Alumni Association, as well as updates on the initiatives being taken to connect the university with alumni and the academic community. Additionally, he emphasized that GNDU has advanced phenomenonally since Dr. Jaspal Singh Sandu Singh took over in 2017, particularly in the areas of sports and research.
Prof. Jaspal Singh Sandhu, Vice Chancellor said that the GNDU is one of the top ranked universities in India and amongst top 10 universities according to MHRDC ranking. He further mentioned that GNDU is drug-free and has the second-cleanest campus in India. Furthermore discussed by Dr. Singh were the intellectual and athletic accomplishments of universities. He emphasized thatthe NAAC score of GNDU is 3.85 out of 4 the H-index stands at 144. Additionally, he emphasized that GNDU has won the MAKAR trophy for a record 25 times, shedding attention on the commitment and dependability of athletes. Furthermore, out of 108 medals, GNDU is the only campus to win 13 medals at the Asian Games. Furthermore, he mentioned that two GNDU athletes have already qualified for the Olympics. Lastly, he discussed campus placements, mentioning that the maximum package for technical fields is forty lakhs and that nearly 100% students are placed. Prof. Jaspal Singh Sandhu said that the alumni of the university have risen to great heights in diverse fields. The alumni were holding key positions in the academics, judiciary, IFS, IAS, PCS, PCS juducial , Indian Police Services, Federal Services, Corporate Sector, Political Parties, Public/Pharma Sector and Punjab Civil Services etc. He provided details about the achievements of the University in academics, student enrollment, research, patents, sports, and honest financial policies of the university during recent years which has put the university in good health.
The chief guest of the day Dr. Harinder Pal Singh congratulated Prof. Jaspal Singh Sandhu, Vice Chancellor for uplifting GNDU and taking it to new heights. He said he was glad to be back at the campus as he himself is an alumni of Guru Nanak Dev University. Furthermore, he highlighted that donations from alumni can further uplift the campus.
The purpose of the alumni meet in 2024 was to recognize the accomplishments of its alumni in their separate disciplines, therefore it was truly unique. The alumni association honored three graduates at the University's Sri Guru Granth Sahib Bhawan with Outstanding Alumnus Awards. Brig. Harcharan Singh, a hockey Olympian, World Cup champion, and recipient of the VSM (Retd.)Arjuna Award, was the first recipient of the award. He is among the university's oldest and most senior alumni. He talked about the value of sports and discipline, both of which may elevate a person to the top of the social ladder. He underlined that one must lose something in order to gain something in life. He talked proudly of his respectability in uniform and his desire to enlist in the army. He was really humble as he accepted the alumni award.
Dr. Vinay Kumar, an Outstanding Scientist and Head (Retd.), RB & HSD, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, was the second recipient of the award. He expressed gratitude to GNDU for the esteemed award and discussed how, with government backing, research might aid in cancer mitigation. He also underlined the significance and necessity of clean energy, pollution sensors, gene sequencing, and researcher access to international journals.
Sh. Vikram Chaudhri, the third recipient of the award, is a Senior Advocate and highly distinguished lawyer in the Indian Supreme and High Courts. As a lyricist, he once said that every reunion is paradise and every leaving is death. He expressed his desire to have been invited sooner and added that returning to GNDU felt like coming home. He talked about how his mother, GNDU, has influenced him throughout life and how the fundamentals he learned there have fashioned him.
The other distinguished alumni who were felicitated by the association were Dr. Suman Sharma, Dr. Navpreet Kaur, Mr. Sandep Mehra, Mr. Anil Khanna, Mr. Jasneet Singh, Dr. Premjot Singh Girgla, Dr. Harpreet Singh Grewal, Mr, Davinder Pal Singh, Dr. Raman Chatrath, Mr. Sandeep Bajwa, Mr. Daljit Singh and Mr. Parminder Sandhu.
Finally, Kunwar Vijay Pratap, Vice President of the association spoke to the alumni and related his own story of having to apply to GNDU in order to pursue a PhD. That's how he had to pass the admission exam and finish the coursework, demonstrating the significance of following the rules and regulations at GNDU.
Prof. B.S. Bajwa, Dean Academic Affairs on this occasion thanked the alumni for their support. Prof. K.S. Kahlon, Registrar and Prof. Preet Mohinder Singh Bedi, Dean Student Welfare also attended the meeting.
This meeting was followed by a cultural programme presented by students of the University.