VRCE/VNIT graduates are serving the nation in a significant way. Institute has given large numbers of Engineers to the entire world who have made a qualitative contribution. I am happy to see the infrastructure like the Swimming pool, synthetic Tennis court, Viswa life club, and many more projects sponsored by VNIT Alumni. VNIT should focus on need-based research and Region-based research. The local produce and problems of the region should be resolved through knowledge and technology.
The research should address the issues of the burning of rice straw Parali, bio-bitumin from rice straw, etc. The demand for bio-bitumin is 80 lakh tonne and the supply is only 50 lakh tonne which is imported. I dream of a future free from petrol and diesel” said Nitin Gadkari, Minister for Road Transport and Highway during his address as a chief guest of the Diamond jubilee celebration in the VNIT auditorium which was full of Alumni from various decades.
Dr. P.M. Padole in his address gave a complete journey of VRCE/VNIT since 1960. He highlighted the activities like sports, infrastructure, research, academics, etc. He also presented the wish list and future road map for academics, Research, Industry Institution Interaction, and societal needs. He mentioned his dream of collaborating with AIIMS, NEERI, CIRCOT, IIM, and other Institutes for establishing centers for Bamboo and forest production and generation of employment.
The program started with the felicitation of 28 Retired Faculty members, with Shawl Shrifal and a memento designed by the 1996 batch, who were present to witness the grand event. The inauguration of a synthetic tennis court sponsored by the 1986 batch and the Viswa life club funded by the 1983 batch was done at the hands of Gadkari. Lifetime achievement awards were given by the VNIT Alumni association to Dilip Kamdar, Shashikant Chaudhari, Ashok Agrawal, S.R. Ahuja, and Dr. P.M.Padole for their tireless efforts.
Dignitaries also released a coffee table book highlighting the journey of 60 glorious years of VNIT. A special postal stamp and envelope were also released.
Uday Kamat briefed the audience about the activities of VNIT AA and made wonderful arrangements for the alumni who visited the campus after a long time. Millionaire club members Kamal Sarda (1974 batch), Dilip Sontakkey (1977 batch), Dinesh Wagmare (1987 batch), and Anand Sarda (1992 batch) were felicitated with a memento for their generous contribution to the alumni association. The members of the Millionaire plus club for their huge sponsorship include Arun Mote, M.S, Unnikrishnan, Shashikant Chaudhari, Uday Kamat, Salila Deshpande Kamat, Yogesh Sachdeva, Milind Gokarn.
The special program and the highlight of the event were decoding the legends from different decades. Suresh Deshpande from 1963, Kamal Sarda from 1970. Rashmi Urdhwareshe from the 1980s, Pratik Pashine from 1990, and Shantanu Deshpande from the 2002 batch interacted in the panel discussion which was coordinated by Shashikant Chaudhari.
Dr. Suresh Deshpande -CFD Gandhi of India as per Bharat Ratna Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam. Recipient of DRDO Academic Excellence Award-2002 in CFD, given by Honourable Prime Minister Vajpayee on 11th May 2003 in Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi.
Kamal Kishore Sarda-Chairman & Managing Director, Sarda Energy & Minerals Limited. He has over three decades of experience in the iron and steel industry.
He is associated with the Friends of Tribal Society in the capacity of Vice President of the Raipur chapter and was the Ex-Chairman of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Chhattisgarh Chapter.
Rashmi Urdhwareshe-Director of the Automotive Research Association of India in 2014. In March 2020, awarded the highest award for women in India, the Nari Shakti Puraskar by the President of India Ram Nath Kovind recognizing her work over 35 years in automotive research and development.
Incoming President of SAE India.
Prateek Pashine-President – Enterprise business at Jio.
Ex-President of enterprise business at Tata Tele business services.
Ex-President SMB at Tata communications.
Ex-senior manager – technology and e-marketing at Taj hotels.
Shantanu Deshpande-CEO and co-founder of Bombay Shaving Company, Bombay, and the BarberShop.
Ambassador at Olympic gold quest. External advisor at McKinsey.
The program was anchored by Dilip Kamdar. Joginder Singh Sond and his team worked hard for the success of the event.
