Patna, Feb. 5: Chief minister Nitish Kumar is never shy of leading from the front, but for once, he decided to take the backseat at the Bihar College of Engineering-National Institute of Engineering (BCE-NIT) alumni meet.

The chief minister, who spent barely 30 minutes at his alma mater, decided to sit among the audience with his batchmates, seniors and juniors. “I have been a student of this institution and I am more comfortable sitting with others (former students) instead of going to the dais,” Nitish was heard saying to his cabinet colleague Bhim Singh, a former student of the same college.

His humility, however, could not keep him off the dais for long. The chief minister finally gave in when college director P. Chakrabarti, among other dignitaries, urged him to join them on the dais.

The 1973-batch alumnus maintained his student-like composure and refused to deliver a lecture, clarifying his intention in a hushed tone — “understand my feelings”.

Nitish obliged the photographers and posed with the alumni association members on the dais. He distributed mementoes to former students of 1962 and 1986 batches for wh-om this is the golden and silver jubilee years, respectively.

Though Nitish remained the most popular alumnus at the event, the gathering boasted of several high-profile passouts from the institution.

Surendra Kumar, one of the teachers of the chief minister, recalled Nitish’s university days. “Nitish was always a calm and composed lad. Observing his inclination towards politics, we used to say he had all the qualities of excelling in the political arena and he is doing so now. He managed to pass in all subjects every year. His classmates A.P. Mishra (Railway Board member) and Chandra Shekhar Prasad (Central Public Works Department director-general), among many others in the batch of 1973, have also excelled in their respective professions,” he said.

While the teacher was all praise for Nitish, the disciple left the venue to attend other engagements.

Seven years Nitish’s junior, Bhim, the minister of rural works, used the opportunity to praise his superior. “Today is a h ighly joyous day as we are getting to meet our old friends and faculty members. This institute has a tradition of excellence and especially under the governance of honourable chief minister Nitish Kumar, it is witnessing manifold developments,” Bhim said.

The other former students, meanwhile, were seen looking for their old friends and acquaintances with whom they had spent their college years.

“Thanks to the badges given to every participant, I recognised many of my old friends whose faces have cha-nged completely,” said A.K. Mishra, a 1986-batch student of the college who is working with the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited.

The alumni did not forget to thank the institution for shaping their careers. “Things we learnt at this institute are what we use today to provide goods and services to the people. It is a good feeling to come here as we got a chance to meet old friends, teachers and seniors, whom we seldom meet,” said Prabhat Kumar Rai, the chairman of Bihar State Electricity Board and an alumnus of 1977 batch.

The former students strolled on campus and clicked photographs with family members. The gathering of alumni saw engineers working in government and private sector catching up with old friends.