It is tough to make it to XISS, Ranchi, as any aspirant to this elite cradle knows. But, as XISS students came to know on Thursday's convocation day, it is equally tough to let go.
It was a day of emotions at the 54th annual convocation of XISS, as degrees were handed out to five postgraduate courses of the institute, human resource management (HRM), rural management (RM), information technology (IT), marketing and finance.
After two years of poring over books, writing papers, attended meets and seminars and going on extensive field visits, 301 postgraduate students of the 2013-2015 batch got their graduation certificates.
Among them, five meritorious students gold medals.
Addressing the bright-eyed bunch, chief guest S. Tripathy, Tata Steel (human resource) vice-president, made a heartfelt speech.
"Along with academics, the human touch is very important in our lives. You all will get an opportunity to face challenges of life and establish your own identity," he said.
It's curtains on campus life, a realisation that has dawned on Amrita Pandey, who got the gold medal in human resource management (HRM), securing 81.1 per cent. Amrita will join Hero MotoCorp in the coming July. "I'm feeling on the top of the world as scoring 81.1 per cent was not an easy task. But, I know I could not have managed it without my teachers," she said.
Neha Sahay, also from HRM, said it was "a time for mixed emotions".
"We spent two glorious years here. Now, we will start our professional journeys. I am joining Reliance Jio in Mumbai. I am thankful to my institute, which helped me with exposure during the field visits. These insights will help me manage both my professional and social lives," Neha said.
Asked about his most memorable moment here, Mitesh Kanojia, who will join Godrej in Mumbai, said: "I will cherish teaching physically and visually challenged students of St Michael's Blind School and Cheshire Home. In fact, it changed the way I see the world."
Giving a warm send-off, XISS director Father Alex Ekka said: "I congratulate the students on their academic achievements and wish them fulfilling careers. But, I hope they always remember the values."
