If every parting gives a foretaste of death, every reunion gives a hint of resurrection.

Meghnath Mukherjee and Sujit Sen, former students of XLRI and regulars at the prestigious cradle's annual alumni meet, aptly named Homecoming, couldn't agree more.

For Mukherjee - a 1971-batch industrial relations student of the institute - the love for his alma mater has only grown over the years. 'The reason I never miss being here irrespective of my work schedule. I have attended every Homecoming season since its inception nine years ago. It makes me feel rejuvenated,' the retired general manager (employee relations) of Hindustan Unilever said.

Currently, a consultant based in Calcutta, sexagenarian Mukherjee, who attended the XLRI event on November 8-9, poured his heart out. 'My days at XLRI date back to the early Seventies, but I still feel the same connection. In fact, it has deepened. I come here every year to meet old friends and make new ones. Not to mention the overwhelming welcome we get every year. This is a reunion like no other,' he said.

Homecoming was first hosted nine years ago when the XLRI management felt the need to recognise and celebrate achievements of former students through its Distinguished Alumnus Award. It has been a big draw since. This year saw 180 alumni make it to the programme from various parts of the country and abroad.

A year junior to Mukherjee, former personnel management and industrial relations student Sen recalled how during their days at XLRI there were no B-school rankings. 'It makes us so proud to think of the rungs of greatness our alma mater has climbed in all these years,' the former senior vice-president (HR) of Bata India said.

The new state-of-the-art global campus of the institute, well-read faculty members, brilliant students and world rankings made Sen swell in pride.

'This year has been a surprise. When I saw the new campus I just went, 'Wow! Look at that pace and quantum of change'. This institute is like our mother who has taught us three core values - integrity, honesty and proficiency. We are extremely proud that XLRI is the top private B-school in the country today. I will want to rewind and keep coming back here,' Sen, now a mentor of business management at Calcutta and Jadavpur universities, summed up his Homecoming.