From lockdown to normalcy, stories of belief & purpose mark IIM-I convocation

Indore: For some it began on a cracked phone screen during lockdown. For others in a passing moment on a bus where a stranger's distress refused to fade away. On Saturday, those scattered, uncertain beginnings found a shared destination at Indian Institute of Management, Indore, (IIM-I), where a batch that started its journey in the shadow of Covid walked into a future shaped by resilience and purpose.At the heart of that story was Srishti Kumari from Patna.When she joined in 2021, classrooms existed only on screens and the world outside was gripped by fear and uncertainty. Back home, her father Shambhu Nath Keshri continued to run his small chemist shop holding on to one quiet belief. At every family gathering despite questions and doubts, he would say with pride that his daughter was studying at IIM-I.Relatives were not convinced. Sending a daughter miles away, investing heavily in her education and that too in the middle of a pandemic did not make sense to many. But her parents chose to trust her path. Years later, that decision has transformed into a defining moment. Srishti is now the first in her family to secure a corporate job with a Chennai-based firm offering a package far higher than most in her age group."People said many things, but I always had faith in my daughter. Today, those same people are calling to congratulate us. My daughter has proved that if given the opportunity, girls are second to none," said her father, whose voice carried both pride and vindication.For Srishti, the journey was as emotional as it was academic. "We started in isolation. There was fear, uncertainty and no real sense of campus life in the beginning. To stand here today, in front of everyone, feels like completing something much bigger than a degree," she said.Her story resonated across a graduating cohort that largely began its academic life during Covid, navigating online classes, disrupted routines and a world in crisis before finding their footing on campus.If Srishti's journey was about belief, Kishan's was about purpose.Hailing from Gandhinagar in Gujarat, Kishan had already built a stable career as an academic associate at Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. But a single experience changed his direction."During a bus journey, I saw a group of farmers discussing their losses and the lack of market access for their produce. They looked helpless and that stayed with me," he recalled.Despite having no farming background, Kishan chose to step away from his job and pursue research in agriculture. His work focused on silk and cocoa farmers, aiming to understand the structural challenges they face."I felt I could not just move on after seeing that. I wanted to understand their problems and contribute in whatever way I could. This is just the beginning. I want to expand this work and collaborate with state govts to create better systems for farmers," he said.His decision reflects a shift among young graduates who are increasingly looking beyond conventional career paths, driven by a mix of empathy and ambition.Nearby, Priya Shah from Mumbai summed up the emotional weight of the day. "We started our journey sitting at home, not knowing when things would return to normal. Today, standing here with everyone, it feels like we have lived through something that has changed us for life," she said.