Convocation with a difference

Sri Sringeri Institute of Management or Sri SIM celebrated ‘Deekshaanta Samaroh Convocation 2004'' on September 5, for their seventh batch of PGDBM. The event was a unique experience for everyone present on the occasion and was not merely an exercise of handing out degrees to successful candidates by the vice chancellor. The day was auspicious in more ways than one-it was the "Teachers'' Day".The institute is housed in the temple premises and hence offers an ambience of academics combined with Indian values and traditions. The two-year management programme is called ''Vivek Management'', which is value-based education for managing the corporate sector.
All the people present on the occasion- the students, teachers and the guests had to take off their shoes before entering the auditorium, which according to the institute sources was a daily practice. The students draped in saffron stoles, which is a symbol of renunciation walked to the podium to collect their degree while the teachers wore white stoles which was the symbol of peace. The graduating candidates were asked to take oath first in Sanskrit, then in English, by repeating after Athreya, chairman of the institute, to attain ''Shreshtha Dharma''.
The chief guest, Chief Election Officer, T S Krishnamurthi in his convocation address said that ultimate success of life was in one''s own hands. He asked the students to decide for themselves what they wanted to do and remarked that opportunities were enormous all over the world. He advised the students to believe in success; have faith and confidence in themselves and to entertain positive thinking and determination. He told them to be ''Mr Triumph'' for self, parents, society and the country.