SOA alumni reunion: Building connections and supporting Odia culture
Editor
Bhubaneswar, Dec 23: Alumni of educational institutions should maintain connections with their alma mater and actively contribute to its development, stated Prof. Damodar Acharya, Chairman of the Advisory Committee of Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan Deemed to be University (SOA), during an alumni gathering on Saturday.
“Even after graduation, the bond with the institution remains, and students have a responsibility to support their alma mater,” Prof. Acharya, a former Chairman of AICTE and former Director of IIT-Kharagpur, remarked at the 'Grand Home Coming' event.
The gathering also featured Dipanwit Dashmohapatra, an actor and alumnus of the Institute of Technical Education and Research (ITER), as the guest of honor. SOA Vice-Chancellor Prof. Pradipta Kumar Nanda presided over the event.
Prof. Acharya, who referred to himself as a ‘former student’ of SOA, reminisced about receiving an honorary doctorate during the university’s first convocation. Alumni from the university who graduated since 2001 attended the event organized by SOA Alumniz.
Dashmohapatra, a 2013 ITER graduate, shared how his acting career was founded during his time at SOA, where he was an active member of the drama club ‘Toneelstuk.’ He emphasized the importance of supporting Odia language, culture, and tradition to enhance the Odia film industry. Dashmohapatra's acclaimed role in the film 'Daman' and subsequent projects have earned him recognition and accolades.
In his welcome address, Prof. Nanda highlighted the alumni's significant contributions across various sectors, including education, health, industry, business, and politics, urging them to take pride in their alma mater, which is ranked 14th in the country.
Prof. Jyoti Ranjan Das, Dean of Students Welfare at SOA, noted that former students would play a vital role in the nation-building process. The event also featured remarks from Ripti Ranjan Dash, Director of Industry Engagement and Corporate Relations, Rajeev Kumar, Deputy General Manager of SOA-Atal Incubation Centre, and Dr. Susmita Panda, President of SOA Alumniz.
During the occasion, 20 prominent alumni were honored for their achievements. Abhishek Pattnaik, Convenor of SOA Alumniz, delivered the vote of thanks.
