MMS Degree Distribution Ceremony – Class of 2020

MMS Degree Distribution Ceremony

Class of 2020

Durgadevi Saraf Institute of Management Studies (DSIMS) organized Degree Distribution Ceremony for the MMS batch 2018-2020 on April 24, 2021.  It was the day when all the dedication, commitment and toiling in the two years of academic life of students paid off. This year has the event was managed in online mode as the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic is the defining global health crisis of our time and the greatest challenge we have faced since World War Two. COVID-19 knows no boundaries or borders. To fix this, business and society have to work together. Hence, we all faculty, staff, current year students, graduating students and their parents came together at an online platform and made sure that the “work must go on”. The ceremony started at 10:30 am with the Master of Ceremony, Prof. Anthony Colaco welcoming the students online. The Chief Guest for the event was Shri Anil Salvi, Managing Director & Group Head – Human Resources at JM Financial Group. The event started the event with the blessings of the Almighty. Post that, Shri Ashokji Saraf was asked to declare the Convocation open. Dr. Sarita Vichore delivered the welcome address to the graduating students. She mentioned the importance of this ceremony in the life of the graduating students. Dr. Sarita also stressed on the fact that students will now enter into the real competitive life and how the learning from DSIMS will help them in their career. Post which Shri Ashokji Saraf was asked to address the students. Shri Ashokji Saraf mentioned how the Saraf Group of Institutes is growing year on year. He also mentioned the social initiatives taken up the group and how the group is contributing to the society. Shri Ashokji Saraf also mentioned that DSIMS has joined hands with Harvard for Online Courses which will benefit the current students as well the passed-out students. After the visionary address of Shri Ashokji Saraf, Dr. C. Babu, Director DSIMS was invited to present the Director’s Report. Dr. Babu highlighted the major achievements of DSIMS which included points like Placements, International Immersion, Rural Immersion, Summer Internships, Live Projects, Co-curricular activities, Extra Curricular activities, social initiatives etc. Dr. Babu also highlighted an important aspect, which is the life at DSIMS pre covid and post covid. He pointed out the fact that nothing stopped DSIMS from continuing its usual lectures and activities. In fact, due to online mode, DSIMS could manage to organize more events and guest lectures. 

Shri Anil Salvi, Managing Director & Group Head – Human Resources at JM Financial Group, being the chief guest of the ceremony addressed the students by giving some success mantras to them. He gave an example of Sachin Tendulkar as a leader. He stated that we just remember him as a cricketer with the highest runs or someone who hits sixes and fours on the ground. But what we don’t know is the extreme hard work that goes behind this kind of performance. 

Shri. Anil Salvi illustrated the importance of tenacity and staying the course. He highlighted need to understand the challenges and dynamics of the corporate world and realizing that there is no guaranteed rulebook to success. Shri Anil Salvi explained using the case study to present two varied approaches doing a business and how methods and ways of doing business differ from organization to organization. He stated the importance of being realistic and understanding why and how you are evaluated is critical for success.

Shri Anil Salvi stressed on the point that the students should carry the value system of their institute throughout their life such as discipline, punctuality, sincerity, hard work, dedication, time management, etc. He also stressed on the point that success is also being aware about unknown and unseen circumstances impacting the outcomes. 

At the end Shri Anil Salvi stated the economy is going through a lot of challenges due to Covid 194 pandemic. He stressed on the fact that students will have to pursue more skills during these times as the job roles will be now challenging due to the online mode. 

These are some of the challenges that students will have to overcome during their career and they should think in the lines of facing and overcoming challenges in a positive way and not thinking of the same as a setback. 

After the enlightening speech by Shri Anil Salvi, Prof. Anthony Colaco invited the MMS Second Year Chairperson Prof. Priyanka Oza to give away the Degree Certificated to MMS Students. Prof. Priyanka Oza commenced with calling the students for conferring degree certificates to MMS Students. All the students were elated to receive the certificates for their academic achievements. Some of the students were also felicitated with various academic awards like “Topper of the year”, “Student of the Year”. The Academic Award holds an important place for a student as it is an acknowledgement of the hardwork and dedication towards themselves as well as the Institute. The Academic Awards for MMS were as follows:

• MMS Academic Award (Overall Topper of the Year) – Charvi Shukla 
• MMS Academic Award (Topper for Finance Specialization) – Rupali Sarawagi
• MMS Academic Award (Topper of HR Specialization) – Charvi Shukla 
• MMS Academic Award (Topper of Marketing Specialization) – Abhilasha Bohra 
• MMS Academic Award (Topper of Operations Specialization) – Aniruddha Darvalikar 

And finally, Ms. Rupali Sarawagi was awarded the Student of the Year. Every year, the institute recognizes one student as the Student of the Year based on three important criteria. The criteria are academic performance, involvement in extra-curricular activities and involvement in institution building activities. The students are nominated for the same and there is a formal voting process for selecting the Student of the year. Ms. Rupali Sarawagi was declared the Student of the year and was invited to give the valedictory address. 

Ms. Rupali Sarawagi started the address by highlighting the fact that they are the luckiest batch. She stated that they were the graduating class that had their very first online lectures, didn’t had a farewell ceremony that they all have daydreamt about, graduating with their parents besides them, laughing their hearts out with their friends, cherish all the memories that they made and lived during college time. Ms. Rupali stated that they are the luckiest as they were very fortunate to be able to enjoy and live 2 best years of our life on campus and not online. She also highlighted on a lighter note that how the batch was lucky to have their final exam online. Ms. Rupali then reminisced his journey in DSIMS starting with the Orientation programme right upto the final examinations. She also stated the importance of classroom learning and how it helped her. Ms. Rupali Sarawagi stressed on the point of relationship building which is an important part in the career of any student and how her experience at DSIMS helped her in building fruitful relationships. Finally, she thanked all the faculty members, non-teaching staff and her entire class for his memorable journey at DSIMS. 

After Ms. Rupali Sarawagi’s reminiscing speech, all the students took the oath administered by Dr. Sarika Jain, Associate Professor- DSIMS and became esteemed alumni of the college. Prof. Somesh Kumar Banerji was invited to give away the Vote of Thanks. Finally, the students were bid a farewell with a lovely video made by their junior batch as a remembrance of all the good times that they had in DSIMS.