PRAVAAH 2026 – The 1st Armed Forces Programme (AFP) Alumni Meet at IIM Ahmedabad
Celebrating the Enduring Spirit and Legacy of the AFP Fraternity
There are events that get organised.
And then there are events that stay with you long after the lights go out.
PRAVAAH 2026 – the 1st AFP Alumni Meet organised by the AFP Cohort 2025–26 at IIM Ahmedabad on 21 February 2026 was not merely an alumni gathering; it was an emotion, a celebration, and above all, a heartfelt tribute to the spirit of AFP that has quietly transformed military leaders into strategic thinkers over the last two decades.
For the very first time in nearly 20 years of AFP at IIMA, alumni from across 19 batches came together under one roof, proving once again that old bonds never rust and some connections only grow stronger with time.
Where Leadership Meets Legacy
AFP at IIM Ahmedabad is a prestigious six-month in-campus residential programme conducted every year from October to March for selected officers from the Indian Armed Forces.
Since the commencement of the very first AFP batch in 2005, the programme has steadily evolved into one of the most respected military management programmes in the country, creating a strong network of defence leaders who continue to contribute across military, strategic, and corporate domains.
The AFP 2025–26 cohort consisted of 60 officers who lived together in Dorms 16, 17, and 18 at the iconic Old Campus, experiencing the intense academic rigour and unique camaraderie that define life at IIMA.
And somewhere between case studies, cold calls, submissions, and sleepless nights, strangers became comrades-in-arms once again.
Beyond academics, AFP represents transformation, where military leadership meets managerial excellence and where officers learn that leadership is not just about commanding people, but about understanding people.
The entire cohort remains deeply grateful to the AFP Chair, Prof. Sanjay Verma, and Co-Chair, Prof. Rajat Sharma, for their vision, mentorship, and continuous encouragement throughout the programme and especially during the organisation of PRAVAAH 2026.
More Than an Alumni Meet
Officers who once walked the iconic red-brick corridors as students returned to campus not just as alumni, but as proud members of a growing fraternity bound by camaraderie, respect, nostalgia, and gratitude.
And perhaps that is why the event was named PRAVAAH — symbolising the continuous flow of learning, leadership, relationships, and memories.
“Fauj ka rishta aur IIMA ka connection… dono zindagi bhar chalta hai.”
From the very beginning, the vision behind PRAVAAH was clear -to create a platform where alumni could reconnect with their Gurus, revisit their campus memories, and strengthen the AFP fraternity for generations to come.
What looked effortless on the day of the event was actually the result of months of planning, countless calls, endless coordination, and many sleepless nights.
At the heart of this effort was Anand Gupta from the AFP 2025-26 Batch, who worked relentlessly with the organising team to transform an ambitious idea into a historic reality.
From conceptualising the event, coordinating with alumni spread across India, managing logistics, designing invitations, arranging hospitality, and personally following up with faculty members and participants — the journey demanded extraordinary commitment.
As many in the cohort joked during the preparations:
“AFP Mein Assignments or Case Study Kam Stressful Tha, Jo PRAVAAH ka Udta Teer Alag se Le Liya!”
There were late-night discussions that stretched beyond midnight, WhatsApp groups buzzing like military operations rooms, and endless spreadsheets that probably deserved an IIMA elective of their own.
But as they say, teamwork makes the dream work.
And somewhere between the chaos and the coordination, something beautiful emerged — a collective effort powered by affection for the institution and respect for the people who shaped us.
A Day Filled with Conversations, Learning, and Nostalgia
Some recognised each other instantly.
Some needed name tags.
And some had changed so much that course mates jokingly asked:
“Sir, aap alumni meet mein aaye hain ya placement panel lene?”
The laughter that followed instantly dissolved the years, proving that laughter truly is the shortest distance between people.
The day progressed with meaningful interactions between alumni and the current AFP cohort, high tea discussions, panel sessions, and insightful exchanges where distinguished alumni shared experiences from leadership roles across the Armed Forces and corporate world.
The campus heritage visit turned emotional for many.
Walking once again through the Louis Kahn Plaza, revisiting classrooms, seeing the old dorms, and sitting under the same trees brought back memories of assignments, presentations, chai discussions, surprise quizzes, and sleepless academic nights.
It felt less like revisiting a campus and more like opening an old diary filled with memories.
The Evening That Became the Soul of PRAVAAH
If the daytime reflected intellect and reflection, the evening reflected warmth, celebration, and togetherness.
The grand Dinner Night at 324 Lawns at KLMDC became the emotional centrepiece of PRAVAAH 2026.
The beautifully decorated venue welcomed alumni, faculty members, spouses, children, and friends into an atmosphere filled with joy and belonging.
A particularly special aspect of the evening was the gracious presence of distinguished faculty members of IIMA along with their families, whose wholehearted participation added warmth, affection, and grace to PRAVAAH 2026.
The evening was honoured by the presence of Prof. Pradyumana Khokle, Prof. Tarun Jain, Prof. Debjit Roy, Prof. Subhadip Roy, Prof. Soumya Mukhopadhyay, Prof. Saravanan S, Prof. Vishwanath Pingali, Prof. Chetan Suman, Prof. Neerav Nagar, Prof. Anand Kumar Jaiswal, Prof. Bibek Bhattacharya, Prof. Amit, Prof. Biju Varkkey, Prof. Mayank Varshney, Prof. Saurabh Kumar Aggarwalla, Col Jagdish C. Joshi (Retd.) and several other esteemed faculty members, mentors, staff members, etc who have shaped the AFP journey over the years.
Watching professors interact informally with alumni, spouses, and children outside classroom settings made the evening truly memorable and deeply personal.
One of the most heartwarming moments of the evening was witnessing professors reconnecting with alumni from batches spanning almost two decades.
There was genuine affection in every interaction — proving that a good teacher leaves footprints on the hearts of students forever.
And yet, despite medals, ranks, corporate titles, and achievements, everyone became students once again.
That is the timeless magic of IIMA.
The evening became even more vibrant with games and activities for children, ladies, gentlemen, and alumni, wonderfully conducted by Maj Ankita and team.
Children ran across the lawns laughing.
Faculty members smiled watching old students dance.
Coursemates sang together.
Families bonded effortlessly.
There was energy everywhere.
A lively DJ ensured that the celebrations continued late into the night.
And perhaps for the first time in AFP history, officers who once debated frameworks and balance sheets were seen enthusiastically competing over dance moves — proving that every lion has a playful side too.
As someone humorously commented near the dance floor:
“Case study mein jo participation nahi mila tha, woh aaj dance floor pe poora ho raha hai!”
The food, music, laughter, and conversations created an atmosphere where rank disappeared, and relationships took over.
Because at the end of the day, people may forget positions and appointments, but they never forget how you made them feel.
More Than an Event — A Feeling
PRAVAAH was not important merely because it was the first AFP Alumni Meet. For many alumni, returning to IIMA was deeply emotional.
AFP has always represented transition — from battlefield to boardroom, from tactical leadership to strategic thinking.
But beyond academics, it also gave officers something invaluable: friendships that survived time, mutual respect across services, and mentors who shaped not just careers, but personalities.
Several alumni became visibly emotional while speaking about their journey.
Some remembered difficult personal phases during the course where friends stood by them.
Others remembered professors who pushed them beyond comfort zones.
Some simply stood silently in the campus lawns, absorbing memories.
There was a quiet realization in the air:
“Hum sab badal gaye hain… par IIMA aaj bhi wahi hai.” -Because some places are not merely institutions. They become a part of who you are.
The Beginning of a Legacy
PRAVAAH 2026 has laid the foundation for what promises to become a strong annual tradition for the AFP fraternity.
Because in the end, the best things in life are not things, they are moments shared with people who matter.
As the evening concluded and alumni slowly began leaving the lawns, there was one common sentiment shared by everyone:
“Yeh sirf reunion nahi tha… yeh ghar wapas aane jaisa tha.”
And that perhaps perfectly defines PRAVAAH 2026.
