PGP 80 Reunion: Dec 4 to Dec 9, 2025

By Sundeep Kumar and Arun Wakhlu

The reunion was barely underway when the first lesson of the week announced itself loud and clear: some things never change. Anu and Arun were meant to be the pioneers, the first flags planted on campus—but Indigo, clearly not an IIM alumnus, had other ideas. Delays, reroutes, and near-mythical cancellations followed, making them the first of many to rediscover the fine art of patience.

Once we finally began arriving, the KLMDC reception proved reassuringly efficient—proof that some systems do improve with time. Hemant Sharma, Pradosh Thiya, Ashmita, and the team from the Alumni and External Relations Office were caring and efficient.  As old friends trickled in, bonhomie filled the air, punctuated by laughter, hugs, and the universal question: “So… how long has it been?” A hearty lunch at the IMDC followed, where we fed both stomachs and souls. The short walk there reignited long-dormant memories—though time and age had clearly conspired, as a few of us confidently headed in the wrong direction before being rescued.

The IMDC hall itself was buzzing, with multiple campus programmes underway, reminding us that while we had aged, the campus very much hadn’t.

That evening, Himal Parekh and his team orchestrated an Ahmedabad street-food extravaganza on the KLMDC lawns—a glorious reunion within the reunion. Pao bhaji, chaat, kulcha-chola, and other old favourites made a triumphant appearance. The CFO of IIMA, Alok Singh ji, and Pradosh Thiya from the Alumni and External Relations Office graced the evening.  Tanya Ahuja, Kaashif Mohsin, and other members of the Student Affairs Council (SAC) also joined us, and it soon became clear that SAC had evolved dramatically since our time. More roles, more structure, more complexity—and more than a few raised alumni eyebrows. 

Later that night, we gathered for a screening of Jiro Dreams of Sushi, a gentle and soulful prelude to the case discussion scheduled for the next day. We went to bed full of food, memories, and quiet anticipation. 

Day two began the way all good reunions should: breakfast, gossip, and storytelling, accompanied by an interaction with Shreyansh Ankit, Vikas Sharma, and Aayushi Maira from the Endowment Office. We also heard from Tanya Ahuja, the SAC Coordinator, who gave us a snapshot of life on campus today—what’s changed, what’s thriving, and what’s familiar.

Then came the highlight: Professor Saral Mukherjee’s case discussion on Jiro, seamlessly linking sushi-making to strategy. Insightful, witty, and wonderfully engaging, it held everyone’s attention—alumni and spouses alike. By the end, more than one of us was quietly wondering whether it might be possible to come back and study at IIM all over again.

After lunch at IMDC, some of us opted for a campus tour—and it was here that nostalgia took a more somber turn. The old campus, once bursting with life, now felt almost ghostly. Hostels stood empty due to structural concerns, and the lanes that once echoed with debate, laughter, and late-night philosophy felt strangely silent. It was difficult not to feel a lump in the throat. A tour of the new campus left us in awe of the world-class and dazzling  Sports Complex, the Office Tower, and the new hostels. One only wished that there were fewer concrete and more trees, greenery, and lawns!

The evening brought a change of mood. While some of the women spouses headed out for shopping at familiar Ahmedabad haunts, the group later reconvened for dinner at “Under the Neem Tree,” another inspired choice by Himal Parikh. The restaurant offered an eclectic, beautifully curated spread—Gujarati, Awadhi, Rajasthani, Malvani, Marathi—proof that unity in diversity tastes excellent. We returned that night content, well-fed, and smiling.

The next morning began with a breakfast feast of local farsaan, after which we set off for the Adalaj Stepwell. Just a short bus ride away, the site left us awestruck. Its symmetry, intricacy, and architectural genius came alive through our guides’ stories. Cameras clicked furiously, admiration flowed freely, and thirst soon followed—promptly quenched by coconut water and fresh guavas from nearby hawkers. Lunch was a classic Gujarati thali at Rang Rasoi, and no one left hungry.

That evening, we embarked on a Sabarmati River cruise, made magical by Mark Silgado’s rich, resonant voice as he belted out songs that drifted over the water. For many of us, the Sabarmati Riverfront was a revelation—dramatically transformed, dazzling, and yes, perhaps a little garish. Still, it was impossible not to marvel at how much the city had changed since our campus days.

On December 7, some of us bid goodbye to the campus and headed to The Fern Sattva Resort in the Little Rann of Kutch for the reunion’s second act. The resort felt positively luxurious after KLMDC’s Spartan charm. After lunch, we climbed into jeeps for an evening safari in the world’s only sanctuary for the wild ass. The landscape was stark and beautiful, dotted with wild asses, flamingos, pelicans, and crowned by a glorious sunset. Dinner, conversation, and shared silences rounded off a perfect day.

An early morning safari followed on the 8th, after which we visited a tribal craft village, before returning to Ahmedabad to catch our flights home—tired, happy, and full.

The entire reunion was lovingly curated by Himal and Sundeep, ably supported by Arun, Vinod, Gopalan, and Sartaj. Along the way, AN Ravichandran and Arun Wakhlu donated their books to the library and Alumni Office through Dr. B B Chand, the present Librarian. Sundeep and Arun spent time with Professor Sunil Maheshwari, talking about reviving the PGP 80’s proposal for IIMA as an Ecological Habitat for our Avian friends.  We had ‘spirited’ discussions in his office (fully imbued with the spirit and artifacts of the Bhagavad Geeta), and formally handed over our batch’s artwork donations to IIMA.

As the 45th reunion drew to a close, we were reminded of a simple truth: reunions may end, but friendships—like good strategy—endure.

The group encounters wild asses, migratory birds, and sunset vistas on the Rann safari.