DIRECTOR GENERAL'S MESSAGE Let us strive towards Constructive Journalism I am pleased to know that the Indian Institute of Mass Communication Alumni Association (IIMCAA) is organising Annual Alumni Meet ‘Connections 2021’. I extend heartiest congratulations to the entire team of IIMCAA for keeping the tradition thriving from the last eight years. I expect the team IIMCA to be the harbinger of excellence for the present and future students of the IIMC. Alumni are the brand ambassador of any institution and the IIMC is the institution that has a big army of such ambassadors. They are today leading dierent media houses including print, television, radio, advertisement, public relations, new media, and even beyond that. What extremely satises me is the fact that they have left their imprints across the world. They are media leaders today. Surely, such entitlements bring a sense of responsibility and that the IIMC alumni have proved time and again. I believe that youth have the power to change the world. Swami Vivekananda always stressed on education, the power of youth, and nation-building. He said, “Youth is the best time. The way in which you utilise this period will decide the nature of coming years that lie ahead of you.” I also reiterate his message and advise the youth to channelise their collective energy towards education, empowerment of youth, and nation-building. On this occasion, I would also like to remember the words of Mahatma Gandhi for his idea of constructive contribution to society and the nation. He set an agenda before the countrymen in 1941 to bring constructive change in society. On similar grounds, we as part of the media fraternity should endeavour to focus more on constructive journalism. The collective strength of the countrymen would lead India to the path of becoming a global leader. Traditionally, ‘Bharat’ has been the ‘Vishav Guru’ in terms of disseminating knowledge to the whole world. We all have to attempt to create that type environment in which India lead the world. To our dearest alumni, I urge them to be the leaders and the icons for the existing students. I expect them to maintain the brand value and the legacy of the IIMC. In whatsoever profession they are they should be helping hands for the future students. I am aware of the eorts of the IIMCAA and appreciate its hard work to help alma maters of IIMC in providing scholarships for the needy students, recognition of professional work through awards and felicitation and personal support to the students of IIMC. I believe alma maters of IIMC greet each other as the member of the family during their interactions outside the premise as well. IIMC is striving for ‘Centre of Excellence’ and this excellence is unimaginable without the support from alma maters. As a human being, you should not think about where life will take you. You should only think about where you want to take it. That will lead you to the path of a meaningful life. Prof. Sanjay Dwivedi Director General, IIMC Patron, IIMC Alumni Association EDITOR’S MESSAGE I am pleased to present another successful edition of the IIMCAA souvenir. The occasion is all the more satisfying as we have been through a year when the pandemic COVID took a severe toll of the nation. It is indeed an achievement that IIMCAA has been able to stage its marque event at all. IIMCAA has worked hard, reaching out to members in India and in Nepal, Bangladesh, Dubai, and Singapore where connections meets were held. We continue to have active chapters in Australia, Canada, Germany (other European nations as well), China and Ghana. The IFFCO IIMCAA Awards has seen the jury model being changed to members voting this year, in what was considered to be a useful experiment. We also pressed ahead with IIMCAA scholarships and reached out to members in need, particularly in the context of COVID. There were Silver Jubilee Batch and Golden Jubilee Batch felicitations. It is a remarkable moment to recognise alums who are completing 25 and 50 years after nishing their study at IIMC. The 1995-96 is Silver and 1970-71 is the Golden batch. The events would not have materialised without a tireless and dedicated team that works hard to make connections, sponsorship, logistics, content and design come together. A special mention here to Puja Mishra who looks after design, content, coordination from agency to the printer stage. I wish all current students and alums of IIMC the very best. Rajeev Deshpande EJ, Delhi 1986-1987 Batch Chief of National Bureau, The Times of India PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 2020 has been an unprecedented year. A global pandemic that forced us to make choices and changes that were hitherto unheard of. Work from home is now the ‘new’ normal as are masks and sanitizers. It was also a very trying time for business and industry and the lockdown across the world hit media businesses harder than some others. It is these unprecedented and trying times that I have has the opportunity to serve an extended term as the President of the IIMC Alumni Association and welcome you to the 9th edition of Connections. As we come out of what undoubtedly is one of the darkest years in modern times, things are looking up and India and the world are ghting back with vaccines and safety standards. It is with hope and renewed vigour that I welcome all the alumni to IIMCAA Connections 2021. Two decades ago, I began my professional journey after securing admission to the course in Radio and TV Journalism. Over the next two decades, the lessons learned inside these red brick walls have served me well. And many of the friends made on campus continue to be partners in crime professionally and personally. Over the last 7-8 years, my memories have been refreshed and the connection rekindled through the alumni association. It has been my privilege to serve as the President of the IIMC Alumni Association since 2018 and as my term comes to end, I am humbled by the experience. I am also grateful to my small but extremely dedicated team — a bunch of alumni who have been driving all initiatives and, this year, have surpassed themselves in putting this event together. While we reach out to the widest possible network of communicators, there remains a question of sustaining not just this event but the alumni association itself. As the organisation grows year on year and expands beyond the borders of India, we nd ourselves increasingly constrained by the demands of nances and time. I urge all alumni gathered here, or those reading this message, to extend a helping hand in making your association successful. I take this opportunity to wish all IIMC alum godspeed and the best of health. Prasad Sanyal RTV, Delhi 2000-2001 Batch Chief Content Ocer, Hindustan Times Digital PRINCIPAL ORGANISER’S MESSAGE Hkkjrh; tulapkj laLFkku iwoZ Nk= la?k ds ukSaos lkykuk ehV dusD’kUl 2021 esa vki lcdk Lokxr gS- bEdk us tc bl lky ,yqEukbZ ehV ds eq[; vk;kstudrkZ dk ikx eq>s iguk;k rks yksx c/kkbZ nsus yxs- c/kkbZ ges’kk] [kwu nksxquk dj nsrh gS- vPNk yx jgk Fkk ysfdu eu ijs’kku Fkk fd Ák;kstdksa dh [kpZ dVkSrh ds ekgkSy esa 60 yk[k tqVkus dk y{; dSls gkfly gksxk- ‘kq:vkrh nkSj esa geus le> fy;k fd ;s ugha gksxk ysfdu tks lcls csgrj gks ldrk gS mlesa Vhe tqV tk,- vkt dk vk;kstu ,d mRlkfgr Vhe dh esgur dk urhtk gS tks gkjus dks rS;kj gh ugha gS- vk;kstu dSlk gS] bldk QSlyk vkids gkFkksa esa NksM+ rk gwa- vk;kstu lfefr ds lkjs in tokcnsgh ds gSa- vxys lky ftudk uke vk,] mudks c/kkbZ ds lkFk vlhe ’kqHkdkeuk] i;kZIr lg;ksx vkSj Hkjiwj leFkZu nhft,- fdruk vPNk gksxk fd ’kqHkdkeuk esa vki ;s crk,a fd vkidk ,d fe= gS tks Likalj dj ldrk gS- lg;ksx esa vkxs vkdj dgsa fd bruh enn rks eSa [kqn gh dj ldrk gwa- leFkZu esa vius usVodZ ds ekdsZfVax vkSj ihvkj gsM ls ckr djds gels QkWyks&vi djok ldrs gSa- vk;kstu lfefr ds lnL;ksa dks c/kkb;ksa ds lkFk bl rjg ds lacy dh Hkh t:jr gS- ge ctV y{; ls dkQh nwj jg x, gSa ysfdu gekjk gkSlyk c<+k gS- bl cqjs nkSj esa tc yksx lalk/ku tqVkus esa ladV ds en~nsutj vk;kstu Vkyus dh lykg ns jgs Fks] rc ;g feyu dk egksRo ,d lfVZfQdsV gS fd vkbZvkbZ,elh okys dqN Hkh dj ldrs gSa- dusD’kUl vxys lky 10 dk gks tk,xk- vk;kstu lfefr esa tks yksx Hkh vk,a] fny [kksydj mudh enn djsa- [kqn crk,a fd vk;kstu ds fy, eSa ;s dj ldrk gwa] ;s djok ldrk gwa- fQj 60 yk[k D;k pht gS] ge oks y{; gkfly dj ldrs gSa ftls gekjh Vhe us Hkh uk lkspk gks- iadt >k fgUnh i=dkfjrk] fnYyh 1997-1998 cSp laiknd] ,chih U;wt NATIONAL MEET CONVENOR’S MESSAGE My Dear Friends, In May this year, it will be 27 years since I passed out of IIMC. In a way, my association with the alma mater is unique. I had the fortune of being a part of the rst batch of the Dhenkanal campus. It was also here that I met my better half Mitali. Both of us started our careers as journalists, and I must say that the baby steps we took at the institute helped us build a fruitful career in the media sector over the years.