Udaipur Hosts BITS’69 Alumni Meet-up

More than one hundred alumni of Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani (BITS-PILANI) of 1969 batch have arranged a get together today on Sunday, September 25, 2011 at Udaipur’s Hotel Sheraton.

It was the 6^th alumni meet of the batch mates famed as Bits69 which has also been listed in Limca Book of Records for the highest number of alumni meet of a single batch.

The group of 110 classmates with their family members including wives and children and grand children, making a gathering of around 220 people, rejuvenated the bond, so strong and exceptional in the beautiful city of lakes.

Members of BITS69 arrived in Udaipur on 24^th Sept for the two days congregation which ended today with cultural programmes followed by lunch and a grand birthday celebration of one of the batch mates. On the first day the group enjoyed sightseeing in and around the beautiful city.

An important announcement has also been made today by the group chairman Manohar Baheti that till now the alumni meet-up is conducted every three years but now this interval has been reduced to every two years.

The classmates, who are now in 60-64 age group have arrived from faraway places, many of them are settled in Unites States, Europe and East Asian countries.

It was no less than a historical moment for members of BITS69 who had seen those golden days as students at BITS Pilani and now also meeting each other elevating effectively in the journey of time.

Ashok Kumar Surekha, one of the founding members says, “When our friendship started, it was without any self-seeking motive, it was all from heart and till today we share the same bond with each other. We share our sorrows and happiness with each other like a family”.

“Our batch mates are well settled in their respective professions, to name a few Om Prakash Gupta, Chairman of Ashiana Housing is our batch mate, Percy Batliwala Ex-general Manager of Motorola is also a BITSian of 1969 batch and Pradeep Kashyap founder of MART is also a part of BITS69 family, despite of so many big names of the corporate world we have no feelings of big and small,”says Mr. Surekha while describing the distinctiveness of BITS69.

Not only the classmates of 1969, but their wives and children also accompany them in every alumni get together which makes BITS69 as one of the most remarkable and dedicated alumni groups of the world.

Manpreet Singh Ahuja, son of one of the BITS69 batch mate says, “It is positive feeling because we have grown up together from the past 20 years, I was 8 year old when I attended the first meet in 1987 in Delhi with my father. Today I am 31 and now my son has attended this meet which begins the third generation.”

“We are connected with so many things like, facebook, emails etc. to connect with our friends. Imagine what was there in 1987? These people have travelled many places to re locate all classmates and that was only possible due to their sheer passion and love for each other. I think it is very easy to throw a party of 100 friends today but for them it was a big task and it’s commendable,” says Manpreet.

BITS 69 is not limited to just meeting up in every 2-3 years but the group is fully active in social works, especially in the field of educational development. There are more than three schools that BITS69 has adopted in various places in India by BITS Educational Trust.

Darshan Kunwar Singh, one of the batch mates informed about the school in Jodhpur they are taking care from last many years. It is a government run primary school for girls with no basic facilities.

After adopting by BITS69, they have constructed bathrooms and provided all basic amenities. The school has now been upgraded from primary to secondary and BITS69 is trying to make it a senior secondary school.

There is only one member who is from Udaipur in the group of BITS69, Mr. Haidrey. The city of lakes, Udaipur feels lucky to welcome the group of BITS69 and wish them great success and request them to visit back soon.

BITS69 is not just a group; it is a source of inspiration in today’s world where friendship has also become transitory.

More Pics of today’s event

Photos and Report by: Sayeed Ahmed