It was on the evening of 28th October 2013, when Mrs. Yasaswy called and informed me about performing Gurupuja at IBS-G on the 2nd Memorial lecture of Mr. Yasaswy- Founder of the ICFAI Group of Educational Institutions and a pioneer to promote higher education in the private sector.
Prof. Satish Raina, a renowned teacher and a former Principal of SP College, Srinagar was invited as a special Guest of Honour.
When I was young, I had heard a lot about Gurupuja but never got a chance to experience that. All I knew was that Gurupuja is performed to thank the teacher who taught us and because of their efforts we are what we are today. Prof. Satish Raina arrived at IBS-G at 1:00 pm and was welcomed with a bunch of lotus flowers. The Gurupuja was performed with aarti and kirtana. The garland was prepared by all of us and offered to Prof. Satish Raina. The flower petals were placed at his feet and the faculty and staff then touched his feet and took his blessings. The same was followed by mangala- aarti. The words of the aarti means that the teacher is the one who opens our darkened eyes and fills our heart with immense knowledge. The teacher is our lord, our guru and because of him our ignorance is destroyed. While performing Gurupuja there seemed to be the deep connection between the teacher and the students. The whole process at that time soaked all of us in an ocean of gratitude. The whole act of gathering flowers and doing the puja was celebrative.
In the entire experience, it was a thanks giving ceremony remembering all the teachers in our life. In the presence of a teacher, Gurupuja is the expression of devotion and gratitude towards our teachers. Performing Gurupuja at IBS -G helped the students and faculty to unite their mind with the past experiences of their loved teachers and their untiring support from time to time.
The puja ended with the blessings of Prof. Raina and him announcing that he had experienced this for the first time at any B-School. Prof. Raina was extremely happy to experience this kind of puja being performed at any management college.
The entire experience also helped the students to understand the merit and the positive energy, for our enlightened potential to grow and become perfect by acknowledging our teachers efforts.
After Gurupuja, the memorial Lecture was delivered by the Chief Guest, Mr. M S Sahoo, Secretary, The Institute of Company Secretaries of India. Prof. R. P. Kaushik, Member Board of Governors, ICFAI, presided over the function. Mrs. Sobharani Yasaswy, President ICFAI Group was the Guest of honour. The lecture was attended by about 125 persons consisting of faculty members, students, staff of IBS Gurgaon, researchers and industry professionals.
Prof. (Dr.) O. P. Gupta, Director, IBS-Gurgaon and the distinguished guests paid tribute to Mr. N. J. Yasaswy by offering flowers to his photograph.
Contributed by Dr.Anupama Dullo Raina (Associate Dean & Placement coordinator, IBS Gurgaon)