Volunteering | The invaluable life lesson

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Volunteering | The invaluable life lesson

Last Sunday (01-Feb-2026), I had the privilege of being part of the core organizing team for the NIT Rourkela Alumni Association (Bengaluru Chapter) Meet-and-Greet, event at Bangalore.

🤝 As a volunteer, it was so fulfilling to contact and bring together our alumni from the 1965 batch all the way to the 2025 , who were scattered across time and space across the large sprawling city of Bangalore.

💡 From inspiring entrepreneurial journeys and nostalgic chai conversations to music, laughter, and meaningful networking — it truly felt like bringing a mini campus back to life in Bengaluru.

🌨️ It was very satisfying to conceptualize and host the fun session “Chalkboard to Cloud Board” session — a beautiful conversation across generations, from Baby boomers to Gen Z. Listening to stories about Backpost chai addas and comparing them with today’s digital campus life was a great reminder that while tools evolve from chalkboards to cloud boards, and from log book days to login ID days the core NITR spirit of resilience, curiosity, and a bit of classic “jugaad” remains timeless.

🎬 Personally, volunteering for events like this always reinforces one’s belief: leadership grows through service. Volunteering may look like a thankless job and we can often succumb to the “no-time syndrome”, but it provides a compounding effect on reinforcing our collaboration, communication, and problem-solving skills while naturally expanding our professional network.

📒 And the biggest takeaway? When alumni stay connected, both individuals and institutions grow stronger. Proud to contribute, learn, and build alongside this amazing community. 💙