Garden City College PG Students
Graduate

Saturday, May 17 will always remain a special day for the Garden City Group of Institutions family. S oments after the first of the graduating students walked up to the stage to receive the congratulatory handshakes and citation from the distinguished luminaries on the dais, there were faces of happiness though tinged with sadness. Others had tears welling down their cheeks. Perhaps for the simple reason they were being reminded that it is time to move on. Unlike their under grad compatriots, the day had even a greater significance. This would perhaps be the last in their phase of learning and time had come to embrace responsibilities. From now on, they will be on their own.

Later, the students received their awards and after the graduation addresses joined their family members and friends for the evening photo session and farewell dinner.

And there were parents and relatives who had traversed long distances to be with their wards on the day. Akhilesh, one of the graduands said: There were times we thought it would be too painful to go through the proceedings. But it's worth it. This moment is going to be a treasure for the rest of my life. It's just wonderful."

While equally proud of each others achievements, the experiences of the day left many of the students with renewed vigour and a new appreciation for their Alma matter.

Speaking at the function, Dr. Hanumanthappa, the former Vice Chancellor of Bangalore University (BU) and Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning called upon the students to brace themselves for the changes taking place in the society.

“I am happy to see many happy, disciplined and cultured students, so sweet,” he began his speech before a solemn gathering.
“At this unique destination, there is virtually every imaginable course on offer, thanks to the vision of Dr. Joseph.V.G. In your motto, Emphasis is on Life, there is great motivation, inspiration and you as graduating students should inculcate the right moral values required for happy life, he advised.

Recalling his tenure at Bangalore University, Dr. Hanumanthappa noted that it was gratifying to see many of the programmes he initiated like MBA and MCA have been introduced in many educational institutions

. GCC is the epitome and a role model for many youngsters’ aspirations. I congratulate the students who are passing out because the future of all nations is in their hands. I hope you will continue in the same way and become great human beings with great moral values and ethicsStill on his tenure at BU, the luminary said all he wanted was to facilitate the path for youngsters but reminded the gathering that the intensity of the courses should not blind them to the needs of the society. A blend, he said, was necessary and constant interactions should be encouraged with the industry to provide the right perspectives.We are in a new age with new needs and values emerging day by day,he continued. We need to make the requisite changes to meet the needs without compromising on the values that have held all societys together. We have embraced a new dictionary where everything is preceded by the letter ‘e’- Ecommerce, e-technology, e-governance, and much more. These changes are unprecedented and hence the need for restructuring, reorientation, e-focusing and adoption of newer strategies every day, he noted.

In the sea of GCC grads, there was a hope of optimism as expressed by the host, Dr. Joseph.V.G., hairman, Garden City Group of Institutions. He informed the students that the college will always be there to support them at every stage of their life. “You have a home to come back to,” he said. Earlier, Prof. V.B. Coutinho, President –Governing Council, Garden City Group of Institutions and former Vice Chancellor, Gulbarga University delivered the Key Note Address and informed the gathering that more than 460 students will be passing out of the GCC institutions this year from as many as 26 departments. At the end of it all, it is worth recalling that no matter the path each graduate took to get to here, they all share the same journey now. It is one that will call on their skills and all that they have imbibed on campus to build a better tomorrow that they can all be proud of.
                                                                                                                                                 GCC News Bureau, Bangalore