User:Suhansaha/JU Alumni Bangalore

Establishes in 1980, Alumni Association of Jadavpur University, Bangalore Chapter or AAJUB is a non-profit volunteer driven organization whose purpose is to connect alumni of Jadavpur University in Bangalore. AAJUB is also involved with many activities for betterment of the society.

History
It was the early 80’s in Bangalore. IT and BPO were meaningless acronyms and “bio-technology” was an unknown jargon. The main employers were the numerous public-sector enterprises who attracted the crème-de-la-crème of India’s engineering and technical talent. The city roads were un-crowded expanses lined with flowering trees and stately rain-trees shaded the pavements. The city was still India’s “Garden City” and “Pensioners’ Paradise”. This was the time when a remarkable JU alumnus, the late S.K.Ganguly (Ganguly’da), brought together a small group of JU Alumni at Bangalore in 1980 and held the first meeting in the presence of late Dr. Triguna Sen. For the first two decades of its existence, AAJUB was carefully and lovingly nurtured by him and few were the Alumni whose association with AAJUB was not touched in some way by his wonderful personality. Closely supporting him during this time were the other stalwarts like R.K. Basu, N.N. Sahoo, D.K. Basu, K.K. Dalmia, Col. J. Banerjee, Dr. G.K. Deb, P.C. Roy, R.M. Bose, Aloke Chattopadhyay, Mohan Phani, D.P. Goel and many others. This was the time when he also inspired and built a team of younger Alumni who willingly took over the baton and have kept AAJUB on its path of growth and excellence since.

During its existence, AAJUB has quietly and consistently expanded its commitment to the community by way of support to many worthy people and causes who are in need of aid and succour. For almost three decades, its dynamic and energetic members have ensured that the Association has not only sustained, but also remained pro-active in fulfilling its objectives. As on date, there are over three hundred and fifty members on AAJUB rolls and this is a list that is growing fast. Along with its sister entity – the Jadavpur University Alumni Foundation (JUAF), AAJUB has been a very active platform for not only bonding its members together but also in its endeavour to help contribute to the community and society within which its members work, live, flourish and thrive.

Community Service
Since its inception, a primary focus of AAJUB has been community services and charitable activities in the area of education. Given our legacy and the heritage we represent, we sincerely believe in the significant empowering role education plays in the development and growth of society and civilization. We also appreciate that voluntary organizations such as ours have a major role to play in supporting and supplementing state efforts towards creating a fully literate and enlightened citizenry.

Education for Underdeveloped
Over the years, AAJUB has been extending financial aid to economically challenged but meritorious students from Government schools by way of a number of scholarships. In 2001, the members were inspired by a suggestion made by the then Chairman of the Karnataka Task Force on Primary Education, Dr. Raja Ramanna. It was decided to select an underdeveloped village in Karnataka and build a primary school for the village children there. The Government of Karnataka was very encouraging and so were the villagers of Kallyarepalya village in Magadi taluka who decided to give land for the school free of cost. The Government of Karnataka came forward to staff and run the school. AAJUB organised several fund-raising programmes for this flagship project during the period 2002-2005. The school was finally completed and handed over to the citizens of Kallyarepallya on June 11, 2005.

Seminars on Social Issues
AAJUB also believes in working towards projects that will have a greater long-term value for the community and will continue to focus its energies on doing so. It is especially concerned about the welfare, development and growth of the community within which it exists and flourishes. It, therefore, seeks to inspire and initiate debate on several critical developmental issues facing us today. To this end, over the years, AAJUB has also organised several national-level seminars and workshops on infrastructure and planning issues in collaboration with the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS). For about five continuous years (2000-2004), AAJUB and (NIAS) jointly organised many seminars, workshops and discussion meetings at a national level. All these activities had a bearing on the critical issues the city of Bangalore faced with regard to its civic infrastructure. To name a few major annual events which had an impact on the society and the government were (a) Seminar on '''“Infrastructure key to growth. Is Karnataka geared up?" (b) Status of “Infrastructure in Karnataka – a year later” (c) A Round Table Meeting on a scheme for decongesting Bangalore by encouraging growth along the Bangalore – Mysore corridor. It was technically suggested that a “High-speed Twin-track Rail Link” could not only be cost-effective but also ensure economy of time enabling the spread of people, property and development in directions radiating away from Bangalore. This round table meeting was with active support of the Karnataka State Planning Board and was accepted by the State Government and the Ministry of Railways (d) A seminar on “Infrastructure – transport, watershed management, water harvesting and IT in constructive management.”''' It is a matter of great pride for us that some of the suggestions and recommendations emanating out of these seminars and workshops were accepted by the Karnataka Government and taken up for implementation.

Cultural Events
No alumni association can thrive without nurturing bonding and camaraderie amongst its members. Apart from our community development activities, AAJUB also keeps a busy social calendar with a multitude of events spread throughout the year. The Annual Reunion, Diwali Night, the Annual Picnic, Saraswati Puja are some of the major events on the AAJUB calendar. These are looked forward with great anticipation and participated in with greater enthusiasm every year. These are occasions where our members gather and relive with joy and nostalgia the spirit that was the hallmark of the great institution to which we all belonged.

Over the years, AAJUB has also organized gala musical events that feature some of the leading and legendary artistes of the country and critically acclaimed film premieres etc. These mega-events are a key component of our fund-raising efforts and the proceeds are channeled towards either our own community development projects or to other voluntary organisations involved in community service who are in need of funds. Organised with impeccable professionalism by our own members, these events have become part of Bangalore’s cultural folklore by breaking new ground in the genre of live shows. Some of the key live events in our history have been Jagjit Singh Nite, Sonu Nigam Nite, Srikanto Acharya Evening and the path-breaking Friendship Concert featuring the two maestros Jagjit Singh and Ghulam Ali on the same stage.