Reflecting on Alumination 2024 by SARC IIT Bombay

Alumination 2024: A Day of Wisdom, Celebration, and Inspiration

At the heart of India’s premier engineering institute, IIT Bombay, a cherished tradition thrives: Alumination. This flagship alumni fest, hosted by the Student Alumni Relations Cell (SARC), returned on October 27th, 2024, with the theme Noren of Nostalgia. The one-day event united alumni, students, and faculty for a day of mentorship, learning, and celebration, weaving together the values of the past with the opportunities of the future.

Pre-Fest Shadow Programs

Leading up to the main event, Alumination featured Shadow Programs, where students visited WorldQuant and Fynd Research in Mumbai. These visits offered a firsthand glimpse into dynamic industries, inspiring students to broaden their career horizons.

Main Day Festivities

Break the Ice

The event began at 10 AM with Break the Ice, an engaging session under the Alumni Student Mentorship Program (ASMP). This informal discussion provided students with valuable insights into life beyond IIT Bombay, career choices, and personal growth.

Workshops and Group Mentoring

Parallel workshops on non-core career paths like Quant, Finance, Product Management, and Consulting were a major highlight. Led by accomplished alumni, these sessions helped students explore careers beyond engineering. Group mentoring sessions offered personalized advice, making the interaction meaningful and enriching.

Mock Interviews and Group Discussions

To prepare students for the upcoming placement season, alumni conducted mock interviews and group discussions, providing critical feedback to boost students’ confidence and readiness.

Hostalgia and Innovation Expo

Hostalgia

True to its name, Hostalgia welcomed alumni back to their hostels, rekindling fond memories and fostering a sense of belonging. Guided tours across the campus let alumni revisit favorite spots and relive their IIT Bombay days.

Innovation Expo

The Innovation Expo showcased projects by tech teams and alumni startups, including ventures led by venture capitalists (VCs) and budding entrepreneurs. This vibrant platform highlighted the entrepreneurial spirit of IIT Bombay while encouraging knowledge sharing.

Trailblazers: Learning from the Experts

The Trailblazers session featured inspiring talks from:

• Mr. Anshul Gupta, Co-founder of EatClub.
• Mr. Raj Shah, Co-founder of Percipient.ai and a founding member of Google Maps.

Their stories of entrepreneurial growth and strategic innovation captivated the audience.

Unengineering: Embracing Unconventional Paths

This unique panel highlighted alumni who ventured into unexpected careers. Speakers included:

• Mr. Aprajit Lohan, Superintendent of Mumbai Police.
• Mr. Nandkumar Saravade, former DIG in CBI.

Their journeys from engineering to leadership roles in the defense sector were both inspiring and thought-provoking.

Start it Up: Nurturing Startup Culture

Speakers like Mr. Aniket Deb, Co-founder of Bizongo and Forbes 30 under 30 Asia honoree, and Mr. Aman Goel, CEO of GreyLabs AI, offered candid insights into startup culture. Their discussions emphasized scaling ideas, navigating challenges, and achieving entrepreneurial success.

SARCathon 2024: A PAN-IIT Affair

One of the standout moments of Alumination, SARCathon 2024, brought together participants from 15+ IITs. The event featured three competitions:

• Bizarro: A product-pitching contest.
• Consult Quest: A case competition by Gandhi Fellowship Piramal Foundation.
• AI Hackathon: Presented by Saras AI Institute, the world’s first higher education institute exclusively for AI.

With prizes worth over ₹4 Lakhs, SARCathon celebrated innovation, strategy, and collaboration.

Beyond the Horizons: A Grand Finale

The evening began with vibrant cultural performances by students preparing for the Inter-IIT Cultural Meet. The highlight was a comedy panel featuring renowned stand-up comedians Piyush Sharma and Vinay Sharma, whose humor kept the audience of over 1,000 in splits.

Conclusion

Alumination 2024, themed Noren of Nostalgia, brought together over 3,000 participants, creating a bridge between cherished memories and ambitious aspirations. By reconnecting alumni with their past and guiding students toward a promising future, the event exemplified the spirit of IIT Bombay’s enduring legacy.