Confluence: Batch 19 to Batch 20 [AY 2025-26]

The IIM Calcutta MBAEx Programme's signature way of welcoming the incoming batch, colloquially christened Confluence, unfolded on February 7, 2026—a day meticulously engineered to usher the eclectic cohort into the hallowed fraternity of the Joka campus.

An Intellectual Prelude

To infuse the proceedings with a profound professional gravitas, the Student Admission Council, in a synergistic alliance with SheAscends: People in Leadership, orchestrated an Industry Insights symposium. This juxtaposition aimed to provide the neophytes with a quintessential glimpse into the IIMC milieu: a realm characterized by relentless intellectual stimulation and a perpetual state of kinetic industry.

The day’s itinerary commenced with a formal exordium led by the Chairperson and the SAC delegation. Dr. Saravana Jaikumar of the Marketing Group deigned to address the assembly, imparting scholarly wisdom before the newcomers engaged in a convivial tea-time discourse with their immediate predecessors.

The Algonquin Ethos

What ensued was a panel discussion of remarkable depth—an Algonquin Round Table of modern commerce. Moderated with precision by Dr. Nandita Roy, the colloquium featured a quartet of formidable luminaries:

• Ms. Janet Nair: A titan of Consumer Insights.
• Ms. Iti Mallik: An executive vanguard from Google.
• Ms. Kalpana Jain: A distinguished Partner at Deloitte.
• Dr. Ashwini Rakhame: A scholarly beacon of leadership.

This assembly did not merely dwell on corporate strategy; it interrogated the very foundations of empathy and moral stewardship, nudging the aspirants toward a more altruistic worldview.

Perambulation and Prowess

Following a period of culinary respite, the initiates embarked upon a 'Grand Tour' of the estate. They traversed the verdant grounds, inspecting the domiciles and utilitarian facilities that define the campus topography.

The afternoon’s sobriety soon yielded to the agonal spirit of sport. The incoming batch was summoned to the arena to test their mettle in friendly yet spirited contests of cricket, badminton, and table tennis—an athletic baptism by fire.

Vespers of Fellowship

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the day’s rigorous demands gave way to a period of decompression. In the quietude of the evening, the ephemeral acquaintances of the morning crystallized into genuine bonds, cementing the foundations of a lifelong camaraderie.