early times report
Jammu, July 27: The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Jammu, under the visionary leadership of Prof. B.S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu, inaugurated a deeply meaningful and transformative cultural initiative titled ‘Bandhan – A Cultural Immersion with Local Family of Jammu’ at the Mandapam Auditorium, Jagti Campus on 26th July 2025.
This first-of-its-kind initiative marks a pioneering step in promoting emotional connection, social learning, and celebrating the vibrant Dogri heritage of the Jammu region. The Inaugural ceremony was graced by Prof. B.S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu along with other noted dignitaries.
Rooted in the heart of Jammu, the City of Temples, Bandhan is a first-of-its-kind cultural immersion initiative launched by IIM Jammu to promote social sensitization, community bonding, and celebration of Dogri culture and heritage. This unique program offers students a transformative learning experience by bridging academic rigor with grassroots realities. To begin with, 412 first-year MBA students will participate, with students grouped in 4–5 and hosted by local families. More than 100 families have already shown interest, and 100 families joined the institute today for the formal launch, showcasing overwhelming community support for this powerful cultural movement.
The inauguration began with a traditional tilak, garlanding, and arti ceremony, expressing mutual respect and welcome, followed by a campus tour that introduced families to IIM Jammu’s academic facilities, including the Nalanda Library, modern classrooms, and the Vedanta MDP Centre.
Prof. B.S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu, warmly welcomed all attendees, calling Bandhan a long-awaited dream realized— “a day of joy, pride, and purpose.” Reflecting on the remarkable journey of IIM Jammu, he shared how the institute has grown from just 47 students in 2018 to becoming one of the fastest-growing third-generation IIMs in the country.
He graciously acknowledged IIM Jammu’s remarkable milestone as the only second-and third-generation IIM to receive both the EFMD Program Accreditation for its MBA Program and the BGA Institutional Accreditation in the same year—underscoring commitment to academic excellence and global standards. He expressed gratitude to the Government of India and Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji for their unwavering support in building a strong educational ecosystem in the region of Jammu and Kashmir with IIM Jammu working in close synergy alongside IIT Jammu and AIIMS Jammu.
Describing Bandhan as more than a cultural exchange, Prof. B.S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu, called it “a soulful bridge that connects people, not just places—a step toward nation-building through empathy and tradition.” He positioned IIM Jammu as Mini India with Global Vision—deeply rooted in Dogra heritage and aligned with the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat mission. He proudly shared that more than 100 families have shown interest in this unique program to promote Jammu’s Dogri culture and heritage. To begin with, 412 first-year MBA students of IIM Jammu will participate in this initiative.
More than 100 families are joining today in the launch of the program, reflecting the enduring spirit of Dogra hospitality and cultural pride. “Bandhan stands for—where hearts meet, stories unfold, and the soul of India is reflected through cultural amalgamation,” he concluded.
The ceremony was graced by esteemed dignitaries who lauded the initiative. Padma Shri Dr. Jitendra Udhampuri, a renowned Dogri scholar, brought poetic elegance to the ceremony as he spoke of Jammu as a land where culture lives in every home and tradition. Reflecting on India’s freedom and the national flag, he highlighted the unity in diversity that defines the nation. He urged the youth to carry forward the spirit of Duggar Pradesh, reminding them that “the future belongs to those who remember their roots while dreaming of the skies.” Lt. Gen. Rakesh Kapoor (Retd.) President, J & K Ex Services League commended IIM Jammu and the leadership of Prof. B.S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu calling it one of the country’s finest institutions. He emphasized the need for deeper cultural immersion and suggested adopting widows and their children as a social initiative. Citing heroes like Gen. Zorawar Singh and Brig. Rajinder Singh, he urged integration of Jammu’s military legacy into academic discourse. |
