Jammu, July 29 (PIB): The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Jammu today launched ‘Bandhan – A Cultural Immersion with Local Family of Jammu’, a pioneering initiative aimed at fostering social learning, cultural sensitivity, and community engagement among students through direct immersion in Dogri culture.
The inaugural event, held at the Mandapam Auditorium, Jagti Campus, was led by Prof. B.S. Sahay, Director of IIM Jammu, and graced by several dignitaries, scholars, and community leaders.
Described as the first-of-its-kind cultural initiative in the Indian academic ecosystem, Bandhan connects over 400 first-year MBA students with local Dogri families, offering them an experiential learning opportunity outside the classroom. Students, in groups of 4–5, will be hosted by families across the Jammu region to participate in traditional rituals, share meals, and engage in story-telling and cultural exchange activities.
In a statement issued to Kashmir Convener, Spokesperson said more than 100 families joined the institute for the formal launch, reflecting the region’s deep-rooted spirit of hospitality and cultural pride.
Welcoming the gathering, Prof. B.S. Sahay said Bandhan was a dream realized — “a soulful bridge that connects people, not just places.” He described IIM Jammu as Mini India with a Global Vision, deeply rooted in its regional heritage and aligned with the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat mission. He highlighted the institute’s rapid growth and recent academic milestones, including EFMD Program Accreditation and BGA Institutional Accreditation—making it the only second- and third-generation IIM to achieve both in the same year.
Prof. Sahay expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Government of India for their continued support in strengthening Jammu’s educational ecosystem, with IIM Jammu working in synergy with IIT Jammu and AIIMS Jammu. He added, “Bandhan stands for where hearts meet, stories unfold, and the soul of India is reflected through cultural amalgamation.”
Padma Shri Dr. Jitendra Udhampuri, noted Dogri scholar, praised the initiative for reviving and celebrating the cultural soul of Jammu, urging students to carry forward the values of Duggar Pradesh. Lt. Gen. Rakesh Kapoor (Retd.), President of J&K Ex-Services League, emphasized community immersion and proposed student-led outreach to widows and war-affected families, while calling for integration of Jammu’s military legacy into educational discourse.
Maj. Gen. Sunita Kapoor (Retd.) highlighted the region’s reverence for women and spiritual traditions, while Padma Shri Dr. S.P. Verma suggested taking Bandhan global by involving the international Dogra diaspora. Other speakers, including Shri Sojanya Sharma (former civil servant), Praveen Pargal (Laghu Udyog Bharti), and Dr. Alka Sharma (women’s rights activist), echoed appreciation for the initiative and invited students to explore local traditions, dishes, and festivals like Lohri, Baba Jitto Mela, and Chamyal Mela.
Prof. Jabir Ali, Dean (Faculty and Research), and Prof. Nitin Upadhyay, Dean (Academics), described Bandhan as an academic-social fusion that cultivates empathy, awareness, and rooted leadership.
The ceremony concluded with a heartfelt vote of thanks, the National Anthem, and a group photograph, marking the formal beginning of a powerful journey of cultural immersion and connection. The event was moderated by Ankush Varma, CIO, CEISD, Srinagar Campus, IIM Jammu.
Through Bandhan, IIM Jammu not only celebrates the Dogri identity but also reaffirms its role as a catalyst for nation-building, rooted in values, empathy, and human connection. The initiative strongly resonates with the Viksit Bharat vision of inclusive and culturally grounded leadership for the future.
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