Philanthropy and purpose celebrated at Donor Reception 2026 hosted by IIMB Development Foundation (IDF)
Classrooms and facilities dedicated in honour of former faculty members Dr. Indira Rajaraman, Prof. Shyamal Roy and Prof. Sundar Venkatesh
22 May, 2026, Bangalore: The IIMB Development Foundation (IDF), the fundraising and development arm of IIM Bangalore, hosted the ‘Donor Reception 2026’, celebrating the generosity of individuals and organizations that continue to contribute meaningfully to the growth and advancement of the Institute. The event commenced with the inauguration of classrooms and facilities dedicated in honour of three distinguished faculty members and brought together donors, alumni, faculty, industry leaders, and members of the community for a series of conversations on research, education, innovation and the future of society.
During the event, Classroom Q-003 was dedicated to Dr. Indira Rajaraman, Economics and Social Sciences area, by donors Sharda Agarwal and Ashwini Agarwal from the PGP 1992 batch. Classroom Q-002 was dedicated to Prof. Shyamal Roy, Economics and Social Sciences area, and the Central Pergola was dedicated to Prof. Sundar Venkatesh, Finance and Accounting area, by alumni from the PGP 1999 batch (who wish to remain anonymous).
Kunal Roy, present on behalf of his father Prof. Shyamal Roy, reflected on Prof. Roy’s deep affection for his students and lifelong commitment to the Institute. Dr. Rajaraman shared memories of joining IIMB in 1976, the transformation of the campus over the decade, and the academic freedom that made teaching on campus deeply meaningful. Prof. Venkatesh reflected on three of his emotions: the joy he experienced bonding with the alumni fraternity, the surprise he felt associated with the recognition and a deep sense of gratitude. “Any city I go to in this world, I can always find an alum to have a cup of coffee with. I feel wonderful about this shared affiliation”, he said.
Welcome address
Upon welcoming the gathering, Prof. U. Dinesh Kumar, Director-in-charge, IIMB, thanked the donors and alumni for their continued support towards strengthening the Institute’s academic and research ecosystem. He spoke of IIM Bangalore’s strong standing in global ranking frameworks and highlighted the launch of the four-year full-time BSc (Honours) programmes in Data Science and Economics offered under the School of Multidisciplinary Studies at the Institute’s Jigani campus.
He emphasized the importance of philanthropic endeavours in building globally competitive institutions and highlighted the need to build a stronger research ecosystem to support India-specific growth agendas. He also shared a personal reflection, recalling that he was hired at the Institute during Prof. Shamal Roy’s tenure as Dean of Faculty.
Guest of Honour address by Sarika Naik
Delivering the Guest of Honour address, Sarika Naik, Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer, Capgemini and Member of the Group Executive Committee at Capgemini Group, highlighted the global enterprise’s long-standing partnership with NSRCEL and IIMB. Drawing from nearly 25 years of experience, she noted that Capgemini was among the early supporters of entrepreneurship-focused programmes at the Institute. “Through our partnership with NSRCEL and IIMB, we are committed to unleashing human energy through technology by nurturing young entrepreneurs”, she said.
She added that the partnership aims to support young entrepreneurs in building solutions that are innovative, sustainable and inclusive, while also fostering mentorship and collaborative ecosystems for meaningful societal impact.
‘Making of a Campus’ – Kiran Keswani
The event also featured a special talk on the book, ‘The Making of a Campus,’ authored by Kiran Keswani, Co-founder of Everyday City Lab, which was launched during the IIMB Golden Jubilee Foundation by Hon’ble President Droupadi Murmu in October 2023.
Drawing from her book and reflecting on the architectural philosophy behind the IIMB campus, she shared how Pritzker Laureate Dr. Balkrishna Doshi, while designing the campus, frequently visited the Meenakshi Temple and drew inspiration from the way people interacted within its courtyards. Dr. Doshi, she said, envisioned IIM Bangalore as a ‘Temple of Education’, designing interconnected courtyards and shared spaces that would encourage dialogue, reflection, and community learning.
Imagining tomorrow across sectors
A key highlight of the event was an open-floor discussion on the theme ‘Imagining Tomorrow Across Sectors,’ moderated by Prof. Vasanthi Srinivasan, Dean, Alumni Relations & Development, IIMB. “As educators and institutions, our responsibility is not merely to give back, but to pay it forward by shaping a learning ecosystem that remains relevant, inclusive and socially impactful for future generations”, said Prof. Vasanthi.
Speaking during the session, Dr. Indira Rajaraman reflected on the uncertainties shaping the global economy and the lessons nations must learn from history and globalization. Referring to shifting geopolitical and economic realities, she observed that while globalization created growth opportunities, countries such as China benefited from significant first-mover advantages and economies of scale. “It takes a lot of courage today to speak about tomorrow because the past is all we have to learn from,” she said. India must focus on building resilience and reducing excessive dependence on external inputs by strengthening domestic capabilities, innovation ecosystems and strategic sectors.
Prof. Sundar Venkatesh highlighted the long-term implications of AI-driven disruption on education, employment and social equity. Reflecting on the widening gap between technological advancement and employability, he cautioned that rapid advances in AI could intensify wealth inequality and create new forms of unemployment. “The wealth gap is going to keep growing, and alongside it, we will see growing unemployment and uncertainty around the future of work,” he noted. He stressed the urgent need for innovation in early and higher education systems to ensure that future generations remain employable and adaptable in a rapidly changing world.
Faculty members, alumni and industry leaders shared perspectives on how academia, government and industry can collaborate to build resilient, inclusive and future-ready ecosystems.
Donor felicitation ceremony
The event concluded with the felicitation of donors and presentation of mementos to over 70 contributors who have supported, and continue to support, research, entrepreneurship, scholarships, sustainability, and institutional development initiatives at IIMB.
Among the organisations and leaders recognised were representatives from Capgemini, HDFC, Wipro, Goldman Sachs, HCL, Mizuho Bank, Mirae Asset Management, BPL, Pernod Ricard, 360 ONE, NeSL, Alstom, Toshiba, and several alumni, philanthropists, entrepreneurs, and former faculty members who continue to contribute to IIM Bangalore’s mission of excellence.
Philanthropy and purpose celebrated at Donor Reception 2026 hosted by IIMB Development Foundation (IDF)
Classrooms and facilities dedicated in honour of former faculty members Dr. Indira Rajaraman, Prof. Shyamal Roy and Prof. Sundar Venkatesh
22 May, 2026, Bangalore: The IIMB Development Foundation (IDF), the fundraising and development arm of IIM Bangalore, hosted the ‘Donor Reception 2026’, celebrating the generosity of individuals and organizations that continue to contribute meaningfully to the growth and advancement of the Institute. The event commenced with the inauguration of classrooms and facilities dedicated in honour of three distinguished faculty members and brought together donors, alumni, faculty, industry leaders, and members of the community for a series of conversations on research, education, innovation and the future of society.
During the event, Classroom Q-003 was dedicated to Dr. Indira Rajaraman, Economics and Social Sciences area, by donors Sharda Agarwal and Ashwini Agarwal from the PGP 1992 batch. Classroom Q-002 was dedicated to Prof. Shyamal Roy, Economics and Social Sciences area, and the Central Pergola was dedicated to Prof. Sundar Venkatesh, Finance and Accounting area, by alumni from the PGP 1999 batch (who wish to remain anonymous).
Kunal Roy, present on behalf of his father Prof. Shyamal Roy, reflected on Prof. Roy’s deep affection for his students and lifelong commitment to the Institute. Dr. Rajaraman shared memories of joining IIMB in 1976, the transformation of the campus over the decade, and the academic freedom that made teaching on campus deeply meaningful. Prof. Venkatesh reflected on three of his emotions: the joy he experienced bonding with the alumni fraternity, the surprise he felt associated with the recognition and a deep sense of gratitude. “Any city I go to in this world, I can always find an alum to have a cup of coffee with. I feel wonderful about this shared affiliation”, he said.
Welcome address
Upon welcoming the gathering, Prof. U. Dinesh Kumar, Director-in-charge, IIMB, thanked the donors and alumni for their continued support towards strengthening the Institute’s academic and research ecosystem. He spoke of IIM Bangalore’s strong standing in global ranking frameworks and highlighted the launch of the four-year full-time BSc (Honours) programmes in Data Science and Economics offered under the School of Multidisciplinary Studies at the Institute’s Jigani campus.
He emphasized the importance of philanthropic endeavours in building globally competitive institutions and highlighted the need to build a stronger research ecosystem to support India-specific growth agendas. He also shared a personal reflection, recalling that he was hired at the Institute during Prof. Shamal Roy’s tenure as Dean of Faculty.
Guest of Honour address by Sarika Naik
Delivering the Guest of Honour address, Sarika Naik, Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer, Capgemini and Member of the Group Executive Committee at Capgemini Group, highlighted the global enterprise’s long-standing partnership with NSRCEL and IIMB. Drawing from nearly 25 years of experience, she noted that Capgemini was among the early supporters of entrepreneurship-focused programmes at the Institute. “Through our partnership with NSRCEL and IIMB, we are committed to unleashing human energy through technology by nurturing young entrepreneurs”, she said.
She added that the partnership aims to support young entrepreneurs in building solutions that are innovative, sustainable and inclusive, while also fostering mentorship and collaborative ecosystems for meaningful societal impact.
‘Making of a Campus’ – Kiran Keswani
The event also featured a special talk on the book, ‘The Making of a Campus,’ authored by Kiran Keswani, Co-founder of Everyday City Lab, which was launched during the IIMB Golden Jubilee Foundation by Hon’ble President Droupadi Murmu in October 2023.
Drawing from her book and reflecting on the architectural philosophy behind the IIMB campus, she shared how Pritzker Laureate Dr. Balkrishna Doshi, while designing the campus, frequently visited the Meenakshi Temple and drew inspiration from the way people interacted within its courtyards. Dr. Doshi, she said, envisioned IIM Bangalore as a ‘Temple of Education’, designing interconnected courtyards and shared spaces that would encourage dialogue, reflection, and community learning.
Imagining tomorrow across sectors
A key highlight of the event was an open-floor discussion on the theme ‘Imagining Tomorrow Across Sectors,’ moderated by Prof. Vasanthi Srinivasan, Dean, Alumni Relations & Development, IIMB. “As educators and institutions, our responsibility is not merely to give back, but to pay it forward by shaping a learning ecosystem that remains relevant, inclusive and socially impactful for future generations”, said Prof. Vasanthi.
Speaking during the session, Dr. Indira Rajaraman reflected on the uncertainties shaping the global economy and the lessons nations must learn from history and globalization. Referring to shifting geopolitical and economic realities, she observed that while globalization created growth opportunities, countries such as China benefited from significant first-mover advantages and economies of scale. “It takes a lot of courage today to speak about tomorrow because the past is all we have to learn from,” she said. India must focus on building resilience and reducing excessive dependence on external inputs by strengthening domestic capabilities, innovation ecosystems and strategic sectors.
Prof. Sundar Venkatesh highlighted the long-term implications of AI-driven disruption on education, employment and social equity. Reflecting on the widening gap between technological advancement and employability, he cautioned that rapid advances in AI could intensify wealth inequality and create new forms of unemployment. “The wealth gap is going to keep growing, and alongside it, we will see growing unemployment and uncertainty around the future of work,” he noted. He stressed the urgent need for innovation in early and higher education systems to ensure that future generations remain employable and adaptable in a rapidly changing world.
Faculty members, alumni and industry leaders shared perspectives on how academia, government and industry can collaborate to build resilient, inclusive and future-ready ecosystems.
Donor felicitation ceremony
The event concluded with the felicitation of donors and presentation of mementos to over 70 contributors who have supported, and continue to support, research, entrepreneurship, scholarships, sustainability, and institutional development initiatives at IIMB.
Among the organisations and leaders recognised were representatives from Capgemini, HDFC, Wipro, Goldman Sachs, HCL, Mizuho Bank, Mirae Asset Management, BPL, Pernod Ricard, 360 ONE, NeSL, Alstom, Toshiba, and several alumni, philanthropists, entrepreneurs, and former faculty members who continue to contribute to IIM Bangalore’s mission of excellence.