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Newsletter Volume 7, Issue 3, March 2017

Mechanical Aspire
SpecialAnnexureonSNFLeadershipConclave

Achievements in Sports, Projects, Industry, Research and Education

Shiv Nadar Foundation-Leadership Conclave In Brief....

A section of the Volunteers

The Second Edition of the Leadership The day before..Delegates arrived on 17th Feb itself.All
ConclaveofShivNadarFoundation(SNF) were accommodated in our brand new International
wasorganizedinSSNcampusonFeb18. Hostel.From4-30to8.30,delegatesvisitedourInnovation
Centre, which displayed several innovative projects. The
The Theme of the Conclave was Super
student innovators explained their projects to the
You, inspiring us to look into the super
humanbeingthatlieswithinallofus.
delegatesandthiswasco-ordinatedbyProf.Chandy.

Intheevening,therewasafilmshowofIamKalam,depictingthedreamsofaboywhoworksonerrandata
roadsideteashopandhowitallcomestrue,followingDr.Kalam'sthoughtprocess.
Dr.ShivNadarvisitedtheSportsComplexandinteractedwithstudents.

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On the event day..Ms.RoshniNadarMalhotrainauguratedtheprogram.Thiswasfollowedbypresentationsby
theInstitutesofSNFandinteractionwithexternalachievers.
Inthe evening,there wasaphotosessionatVamasundaripark,where delegatestriedtheir handon flying
Chineselanterns.

Next Day..SomedelegatesstayedbackforaSportsBash.Therewasallroundactivitywithplayersbusywith
Tabletennis,tennis,Badminton,cricketetc.TheentireleadershipteamofSSNalsostayedbackforthetwo
daysincampus,toaccompanytheguests.
ThisreportisasmallattempttocapturesomeoftheinterestinghappeningsintheLeadershipConclave.

Dr.Nadar's visit to Sports Complex Akshay of Final year Mech writes...

IamAkshayIB(finalyear)sportssecretaryforthisacademicyear.Ijustfeltlikesharingmyexperiencewith
Dr.Nadar'svisittosportscomplexfewdaysback.Heisreallyoverwhelmedandamazedafterseeinglotsof
sportsactivitiesinourcollege.
HetoldheworkedasaprofessorinanIITfor
threeyearsandeventherethesportsactivities
werenotvibrantlikeinSSN.

Itoldhimthatmydepartmentfacultiessupport
mealottobeengagedinsportsactivities
andthatiswhyIamabletobalancebothstudies
aswellassports

IgotplacedinCognizantandAccentureandIam
tryingtogetplacedincorecompany.
Herespondedas

Sports should be a integral part of any institution and


only that will make the student's life multi dimensional .
Ijustwanttothankyouforallthesupportwhichyouhavegivenmeforthepastfouryears.

Movie

IamKalamisa2011HindifilmproducedbySmileFoundationand
directedbyNilaMadhabPanda.

ThecharacterofChhotuhasbeenperformedbyHarshMayar.

The film was screened in the market section at the 63rd Cannes
FilmFestivalon12May2010.

It has been showcased in various film festivals and has received


manyawardsandhonours

TheDirectoroftheMovie,Mr.NilaMadhabPanda,cametoSSN
thenextdayandhadagoodinteractionwiththeaudience.
SNFisfundingtheirnextprojectonCleanliness.

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Inaugural

Ms.Roshni Nadar Malhotra declared


the Conclave open, by her hilarious
speech,introducingthevariousleaders
of SNF, locating their similarity with
Super heros of movies, with an apt
clippingfromtherespectivemovies.

Each Leader was at the edge of their


seattoknowwhatcharactertheyhave
beenportrayedto.

Ms.Kala Vijaykumar was identified as


Terminatorforherlongstandingtenure
inSSN,standingtallagainstallodds.

A quick look at the SNF Institutions


VidyaGyan aims to provide the opportunities of a world-class leadership
academy to the economically backward students of rural India and
transformtheirlivesusinghighqualityschooleducation.

VidyaGyan brings students from rural India, who are potential high
achievers, particularly ones who lack the advantage of exposure to a
competitiveenvironment,atparwiththeirurbancounterparts.
Vidyagyan8yearyoung,hastwocampuses,classessixthtotwelfth.

187studentsscored85%marksinBoardExam.

In2017,fivestudentsaregoingabroadfortheirUGstudies.

TheyhavestudentexchangeprogramwithBrownUniversity,US.

FacultycompletedHarvardCourseonProfessionalEducation.

TheyalsounderwentDougLemov'sTeachlikeaChampionprogram
http://teachlikeachampion.com/about/story/

Teach Like a Championisaboutthebeliefthatthesolutionstoeducationchallengesexistintheclassroomsof


reallifeteachers,thatexceptionalpractitionersoftheartofteachingarethetrueexperts.Ourjobistofindthem,
studythem,andsharewhattheydo,sootherscancopy,steal,practiceandadaptittotheirownteaching.On
thissiteyoullfindresourcestohelpyoudothat,tohelpyoutogetbetterfaster,tohelpyoulovetheprocessof
studyingteachingandlearningandpracticing,andtohelpyouabovealltolovetheworkbydoingitwell.By
learningfrom,imitating,thenadaptingthespecific,concreteactionsofthebestteachers,allteacherscan
becomegreat.

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ColonelGopalKarunakaranCEO,explainedabouttheenvironmentasVUCA
aheadVolatile,Uncertain,ComplexandAmbiguousFutureahead.The
Schoolfacilitatesstudentstotackleit.

Thereare2locations.Around1300studentsand182staffineachlocation.
ThirdoneiscomingupinFaridabad.

English activities through Aha Creative Communications -brings out books.

AMirrorofPerception:Thissensitive
andevocativecollectionofpoemsbya
thirteen-year-old(ofShivNadar
School)encompassesaspectrumof
emotionsandthoughtsfromharsh
realityofchildrenofwartothe
blossomingofaweedintoa
magnificentivy;fromfearofbeing
shackledtoawondrouswinter.The
poemsdontjustimpressbutalso
inspireandinvigoratethereaderto
viewtheworldwithempathyand
innocence.(fromAmazon) Tia Chopra, who brought out her
book of poems at the age of 13
(copy available at Mech Library)

190facultyand179supportstaff
2119studentsincluding146Ph.D.Scholars
SchoolofLawstartingsoon,SchoolofArt-planned.
SNUisfinallyApprovedbyUGCandAICTE.
ForthcomingConference-ProjectE-Qual:RefiningHigherEducation:Assemblylineofstudents

Recent Achievements
OnefacultyofSNUhaspublishedapaperinthejournalNature , which has an impact factor of 38.

Dr.GirishAgarwalhasbeenincludedasaMemberoftheAICTECommitteeforrevisingUGcurriculum,
withafocusonProjectbasedlearning.

SNU'sapplicationforATALIncubationCentrewasshortlistedandinvitedforpresentation.Results
awaited.

2013-42publicationswithacitationof321.In2014,56publications(citation413)andin2016,
publications83(citations176).

TheirstartupInfeedoraised400US$seedfundingandmadeagoodturnoverinE-QualProject.

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InFeedoStartup;Foundedin2013bythen18-year-oldShivNadarUniversityalumnusTanmayaJainalong
withhiscollegeroommateVarunPuri,inFeedoisanemployeefeedbackplatformforcompaniestocrowdsource
ideasandsolveproblemsfromteamsacrosscitiesandin-house.
Tanmaya said that more than 5,000 employees from people-oriented companies like MakeMyTrip, PayU,
Knowlarity, Faasos and Craftsvilla had chosen inFeedo over Microsoft Yammer as their primary employee
feedbackplatform.inFeedospaiduserbaseisgrowingattherateof53percentQoQ.
TheinFeedoplatformcanengagemorethan5,500employees,generatemorethan1,000ideas,hostmorethan
10anonymoustownhallsandpredictattritioninwaysthatarehumanlyimpossible.Wearecashflowpositive,
with an unusual team that includes a college dropout from St. Xaviers, an in-house data scientist and an
aspiringpsychologistwhospent15monthsinAntarctica,saidTanmaya(21).
Bootstrappedforayear,SaaS-basedHRAnalyticsstartupinFeedohasraisedanundisclosedamountoffunding
in an angel round. The startup is in conversation with a few angel investors and HNIs (having a strong
backgroundintheHR-Techspace)tocompletetheremainingportionoftheroundbytheendofthismonth,
takingthetotalamountto$150,000.https://yourstory.com/2016/09/infeedo-angel-funding/
Catch a glimpse of SNU student run e-magazine at http://snu.edu.in/pdf/Campus-Caravan-October-2016-Edition.pdf

Siksha Initiative -Literacy for children


In villages, where students refrain from schools, by introducing
computers and projector ,along with animated teaching material,
classrooms are made engaging andinteresting.Thishas improved
theattendanceandthelearninginmanyschools.

Inmorethan3yearsofitsoperation,ShikshaInitiativehastouchedabout25000studentsandtrainedover600
teachersinusingICTtomakepedagogymoreeffectiveandengaging.Currentlyworkinginover300schools,
ShikshaInitiativeiseradicatingilliteracyandnurturinglifelonglearners,onedistrictatatime.
WorkinginruralschoolsofoneoftheleastdevelopedIndianstatesteststheextremitiesbothofpatienceand
resources.Fromnotverymotivatedteacherstoattimeslistlessstudentsanduninterestedofficialstoclueless
parents,wefacetrials,whichwerehardtoimaginebeforegoingtotheground.
However,everychallengeprovidesanopportunitytoriseabovetheoccasion,tickletheingenuityandgetthe
work done as effectively and as swiftly as possible. Fortunately, Shiksha Initiative team is up for these
challenges,byvirtueofyearsofcollectivefieldexperience.
ReadmoreontheimpactcreatedbyShikshaathttp://shikshainitiative.org/en_US/

EstablishedattheinitiativeoftheavidartcollectorKiranNadar,theKiranNadar
MuseumofArt(KNMA)openeditsdoorstothepublicinJanuary2010,asthefirst
privatemuseumofartexhibitingModernandcontemporaryworksfromIndiaand
thesub-continent.

Located in the heart of New Delhi, Indias capital city, KNMA as a non-
commercial, not-for-profit organization intends to exemplify the dynamic
relationship between art and culture through its exhibitions, publications,
educational,andpublicprograms.
Theever-growingcollectionofKNMAislargelyfocusedonsignificanttrajectories.Itscorecollectionhighlightsa
magnificentgenerationof20thcenturyIndianpaintersfromthepost-Independentdecadesandequallyengages
thedifferentartpracticesoftheyoungercontemporaries.

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TotallydedicatedandcommittedfacultyarethebackboneofSSN.
Sixofthe8foundingfacultyarestillwithus-indicatingthestabilityoffaculty.
Ourteamhasappliedfor35patentsandhas8patentsgranted.
Thereare70externalprojectswithafundingofRs.20crore.
Ourpublicationhasmovedfrom221in2012-13to566in2015-16.
Thereare400Ph.D.Scholars,including106fulltimeScholars.
GoSafeasafetydeviceforwomenhasbeenpatented.
Ourstudentshavegot143admitsabroad,thisyear.
OurAlumnibaseis11,872members,outofwhich,25%areabroad.
HighwayKadhali,aforthcomingmovieisbyouralumnusKamalPrakash.

Mr.Suhel Seth

Suhel Seth is a board member of several international


corporates including Cavendish and RADA and on the
regional boards of Citibank, Coca Cola, Drayton Capital and
the Max India Foundation

Foundation should act like a business.


Society maybe engaged, enraged or indifferent.
We have to reflect onwhether we are watering a grown tree or
facilitating the growth of a new seed.
Failure is not the end of the road-it is juts a bump on the road.

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Mr.Sonam Wangchuk

FoundingdirectorofSECMOL(StudentsEducational
andCulturalMovementofLadakh).
Hewasborninasmallvillaewithonlyfivefamilies
andtherewasnoschool.Hefeelsitisbetternotto
haveanyschoolratherthanhavingabadschool.He
wasfortunateenoughtolearnthingsinhismother
tongue.Otherwise,welosethenatureofrootsamong
thespellinginEnglish.

Tosupporthiseducationinengineering,hehadtorunacoachingcentrefortenthgradestudents.Hefound
themveryintelligent.Buttheywereallfailinginhighschools.Highschoolpasspercentage.Wasalways
betweenzeroand15%.Thismadehimswitchtoreformingeducationinsteadofbecomingonemoreengineer
inthecrowd.
Relookingattheeducationalsystem
Beingavictimoftheschoolsystem,hestartedlookingattheschoolsystem.Hestartedthemovementcalled
OperationNewHope.Byworkingwithschools,parentsandstudents,hewasabletobringinacommon
acceptancefortheneedforchangeintheschoolingsystem.Hefeltthattheculpritwasnoncustomizationofthe
text.Forexample,fforfanhasnomeaninginLadakh,whereatminus35degC,neithertheteachernorthe
studenthaveeverseenafan.SameisthecaseofTforTrainorSforShip.
Theystartedrewritingthetextwithlocalexamplesthateveryonecouldunderstand.Withallthechanges,the
resultsimprovedfrom5%in1996toabout75%in2015.Butisthisenough?
Evenonepercentfailureisbad,ifthatonepercentcomprisesofyouoryourward.
AlternativeSchoolforthosewhofailed
So,theworkcontinuedtocovertheremaining25%whostillfailed,inspiteofathechanges.Thentheideaofa
newschoolwasborn-SECMOLAlternativeInstitute.Eligibilityforadmission-schoolingsystemmusthavefailed
you.OnlythosewhofailcanjointhisInstitute.Theylearnteamwork,managementetcbyrunningtheschool.
Studentsbuilttheschoolandintheprocess,learnttheuseofmudinconstruction.Theyhaveinstalledsolar
energysystemsandso,itisoff-gridandalwayspowered.Onelearnshowtoliveacomfortablelife,without
spoilingnature-howtoliveinharmonywithNature.ItisactuallyLearningbyliving.Atregularintervals,thereis
aJampicnic-wherestudentsmakelargequantitiesofjam,andlearntosellit.Thisway,theylearnmarketing
andalsogeneratefundsforrunningtheschool.
Makingcowsproductive
ManycowsinLadakhdonotproducemilkinwinter.Alltheirfoodgoestokeepingtheirbodywarm.Butbythe
systeminventedbySECMOL,bysimplemethods,theroomtemperaturecanbemaintained.Ifcowsarekeptin
temperatureadjustedsheds,theycontinueproducingmilkinwinteralso.Theyhavedevelopedasimplesystem
ofkeepingtheroomwarm,bycapturingthesun'sheatinplasticcoveredrooms.Thishotairiscirculatedby
naturaldraftintoroomsthatneedtobewarmed.
FollowingtheSun
ManyofusdonotfollowtheSun.Wegetuplateandgotobedverylate.Ifonlywegetupearlyandfollowthe
Sun,alotofpowerplantscanbeshutdown.Bygoingtobedearly,wecandoalotofservicetomankind.

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IceSkatingwomenteam
Iceskatingwasreservedforboys.Partlybecause,topractice,onehastogotoriverbedsandriverswerenot
easilyaccessiblefrowomen.Bycreatinganartificialicefiled,bystoringandfreezingwaterinfrontofgirls
hostel,thissporthasbeenaccessibleforgirls.Asanetresult,nowIndiahasanIcehockeyteam.
IceStupas
Icestupasorartificialglaciersweredeveloped.Inwinter,waterflowsandgetswastedinrivers.Insummer,when
wewantwater,itisnotavailable,whynotsavethewaterduringwinter?Bybringingwatertoalowerleveland
thensprinklingitintodroplets,theylosetheirlatentheatandinstantlyfreeze.Coneshapehasaminimum
surfaceareaforagivenvolume.Bycreatingconicalicemounds,bysprinklingwater,itwaspossibletocreate
iceStupasthatdidnotmeltforlong.Itwaspossibletobuilda64feeticestupa.Thisapproximatelycanget
convertedinto1millionlitreofwaterduringsummerandcanfeed5,000trees.
RolexAward
Therewasanotherdangerinthehillsandvalleys.Valleysanbeformedanywhereinbetweenmountains.If
waterinthevalley,atahigherlevelhasmeltingiceglaciers,thenthewaterlevelmayriseandthelakecanburst
open.Destroyingthelandanpeoplelivingatthelowerlevel.Topreventsuchadisaster,icestupamethodwas
used.Waterfromoverflowinglakeswerebroughttolowerlevelsbysiphoningeffectandthenicestupaswere
createdbysprinklingthiswater.Forthispioneeringwork,hewasawardedRolexAwardforEnterprise.Heis
planningtousethemoneyforbuildingaDoersandMakersUniversity.
Thestartingpoint
Buthowdidhegethisfirstmoneyforstartingtheseinitiatives?Heandhislikemindedfriendsplannedagrand
culturalshow.Tookloanfororganisingtheshow.Aftertheshow,theyhadmoneytorepaytheloanandalsoto
spendontheirproject.ThentheywonanawardinDenmarkandusedthatmoneyfortheschool.
Whatwerethechallenges?Ofcoursetherewereplenty.Hesmilessaying,
Volleyball is not interesting without the net.
Studentswerealreadyfailedfromothersystem.Heretheyarebusydoingworkforrunningtheschool.Thenhow
dotheypasstheexams?
Teenagers are gifted with a lot of energy. When they do things that they like, they get more energy. So,
they manage to read and pas. If there is not enough work, their energy comes out violently.

Mr.Nila Madhab Panda

His movie I am Kalam has won him a lot of


fame. But he says,

Awards make you contented and lazy.


So, I never display myPadma Shri award.

Duringtheconversation,heexplainedhowhestoodagainstalloddstorealizehisdreamsinfilmmaking.
SNFisfundinghisnextprojectonCleanliness.Thefilmistocreateawarenessamongchildren.

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Mr.Muthiah Muraleedharan

Able to take 127 wickets in 14 matches.


How was this possible?

Convince yourself that you are doing the right


thing.Also,othershavetosupport.Itisdifficult
to battle alone for anything in life. Started in
1992. Only in 1997, I could get 100 wickets.
After 2000, started Doosra. Others got
confused.
Then I was able to get 7 to 8 wickets per
match. Luckily, Shane Warne was suspended
for one year. I could move on to reach 800
wickets.
Took 4 years to develop Doosra, before
introducingit.

What would you like to do?


Wouldliketospottalentandhelpthemevolve,bysharingexperience.Encouragedifferentstylesandhelpthem
evolve.Asabowler,youhavetobeinthegoodbooksoftheCaptain.Otherwise,youmaynotgetopportunityto
bowl.
InSrilanka,startedaFoundationofGoodnessin2000.Comprises60,000families.DuringTsunami,webuilt
1000houses.BeingaTamil,ItrytiuniteNorthandSouthofSrilanka.WherePoliticsdivides,Sportsunites.

Ms. Manisha Koirala

Diagnosed with cancer in 2012


and fought it out in 2015.Now
spreading awareness on cancer
byspeakingonThestoryofmy
life.

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Therewasatimewheneveryawardfunctionhadmyname.Iwasatthetopofmycareer.Thentherewaslittle
bitoftwist.Therewerehighsandlowsoflife.Iwasonadownwardjourney.FromabigHigh,Iwassuddenlyat
adenial.WhenthingswentwrongIdidnotacknowledgethem.IwasspiralingdownbutIdidnotseeit.Iwasin
wrongcompanywithwrongcompanions.

WhenmymarriagefailedandwhenIwasdiagnosedwithcancerofextremenature,Ifellflat.Ihadtobeready
fornuero,heartorearproblem,normallyassociatedwithcancertreatmentandIhadtosignmyacceptancefor
it.Also,nooencouldguaranteewhetherafterthetreatment,Iwillbefine.Realityhitme.IthoughtIamfacingmy
death.Therewaslotoftimeinhospitaltorethinkoflife.Ifthiswasreallife,thenwhatdidIdowiththerestofmy
life?WasIhappy?Ihadlivedignorantlyandcarelessly.Ihadnotvaluedthegiftsoflife.

I started thinking how differently would I live, if God gave me a second chance.
Then,Iprioritised.1)Wellness,2)Artisticexpressionand3)Contribution.

Wellness isthe harmonybetween body,mind andsoul. Forbody,get regularindoingexercise.Amongtwo


patientswithsameillness,theonewithmorepositiveattitudewillgetwellsoon.So,maintainapositiveattitude.
Surroundyourselfwithgoodfriendsandwithpeoplewhoarethrivingtoleadagoodlife.Youmayalsogettouse
positiveupliftingbooksandmovies.Youneedtorechargeyourbatterybyvisitingp;acesthatgiveyoupeace.I
visitOnenessuniversity,whichisaround2hoursfromChennai,foraSpiritualexperience.

Artistic expression-earlier,tookallrolesforgranted.Butnowcarefullychoosingonlythoserolesandfilmsthat
satisfymygrowth.Planningtowriteabookonmyexperiences.

Contribution-Thebestgiftcancergavemewasthevalueofservice-thevalueofcontribution-thevalueofbeing
therewhensomeoneneedsyouandwhennobodyisaround.OnbusydoctorusedtospendherfullSundaywith
me.WhenIaskherwhyshedoesthat,sheusedtotell,withahopethatyoumaydothistosomebodyelse.
ThethoughtthatIamgoingtobeusefultosomeonewhoneedsmegivesyousatisfaction.

People lose hope once they are diagnosed with cancer. I love to give hope. I love to be the voice of the
voiceless.Notbecauseitlooksgood-butbecauseIlovedoingit.

When you are about to die, you realise that everything in life is a gift. Earlier,Iusedtoexaggerateeven
smallproblems.NowIunderstandthatitisbettertohaveabiggerpicture.
1.If time of life is limited, we will value our lives.
2.We shall define priorities- and these have to stem from our heart- based on what we want to do.
Do what you love and love what you do. Then everything around you is what you want to be with.

InBanaras,inmyfamily,everyonewaseitherapoliticianoradoctor.Ifeelblessedtobeworkingwithlegends
likeSubashGuiatanearlyageof18years.Ineverrealizedhowbigthatopportunitywas.ThenBombay,Dil
Se,1942alovestory,andKamoshiallhappened.TheywereallNationalisticthemeswithbrilliantdirectors
andthatjusthappenedwithoutanyeffort.

When you do good wok, it does not strain. Instead, you get more energy out of doing that work,ifyou
lovewhatyoudo.So,itfilledmewithmoreenergy.Whetherinfilmornow,Iamjustdoingmyjob.

Itisimportanttolivepassionately,tofindyourtruththatbringsyoujoyandmotivatesyou.
Whatyou like maybe here now and may be gone tomorrow. Whenit is here, grab it with both hands and
embraceittightly.

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Womenarethewomboftheearth,ifonlytheyknowhowpowerfultheyare.
Livemindfully.Beaware.Lifewillthrowproblemsatus,injobandinrelationships.Whethertobecomeavictim
ortoraiseaboveitandtwistitintoaplatformforgrowthisourchoice.Allofushavethatstrength.

Cancer andheartdiseases areduetoourlifestyle.Soby taking careofourhealth,we can avoidbeing a


problemtoourfamily.Letuslivelifepassionately.

Concluding remarks by Dr.Shiv Nadar

It has been a very energising day. I remember my mother, who


inspired me to give back. With her suggestion, the money from
HPhasbeenputintostartingSSN.

When mydaughter Roshni returned fromthe US andwantedto


startVidyagyan,Ileftmyjobtoworkwithher.

We have large number of Ph.D.s . Also, we are the largest


employer in the US and Europe. I seea wonderfulAlumni base
evolving.OurAlumnireachcouldbethebest,providedwereach
outandbuildonit.

IamawareofoneIITwhichattemptedanalumnimeetinNewYork.Inspiteof50,000alumninetwork,
only12cameforthemeetandnotmuchmoneywascollected.
ButforSSN,around100peopleturnedupinNewYorkandaround20inCalifornia.
So,ourbondwithAlumniisgreat.Letusbuildonit.
Otherwise,dowhatManishasaid-itisonelife-liveit.

Compiled and released by HoD Mech Feedback to annamalaive@ssn.edu.in

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