Batch of 99 – Reunion and Reflections

We were meeting again at the IIMC campus after 25 years. It was the batch that graduated in 1999, back when Kolkata was still called Calcutta. About 130 of us from a batch of over 350 had flown in from all corners of the world. We had all started our journeys here, and now each of us had a unique story to tell about our adventures.

Some had remained close friends, while others were acquaintances or still felt like strangers. Many names were forgotten, but no one took it personally. Catch-ups happened over a game of table tennis, by the lake, or during meals. The ‘fire in the belly’ was still there but life had taught us to temper it. There was less of an urge to fit a mould and everyone seemed more at ease in their own skin.

The world had changed dramatically since our graduation day. We were now working in industries or with technologies that didn’t even exist back then. We had started our careers in an era when Nokia dominated mobile phones, Hotmail was a breakthrough, internet crawled at a snail’s pace, and much of what we now take for granted—social media, smartphones, Spotify, AI —had yet to be conceived. We could not have foreseen our lives 25 years later.

THE JOURNEYS

If I would have asked everyone their definition of success at the reunion, I’d get 130 different answers. Some were on their 2nd unicorn startup; others were still navigating their next career shift. A few had stepped away from the corporate grind entirely, choosing the social sector or public service. Some had even retired, choosing a quieter life and pursuits beyond work.

Our journeys unfolded against the backdrop of the world we lived through. When we graduated in 1999, India was riding the wave of liberalization from 1991. Those years brought unprecedented opportunities: a chance to integrate with the global economy and the freedom to dream bigger. Today, the landscape is equally—if not more—brimming with possibilities. The world is shrinking, talent moves seamlessly across borders and professional competition is no longer just with colleagues in your office but with the best minds anywhere on the planet. And soon, it will be with AI too.

Our journeys unfolded against the backdrop of the world we lived through.

For me, success is about personal evolution. If I were still the same person I was in 1999—with the same impulses, ambitions, and temperament—these 25 years would feel wasted. But I know I’ve changed in fundamental ways: in what I value, my worldview, and what I seek. What I’ve learned is that growth doesn’t come from improving or changing ourselves; it comes from removing the layers that obscure our inner light and perfection, revealing our authentic selves.

We had many shared experiences in our life journeys. We had all lived through the economic cycles of meltdown: the dot-com collapse of 2000 and the banking crisis of 2008. We weathered or thrived in our relationships, discovered our places in the world, survived toxic bosses, were lifted by kind ones, were tested by life’s unpredictability, and sometimes simply got lucky by being in the right place at the right time.

These 25 years weren’t just about careers; they were about coming to terms with life’s fragility. We all lost people we loved, witnessed promising careers unravel, and experiencing unexpected personal triumphs. The real bottleneck to growth wasn’t just talent—it was health, luck, and circumstances. In the end, success often came down to having the resilience of being the last person standing.

These 25 years weren’t just about careers; they were about coming to terms with life’s fragility.

Some of us had changed profoundly. Most were still the kids from college, now with greying, thinning hair. Some wore their successes as badges of honor, others were quietly introspective, and a few still seemed unsure of what the next chapter held. Life had softened many of us, humbled by its ups and downs.

THE FUTURE

The current students on campus stand at the threshold of an uncertain future, like we once did. What advice could I possibly offer them? The jobs they will take on probably don’t exist yet, and the challenges they’ll face will be unlike anything we’ve encountered. Much of the technical knowledge they’re acquiring—often the foundation of most educational institutions—will become obsolete. Yet, the softer skills of life—resilience, social awareness, mindfulness, emotional intelligence, love, and virtue—are rarely part of any curriculum. They’ll have to piece together lessons along the way, and too often, they may even take away the wrong lessons. The need for mentors in our lives has never been more acute.

I find myself confronting similar questions about my own future: What does the next decade hold for me? Will I approach choices more deliberately and mindfully? If the world continues to turn in unpredictable ways, will I be ready when the next big opportunity arises? What temperament and attitude will I need to embrace the uncertainties ahead?  Will I learn to lean more into my higher self, and learn to discern between the noise and my intuition?

There’s much to learn, and to dream bigger dreams,