Bengaluru Footprints 2025: Where Old Bonds Meet New Beginnings

The Bengaluru Chapter of Footprints 2025-26 brought together the vibrant SCMHRD alumni community for an unforgettable evening of connection, celebration, and nostalgia. Held on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at the elegant Vivanta by Taj on Residency Road, the event drew alumni spanning decades of batches: each carrying with them a shared pride in their alma mater and the bonds forged within its walls. Curated with care by the Alumni Relations Team (ART), the evening was a seamless blend of warmth, energy, and meaningful engagement: a true testament to the enduring spirit of the SCMHRD community.

A Warm Welcome and Inspiring Addresses

Registration began at 6:30 PM, with alumni arriving to a welcoming atmosphere that immediately set the tone for the evening. By 7:00 PM, the event was officially underway, with the Alumni Relations Team masterfully steering the proceedings as Masters of Ceremony.

The evening featured thoughtful addresses from distinguished faculty and leadership. Dr. Akhil Damodaran, Director of SCMHRD, spoke about the institute's journey and its continuing legacy of excellence. Dr. K. Rajagopal, Deputy Director, reflected on the meaningful contributions of alumni across industries and leadership roles. Dr. Nilesh Kumbhojkar, Director of SCAE, and Dr. Pankaj Sharma, Faculty In-Charge of the Alumni Relations Team, added their voices to the celebration, reinforcing the institute's deep commitment to its alumni community. Mr. Mahesh Renguntwar, CRT Head, also addressed the gathering, highlighting the important role alumni play in shaping the futures of current students.

Breaking the Ice: One Cup Stack at a Time

Before the formal speeches, the Alumni Relations Team kicked off the evening with a lively icebreaker: the Cup Stack Challenge. Approximately 90 attendees were divided into 10 groups of 9, and one representative from each group stepped up for a fast-paced test of speed, coordination, and nerve.

The rules were simple yet exhilarating: toss a balloon straight up, then race to stack all ten cups into a single vertical line: before the balloon touches down. The room erupted with cheers and laughter as participants scrambled against gravity and time. It was the perfect way to melt away formality and ignite the spirit of friendly competition that carried through the rest of the evening.

Team Spirit on Display: The Logo Puzzle Challenge

Following a lively networking and tea session, the Alumni Engagement Activity brought groups together for the Logo Puzzle Challenge. Teams raced to assemble a puzzle made from a cut-up image: testing collaboration, quick thinking, and problem-solving under gentle competitive pressure. The activity perfectly mirrored the collaborative ethos that SCMHRD instills in its students, reminding everyone that the skills honed on campus continue to shine long after graduation.

Reconnecting Across Batches, Reliving Cherished Memories

What made the evening truly special was the intangible warmth that filled every corner of the room. Over networking and tea, alumni from different batches and industries found common ground in shared memories: late nights in the library, campus fests, placement seasons, and the professors who shaped their thinking. Many rekindled friendships that had drifted with geography and time, while others forged new connections that promise to carry forward.

The Alumni Relations Team's vision of fostering enduring bonds between the institute and its graduates was unmistakably visible in the quality of conversations and the genuine joy of reunion that defined the gathering.

Cake, Celebration, and a Shared Legacy

The evening drew to a close with a joyful cake-cutting ceremony followed by dinner: a fitting symbol of unity, pride, and the shared identity that binds every SCMHRD alumnus. As the night wound down, alumni departed carrying with them renewed friendships, inspiring conversations, and a collective commitment to uphold the legacy of their alma mater.

Bengaluru Footprints 2025 has set a high benchmark for the alumni events to follow. It is a reminder that no matter how far life's journey takes you, the connections forged at SCMHRD remain a constant source of strength, belonging, and inspiration.