Chandigarh, Nov 2 — Panjab University’s 6th Global Alumni Meet on Saturday became a tale of two scenes — one of celebration and nostalgia inside the Law Auditorium, and another of dissent and confrontation outside its gates.
Inside, Vice-Chancellor Renu Vig urged alumni to play an active role in nurturing the university’s innovation and start-up ecosystem. “Alumni have been central to our journey — from scholarships and mentorships to expert talks and research collaborations. Their continued involvement can power the next chapter of PU’s innovation story,” she said in her opening address.
The gathering saw prominent alumni reconnecting with their alma mater — Supreme Court’s former judge Justice Swatanter Kumar, UT police chief Sagar Preet Hooda, and NCERT’s Amarendra P Behera among them. Justice Kumar charmed the audience with witty reminiscences from his student life. “Professors would tell me to study once in a while, but I was always playing football,” he recalled.
DGP Hooda, reflecting on the changing campus environment, proposed developing a pedestrian-friendly, vehicle-free zone to restore the university’s “calm and walkable spirit.”
The meet also honoured golden, silver and distinguished batches, with speakers such as scientist-entrepreneur Manish Jindal — who announced plans for a Centre of Excellence in AI and Robotics — and IAS officer Rajiv Kumar Gupta.
An emotional audiovisual segment featured global alumni messages, including those from Lord Raminder Ranger, UPSC chairman Preeti Sudan, and PU’s oldest alumnus, Sahil Ram Bishnoi. Actor Ayushmann Khurrana’s video drew applause for his light-hearted recollections of “the legendary StuC samosas and the old coffee house.”
Meanwhile, the mood outside contrasted sharply. Students led by PUCSC general secretary Abhishek Dagar gathered near the venue, demanding a meeting with the V-C over the university’s recent affidavit opposing protests on campus. “This is an attempt to stifle student representation,” Dagar said, as police and university security blocked the group from entering the event.
Vice-president Ashmeet Singh and joint secretary Mohit Manderana also joined the agitation, calling it “undemocratic” that elected council members were excluded from the alumni meet. The students sat in protest for nearly an hour before returning to the V-C office to continue their demonstration. Later, actor Amtoj Maan and activist Lakha Sidhana visited the site to extend support.
As the protests continued outside, inside the auditorium, speeches, laughter and Sanskrit couplets from UK-based Acharya Krishan Kant Attri carried on — a reminder of the dual mood defining PU that day: celebration within, confrontation without.
