Sunday, November 1, 2015

Graduation Day at T.S.Narayanaswami College of Arts & Science, Navalur, Chennai




Caption for 1st Photo 


A passed out  student receiving degree certificate from Chief Guest, Mr N.Vivekanandan,HR Client, Account Lead,Accenture Pvt at the graduation day of T S Narayanaswami College of Arts & Science, held  at the campus at Navalur in Chennai on 30.10.2015.



T. S. NARAYANASWAMI COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCE


MAKING COLLEGE LIFE A SPRING BOARD FOR SUCCESSFUL CAREER
India Cements MD, Shri N Srinivsan had the vision to promote such a great institution two decades ago  in the fond memory of his Father
V Balasubramanian
When I write this blog on T. S. Narayanaswmi College of Arts and Science, couple of interesting experiences come to my mind. Two years ago, after I joined India Cements, a Vedic Pundit visited our house for performing a ritual. He was pleased to know my working in India Cemeents and proudly mentioned that his brother, now working in a bank, graduated from T S N College.
On another occasion, when I visited BSA cycle showroom at Adyar, to buy cycle for our son, Sreekumar, I met Mr Muthu, ex-student of T S N college. On seeing my uniform, he proudly recounted his studying in the premier college and his wonderful college days. I was very pleased to know  his respect for the college and conveyed my best wishes for his prosperous career.
Likewise, I have come across ex-students of the college who are either working in organisations or self-employed.  I see a great future for them in the light of India turning a bright spot for growth in the midst of slow down in a number of countries in the world.

In that way, October 30, 2015 was a proud day for scores of students of T.S. Narayanaswmi College of Arts &Science when they  received their degree certificates at the convocation held in the college campus at Navalur in Chennai.
T. S. Narayanaswami College of Arts and Science, promoted two decades ago by India Cements Educational Society,  conducted  its Graduation Day at the college campus  on October 30,  2015 for the passed out students of 2012-2014.   
Mr. N. Vivekanandan, HR Client, Account Lead, Accenture Pvt., Ltd, was the Chief Guest. He inspired students with his informal thought sharing on what the organisations expected from the candidates appearing for the interview, how to prepare and get through  an interview. He recalled his early career days when he was asked to prepare a report after  distributing leaflets in the crowded Ranganathan street, T Nagar.  He presented  degree certificates to  279 passed out students.  Lion V.Raghu, President Navalur Panchayat was the Guest of honour. 
G. Mahidass of M.Sc CST secured I rank and M. Rubiya Shahana of M.Sc Bio chemistry secured VIII rank in the Madras University Examinations.  
The convocation function was dissolved by Dr S Venkatraman, Vice President, Education and Training, India Cements . Principal, Dr R Gayathri, who welcomed the gathering, highlighted the academic achievements and activities held in the college.  Vice Principal Mrs.K.T.Hema proposed a  vote of thanks.

It is to be noted that in mid ninties, when  Old Mahabalipuram Road was transforming into an IT corridor attracting a number of IT campuses and IT parks, Mr N Srinivasan, Vice-Chairman & MD, India Cements had the vision to promote this co-education college in the memory of his late Father and Company founder, T. S Narayanaswami at Navalur mainly to extend the benefits of higher education at low cost  to students hailing from low income families in the nearby rural areas.
BALA SIR, A GREAT INSTITUTIONAL BUILDER
Fortunately, Mr Srinivasan could spot a dedicated long serving senior official in India Cements to spearhead his vision and dream for turning the college into a campus of excellence. The senior official is none other than Mr G Balakrishnan, currently, Senior President &Company Secretary, India Cements and Correspondent of the College.
In addition to discharing his official  responsibilities,  Mr Balakrishnan dedicated himself in promoting the college and  turned a great institutional builder. Fortunately, he   enjoyed the  valuable support of like minded company officials like, Mr T S Raghupahty, currently, Spl Advisor, India Cements, late P Ramachander, who was also Editor, Compass, the In-house of Journal of India Cements besides past Principals and teachers.

Over the years, the college has been striving hard to enhance quality of education for academic excellence and create relevant career opportunities for students. To quote Mr Balakrishnan, " T.S. Narayanaswami College has in the recent years become a college of " preferred choice" from being a college " of last resort. With the planned NAAC accreditation and permanent affiliation, the College will attain new heights in the not too distant future".
Further, he said, " The college is developing rapidly the quality of infrastructure available. Installation of RO plant is a case in point. We have 63 permanent faculty including eight PhDs. All this agures well for the college's future".

Dr S Venkatraman,Vice-President, Education & Training, India Cements who joined the Company two years ago after his long stint in Unesco,  said, " The overall objective of the college is to enable students to graduate as a responsbile citizen even while having a fruitful academic career to succeed in the most competitive world. It is for making the college life a tenacious spring board to propel their respective careers to greater heights during their life time".
 I am fortunate to be working in India Cements and doing my best for the academic activities in the college and periodically  publishing them in Compass and Compass News



Sunday, August 16, 2015

ICE Awards 2015: Top Honour for COMPASS, House Journal of India Cements


16.8.2015


COMPASS, House Journal of India Cements gets top
Recognition from Shailaja Nair Foundation, Mumbai

V Balasubramanian ( visbala@gmail.com)


It was really a proud and memorable  moment in my life when COMPASS, House Journal of The India Cements Ltd, received a top honour from Shailaja Nair Foundation at the ICE awards 2015 ( in house communication excellence) function held at the conference hall  of  Mumbai Cricket Association on June 6, 2015.


In the competition held among house journals, published by private, Govt and PSU organisations in the country, Compass was among the three top journals picked up as nominees in the  best ICE coverage category by the Jury headed by Dr Chandraprakash Dwivedi.





As I was keenly awaiting the outcome the award ceremony, Compass was announced as the  first Runner up in the best ICE (in house communication excellence) coverage category for 2015 from the Foundation, which instituted the award seven years ago.


At the 7th ICE Awards function organised by the Foundation in Mumbai on June 6th, 2015,  Myself,  V Balasubramanian, Vice-President, Corporate Communication, The India Cements Ltd and Editor, COMPASS, received the award.

In the pix,I am seen receiving the award on the occasion. In the other pix, I am with Mr Pratap Nair, Chairman of the foundation.



Appreciating the participation every year by Compass, Mr Pratap Nair, Chairman,Shailaja Nair Foundation, said the Jury had a tough time in selecting the nominees as the competition was stiff ( with  more than 600 participants including on line journals) and the quality of magazines par excellence.



He said  the  Foundation had  instituted ICE Awards for encouraging and celebrating internal communication . The House journals played a prominent role in forging a strong bond between the employers and employees as well as their respective families.

Compass has been regularly taking part in the awards in the prescribed application format and sending the journals published every year.

While expressing my sincere  thanks to the Foundation for the Honour, i said it was due to the excellent support   received by Compass from the management of India Cements and the active participation by employees and officers of the organisation.

I am grateful to Shri N Srinivasan, Vice-Chairman & MD, India Cements and the top management for giving an wonderful opportunity to serve the organisation in the last two years.

Every day, Myself and wife, Mrs Malathy rejoice with gratitude the Great Life, MD, Shri N S had given me after my long stint in Journalism. It is all due to the Divine Blessings of Almighty and Sri Kanchi and Sringeri Acharya Gurus.

When I shared the good news of our House Journal,   Compass receiving the prestigious Honour with our MD and top officials, they all greeted me and conveyed their best wishes for getting more honours. 

I was also  moved by the generous greetings received from my colleagues in our cement plants across the country.  The award is featured as cover theme in June 2015 as advised by our management.


I conveyed my thanks to them and said I look  forward to their continued support and participation for getting many more  Honours for Compass in the coming years.

I am humbled by the Honour received for Compass. I consider it a big reward for the passion and dedication I have in whatever work I do, be it writing a story, feature, communication, organising a function or meeting.
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