University Send Off

Do you remember when you left home after the 12th grade to join the University? The excitement, the preparation and the send off?

This story is about the send off party for our grandson in USA. Those of you familiar with the school education system in USA, would know the energy and scale with which high school (12th grade) graduation is celebrated. Rightly so, because higher education leads to professoonal careers and bigger job or startup opportunities.

Prior to the graduation, the high school student (and his/her parents) spend the year writing the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) exam, shortlisting the universities, preparing the essays for application, visiting the probable universities, and finalising the choice of program and the university. It is a major milestone not only for the student but the entire family. Next comes the send off. Time for the teenager to leave home. The empty nest syndrome for the parents follows thereafter. A glimpse of a nest about to feel the emptiness.

Our grandson Nikhil in California has secured admission into Computer Science (Hons) program in the University of Wisconsin at Madison. It was such a pleasure to attend the send off party for Nikhil and spend four weeks  walking, driving, hiking and playing golf together. Pictures follow.

Checking out the Tesla's Cyber Truck!

Golfers across three generations playing together before Nikhil goes off to the University. 

See Ashi's imaginatively designed gift boxes for the thank-you-gifts. Second picture shows the gift boxes being packed by Nikhil's friends.

Nikhil is a Taekwondo Black-belt 3rd Dan holder. See the picture below.

In fact the whole family goes for Taekwondo together. See Ashi the Mom with Nikhil and Naman at the Taekwondo Academy in Mil Pitas, California.

Nikhil's room filled with Taekwondo medals.

The send off party included the intro to Nikhil and Naman (his younger brother), brief speeches by the grandparents, dance performances by family and friends followed by dancing to DJ's music.

Pirates of the Caribbean by Viyaan on piano

A million dreams sung by Ayan...

Dada Dadi's send off speech...

Nikhil and Naman - the opening performance 

Ankur and Ashi, Nikhil's parents performed a lovely dance.

When the DJ lit up the dance floor..

Anchita's poetic send off

Excerpts of the hilarious send off poem written by Anchita:

These hills have trees, and the trees are hilling,

We have Niku, and our Niku, is nikling.

We gather together to cheer and celebrate, 

And see off our gabru jawan graduate.

We bid you good luck with happy, misty eyes,

We’re beyond overjoyed, as our oldest one flies.

We’re proud of everything you are and do,

We wish you’ll always be unabashedly YOU.

If life gets too serious when you’ve gone far,

Go hapachika papachika hapachika pa!

When you feel down or your world is in knots,

Think of chakatte or umm... things in flower pots...

Next comes a specially composed poem by Sachi, Anchita's daughter

Excerpts of the lyrics composed by Sachi another high schooler:

The four of us used to run together

Come hottest days or coldest weather

I know your house like I know my own

If not better

Laughing and never remembering what we said

Making up stories inside our heads

And we smiled under blue skies

Overhead

But then she moved away

And he's off to college

She's still in high school

We're all seeking knowledge...

The rocking duo, Nikhil's mom and dad:

Here is what I spoke as a grandpa.

It is such a delight to be here from India.

Once in the College dorm

You can forget your Mom

But don't forget your Dad

As he recharges your Card

Everybody says it is now freedom time:

Freedom to bunk a class

Freedom to raise a glass

Freedom to eat

Freedom to sleep

'Nikhil, you are getting late!'

Such commands can wait.

Naman says:

Your room is now taken

Till the next vacation 

Taekwondo's focus and determination 

Will help in reaching your CS Destination

Go, rock the University and it's many a test

All of us present here wish you all the best.

God bless and love ❤️

------- 

Some more pictures of a memorable evening. 

Bravo Ankur and Ashi for such a grand send off for Nikhil. So many guests spoke about Nikhil and his superlative qualities. It made us all proud.

Nikhil had written a guest story for our blog when he turned eleven. You may click the link below to browse the picture story.

Why Kodaikanal - a picture story about few well known and some unknown spots in and around Kodaikanal. Check out how many of these spots  have you seen?

Naman, the younger brother is equally talented. When he was eight-years-old he already had a web site of his sketches. He too has contributed a story to our blog which can be browsed by clicking the link below.

Sketching At Eight - Sample the incredible sketches made by Naman when he was just eight! The story also has an interview with Naman.

Talent sure runs in the family!

As this Black Belt 3rd Dan, drummer, dancer and writer goes to University,  we wish him God speed...

... while his mom dreams on...!

Thanks for browsing.

    - Harsh-the-Ghumakkad/ Pleasanton/ 3rd Aug 2025

#universitysendoff #highschoolgrad #california #usa #taekwondo #donewiththeschool #enteringtheuniversity #emptynest #ghumakkadhb #ghumakkadharsh

Implementing NEP-2020

Drafting and promulgating a policy like National Education Policy (NEP-2020 or NEP in short) is one thing, but implementing it is quite another. This story takes a quick look at NEP-2020 and highlights the practical implementation by a leading university in India. NEP deals with both school and higher education. However, we have restricted our story to higher education.

Key features of NEP for higher education are listed below:

• Broad based and multi-disciplinary
• Flexible curricula, creative combinations of subjects
• Integration of vocational education
• Multiple entry and exit points with appropriate certification
• Innovation and entrepreneurship
• Learner-centric education

Although NEP was announced in 2020, few institutions had been practicing many of the features of NEP since long. Institutions like IIT Kanpur, BITS Pilani, IIT Madras and IIT Bombay come to my mind. Some of the features implemented by these institutions even before NEP came into existence are listed below. The list is by no means exhaustive. It so happens that Ghumakkad has been closely associated with these institutions either as an alumni or otherwise during his 52 years of work life in Indian Navy and thereafter.

• IIT Kanpur: Flexible curricula, Multi-disciplinary courses and Centres like Material Science etc
• IIT Madras: Innovation and entrepreneurship through IITM Research Park, RTBI etc
• IIT Bombay: Research and entrepreneurship having multi-disciplinary, faculty-driven and relevance to societal needs
• BITS Pilani: Flexible curricula, Dual degree programs, Integration of vocational education through Practice School, WILP and industry partnerships, Multi-disciplinary, Entrepreneurship, Learner-centricity etc.

As we can see, BITS Pilani, my alma-mater takes the lead in implementing NEP-2020. In fact many of the features of NEP-20 had been implemented by BITS from 1969 onwards much before the policy was conceived and announced. We are not saying so because we belong to BITS but we wish to share and propagate the ways of implementing the policy. 

Apart from the above features implemented by BITS Pilani, we have many more initiatives courtesy Prof V Ramgopal Rao Group Vice Chancellor of BITS Pilani Group of Institutions. He has summarised some of the recent efforts of BITS in making education and research more relevant to the needs of the society. We share below his recent post on LinkedIn which highlights the need for 'deeptech' startups in India. Readers may browse the corresponding link for details of each of the initiatives listed.

"Spoke at the Conquest, BITS Pilani event in Bangalore, which is arguably Asia's first and the largest student run hashtag#startup hashtag#accelerator in India.

Spoke of the need for creating a hashtag#deeptech startup ecosystem in the country and how BITS Pilani is playing a key role in these efforts. We have launched at least 10 new hashtag#initiatives in the last one hashtag#year alone to strengthen the deeptech startup ecosystem in the institute campuses and the country.
1. hashtag#SPARKLE: Student Program for Advancing Research, KnowLedge, and Entrepreneurship
Link: https://lnkd.in/gvj6_efk
2. hashtag#SOLVE: Innovation Program for Solving Societal and Business Problems
Link: https://lnkd.in/gCiUWFN5
3. PhD hashtag#DRIVE: PhD Deep-tech Research, Innovation, Value generation & Entrepreneurship
Link: https://lnkd.in/gXUnnEbA
4. Creation of a School for Interdisciplinary Research and Entrepreneurship (hashtag#SIRE)
Link: https://lnkd.in/gy3zaPaC
5. Cross-disciplinary Research Framework scheme (hashtag#CDRF) for faculty with funding support for undertaking problems of societal relevance
Link: https://lnkd.in/gr5tm_Eq
6. Policy for hashtag#Faculty hashtag#Entrepreneurship
Link: https://lnkd.in/gB5yZrAt
7. PhD hashtag#IMPACT (Industry Mentored PhD in Advanced and Cutting-edge Technologies)
Link: https://lnkd.in/gzWRBuxp
8. Launch of hashtag#RakeshKapoor Innovation hashtag#Center
Link: https://lnkd.in/ghZMZ2JP
9. A completely revamped and hashtag#integrated hashtag#Incubation system in all campuses:
Link: https://lnkd.in/gjFd_AfM
10. Multiple new startup initiatives under the BITS hashtag#BiocyTIH Foundation & SATHI Initiatives
Link: https://biocytih.co.in/
11. Streamlined the processes for filing of hashtag#patents which has resulted in a 300% increase in patent filings in 2023-24.
Link: https://lnkd.in/gPq54eAV
12. USD100 Million dollar hashtag#Endowment Fund to be launched by BITS Pilani soon with a major chunk of it to support deep-tech startups.
13. New Centers of hashtag#Excellence for deeptech hashtag#research and entrepreneurship activities such as hashtag#CREST, hashtag#CRENS, hashtag#APPCAIR etc...
Links: https://lnkd.in/gBYSHgnR , https://lnkd.in/gAZhSXgg , https://appcair.com/
14. Recruitment of multiple hashtag#Professors of hashtag#Practice
Link: https://lnkd.in/gACsXEXZ & many more.

If you are a hashtag#deeptech hashtag#entrepreneur, hashtag#angel investor, hashtag#VC or an hashtag#industry keen to support hashtag#entrepreneurship activities in India, come and join hands with us. hashtag#BITS Pilani is an Institution of Eminence as per the Govt of India IoE scheme."

We are grateful to Prof V Ramgopal Rao for his permission to reproduce the above post.

We conclude with a quote by Mahatma Gandhi who said "Education is the basic tool for the development of consciousness and the reconstitution of the society."

If you are a faculty and wish to share your experience of implementing NEP, do mail us at hbindia@gmail.com . We would be happy to append it here with due credits.

Let us together take India to global leadership position in higher education. Education which is not only theoretical but which meets the needs of the society at large.

Thanks for browsing

   -Harsh-the-Ghumakkad/Secunderabad/23rd Aug 2024

#Deeptech #Startups #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #HigherEducation #NationalEducationPolicy2020 #NEP #Multi-disciplinary #IITs #BITSPilani #Implementation #research #flexibleeducation #dualdegree #vocationaleducation #practiceschool