After Satya Nadella scored big in IT giant Microsoft, the education hub on India’s west coast, Manipal, has another reason to celebrate.
Rajeev Suri, a 1989 batch Electronics and Communications graduate from the Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT), was on Tuesday named the next CEO of Finnish communications and information technology multinational corporation, Nokia.
With the news of the 46-year-old’s appointment to lead Nokia going viral on Tuesday morning, the entire university erupted in joy.
For students, who already had a famous alumnus in Nadella, this was indeed a moment of pride. Nadella is just a year senior to Suri at MIT.
MIT Director Vinod V Thomas was indeed a proud man.
“Satya and Suri provide strong testimony to the fact that at MIT, the emphasis is on holistic development of students...... There is no coincidence or accident that these two MITians have made it big,” he said.
He further said two of the Top Fortune 500 companies are led by former MIT students.
Praising the multi-cultural ambience on the university premises, he said professional outlook provided by the university helped in holistic development of its students.
Students, who will be writing their examinations in a month were, overwhelmed with joy. Simantika Mohapatra, a sixth semester students said students are happy to see two former MITians occupying top posts in two leading companies this year.
“They have set a goal for all of us,” Simantika said.
Shashank Sarbada, an eighth semester student said, “It will make us strive to match, if not surpass, the footprints of our seniors.”
‘Best Time of My Life was in Manipal’
In a mail sent to Dr Hebbar, one of his teachers at MIT, on April 25, Rajeev Suri said, “Manipal was the best time I ever had in life. A great university, with wonderful teachers, fantastic memories and deep, life long friendships. You made me what I am — and recently you have shown your pride quite publicly and for that I am ever so grateful. I look forward to hearing from you and meeting you all at some point soon.”