“If art is to nourish the roots of our culture, society must set the artist free to follow his vision wherever it takes him”- John F Kenedy.
It has been 20 years since the idea of nurturing Pearlites took shape, and here we were once again welcoming them back with ‘Pehchaan’.
The emotional event that it was, the idea is to make Pehchaan the most sought after event to catch up with batch mates, teachers and relive the memories of time spent in the campus.
“Working on projects late night and then going to the class next day with red eyes,” said Priynaka Modi, owner of fashion brand AM-PM, “is something I remember from my good old days at Pearl.”
Abdul Halder was full of praises for Pearl and it’s teachers. “Studying here was a happy time. I have some great memories and it was a different kind of fun here.” said the designer who has been featured in magazines like: Vogue, Verve, Savy,Maxim, India Today, Femina, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, and others. He had shows in Paris, Dubai, New York and Lakme Fashion Weeks.
For some lucky ones like Ashima from the 2005 batch, the bond with Pearl has never been stronger. She joined back as faculty after her graduation and has been part of Pearl’s growth story. “I have been a part of Pearl for over 8 years now. I love to be here,” she beamed with a smile full of excitement.
Alumni meets are as much about students as it is about teachers, who have left an ever-lasting mark on the students’ lives. “Mr. Nair (the group director) was very humble and an intelligent person. He played a great role in shaping the initial days of Pearl,” said Ashima.
“It’s been a decade since I passed out. I remember Nancy, who used to be full of energy and we all were fond of her,” pitches in Priyanka Modi.
Pearl alumni are for sure impressed by the current lot and have high expectations from them. Priyanka Modi had some very encouraging words to speak about Anupriya Bhagat, who is doing a project with her company currently.
“No doubt there is a huge talent base at Pearl and the industry too is growing and it will be getting bigger and bigger,” said Abdul Halder.
While the guests poured in, we caught up with the host Mr. Sharad Mehra, CEO, Pearl Academy. “It feels great to see everyone come together tonight. The alumni really help us stay connected with the industry and they also help students a lot for placements and internships. We even seek their advice and inputs on how the curriculum could be improved.”
We also took this opportunity to launch the logo for Pearl’s 20 years. The final selection and its creator, Sachin Rathi, were felicitated on stage. He explained the concept and showed his gratitude. There was a huge round of applause as it was announced that he won an iPad for the same.
All in all it was a night to remember. Here’s to many more to come! Cheers!
