HR Fraternity Meet 2012 , 11.1.2012

Text of the Vote of thanks I delivered at the HR fraternity meet 2012. HR fraternity meet is an annual event organised by Rajagiri Centre for Business Studies involving the HR professionals from in and around the city of Kochi, Kerala, India.

Vote of thanks
HR Fraternity Meet 2012


Our distinguished Guests from Western Michigan University, Members of the HR Fraternity, Respected Principal, Faculty colleagues, dear Students and all gathered here..


It has indeed been a valuable and fruitful hour for all of us.

As a profession like any other profession the gap between the academic community consisting of faculty and students and the practitioner community of managers is one of convenience and not real.

While the practicing community would like to sharpen their skills by constantly being in touch with the developments in the field, the academic community would much rather have insights into the daily workings of an organization from the inside so that these insights can be transferred on to the next generation of budding professionals. As the saying goes, theory without practice is barren and practice without theory is blind.

Ideally the two communities of academics and practitioners should be in mutual contact more often. It is this felt need that we are trying to bridge in the institutes’ initiative of HR fraternity meet which is running the third consecutive year now.

If as an educational institution we have a name, it is because of the active co-operation and good wishes of all from the industry and the organizations especially those gathered here today.

Prof. Satish P. Deshpande, Professor of Management & Associate Dean for Operations and Graduate Programs of the Haworth College of Business, Western Michigan University, USA has enlightened us…. Among others things on the origins of HR, its service orientation, related legislations, its relation to business value, transition from expense to resource, need to be confidants as opposed to zombies, long term structural aspects, the problem with the younger generation Y, the intricacies with technology in HR, on the importance of Hr knowing the language of business, on the relation between economy and HR, strategies to manager downturn in his talk . “Managing HR in a Continuing Global Downturn” ……..thanks…

As was introduced, Dr. Howard Dooley is closely associated with our school for the last 12 years. He is the Professor of History and Director of the International Affairs of the WMU.

He has been instrumental in making the twinning collaborations between Rajagiri and Western an ongoing success. To my knowledge rajagiri was one of the pioneers in the concept of the twinning programme,, iin this part of the country..Our thanks are due to him ……


The field work programme of our MHRM students has been widely appreciated by all from the industry and it is reflected in the sincere co- operation from the professionals especially the HR professionals who are gathered here today and many who could not make it to the venue due to other prior engagements. As Faculty in chage of field work at this institution I am first hand witness to the enthusiasm and support that they provide our students every time I get in touch with them for the permissions for our students for a visit or concurrent fieldwork. They have also been acting as off campus faculty guides for our students while our students are with them in their respective organizations.

In turn we have also had requests from various organizations from within and outside Kerala asking for HR students and specifically for HR students who have undergone concurrent field work of our kind. This has all been due to the support of one and all from the industry here. I would like to use this opportunity to thank them all not only for their guidance and support but also for their presense here today….


I would like to specially acknowledge the presence, among the audience, and extend my hearty thanks to

Mr. P. Premchand who is the Vice-President – Corporate HRD of Sud-Chemie India Pvt. Ltd., Fellow of the NIPM and also the General Convenor of the forthcoming National Conference of the NIPM to be held in Cochin 2012 September….; Thank you very much for the presence and best wishes for the national convention.

Mr Saji V. Mathew, Sr. Manager (HR & IR) of Sud-Chemie India Pvt. Ltd. and currently the Hon. Secretary of the NIPM, Kerala Chapter…

Mr. M.S. Sreekumar, Associate Vice-President – HR of Muthoot Capital Services Ltd. and the Chairman of the National HRD Network, Cochin Chapter…and

Mr. P.T. George, Head – HR of FCI Technology Services Ltd. and Chairman of the ISTD, Cochin chapter.


And most especially Mr. PK S Menon and Mr. Paul Paliath for their continued contribution to the profession…



I also would like to thank the management and especially our Principal Dr. Joseph I. Injodey, for supporting and guiding an initiative of this kind.

All our faculty members HR and other wise as also staff, teaching and non teaching have been quite enthusiastic about this event and have co-operated in various capacities and efforts during the last few days. I thank one and all from among them…


I thank the sincere efforts of all students in personally inviting and helping organize this programme.

The benefits of all these efforts and time spared from all of us gathered here ultimately goes to the students who are the future leaders in organisations of various kinds. In that sense we are all today witness and participants to a fraternity meet that goes far into the future.


Thank you all once again.