Pics: Thejaswi U Poojary
Media Release
Udupi, Apr 11: A total of 521 students graduated from T A Pai Management Institute (TAPMI) at its 40th Annual Graduation Ceremony, held as part of the 33rd Convocation of Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), at KMC Greens, Manipal.
TAPMI, a constituent of MAHE — an Institution of Eminence Deemed-to-be University — awarded degrees to students across its five flagship programmes: MBA (Core), MBA in Banking and Financial Services, MBA in Human Resource Management, MBA in Marketing, and MBA in International Business.
The ceremony was graced by chief guest Arundhati Bhattacharya, president and CEO, Salesforce South Asia, who delivered the convocation address and presented awards for academic excellence.
The guest of honour, Karthik Y, chief executive officer, Page Industries Limited, also addressed the gathering. It was a matter of pride for TAPMI that the guest of honour is an alumnus from the 2007–09 batch.
Addressing the gathering, Lt Gen (Dr) M D Venkatesh, vice-chancellor, MAHE, congratulated the graduating students and underscored the role of institutions in shaping responsible leaders.
“At MAHE, our endeavour is to prepare graduates who combine professional competence with social consciousness. TAPMI’s emphasis on academic rigour, ethics and industry relevance equips its students to contribute meaningfully to organisations and society alike,” he said, adding that the university remains committed to nurturing talent capable of addressing global and national challenges.
In her convocation address, Arundhati Bhattacharya urged the graduating students to remain agile and purpose-driven in an increasingly complex world.
“India’s future will be shaped by a generation of leaders who can navigate complexity with clarity and lead with both intelligence and empathy. In a world defined by constant change, purpose will be the true differentiator. Institutions like MAHE are instrumental in nurturing such leaders, equipping them to drive innovation, responsibility and impact at scale,” she said.
Addressing the graduates, Karthik Y, CEO, Page Industries Limited, reflected on his journey from TAPMI to corporate leadership. “What TAPMI gives you is not just academic grounding but the mindset to solve real-world problems. Stay curious, stay grounded, and remember that sustained success is built on discipline, integrity and respect for people,” he said, urging students to view learning as a lifelong process.
Dr Sharath Rao, pro vice-chancellor (health sciences); Dr Dilip Naik, pro vice-chancellor (Mangaluru campus); Dr Narayana Sabhahit, pro vice-chancellor (technology and sciences); Dr Giridhar Kini, registrar, MAHE; Dr Durga Prasad, in-charge director, TAPMI; and faculty members were present on the occasion.
A total of 521 students from the 2024–26 graduating cohort received their degrees. This included 348 students from the MBA (core) programme, 56 from MBA (Banking and Financial Services), 44 from MBA (Human Resource Management), 50 from MBA (Marketing), and 23 from MBA (International Business).
The ceremony marked a significant milestone for the graduating students, celebrating their academic achievements and the beginning of their professional journeys. The event was attended by proud family members and faculty, making it a memorable occasion that reflected TAPMI’s commitment to nurturing future-ready leaders.
The following students were presented the T A Pai Young Achiever Award, instituted in 2024 to commemorate the birth centenary of founder Dr T A Pai. Carrying a cash prize of Rs 2.50 lac along with a medal and certificate, the award recognised first-rank holders across all five MBA programmes: Rythem Sharma (MBA, in absentia), Riya (MBA-BKFS), Malavika Rajesh (MBA-HRM), Calvin D’Cunha (MBA-MKT), and Ananya Bansal (MBA-IB).
The TAPMI Titan of the Year 2026, supported by an endowment from Titan Industries since 2013 to honour the best overall graduating student, was awarded to Gursimran Singh Reen.
The Dr T M A Pai Gold Medal for Outstanding Research Publication was presented to Professor Madhu Veeraraghavan, pro vice-chancellor – Management, Law, Humanities and Social Sciences. Professor Veeraraghavan has been recognised in Brigham Young University’s 2025 rankings as the No. 1 scholar in India for accounting research.