Ladakh LG assures support for IIM centre in Leh
STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Jammu on Sunday inaugurated the six-day International Painters Symposium 2026, being held from January 12 to 17, positioning its Jagti campus as a vibrant hub of creative leadership, cultural integration and interdisciplinary learning. Titled “Brushstrokes Beyond Borders,” the symposium brings together eminent painters from India and abroad for collaborative creation, artistic dialogue and cross-cultural exchange. The inaugural ceremony was formally inaugurated by Kavinder Gupta, Lieutenant Governor, Union Territory of Ladakh, in the presence of Padmashri Dr. Milind P. Kamble, Chairman, Board of Governors, IIM Jammu, who presided over the function. Shriram Dandekar, Vice Chairman and Executive Director, Kokuyo Camlin Ltd. and former Chairman, Board of Governors, IIM Jammu, attended as Guest of Honour, while Prof. B. S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu, graced the occasion.
The Lieutenant Governor was accorded a warm reception and given a comprehensive tour of the campus. He planted a sapling symbolising sustainability and growth, followed by the lighting of the ceremonial lamp, Saraswati Vandana and the National Anthem, marking the formal commencement of the symposium. On the occasion, the International Painters Symposium brochure was also unveiled. Addressing the gathering, Kavinder Gupta described the symposium as more than a cultural event, calling it a meaningful celebration of learning, values and creativity. He praised the modern infrastructure, classrooms and library of IIM Jammu, remarking that the institute stands as a knowledge institution rather than merely a management school. Highlighting the institute’s growth from a small cohort to over 1,400 students, he said it reflected IIM Jammu’s strong academic vision. He emphasised that creativity forms the soul of leadership and ethics its foundation, aligning the symposium with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. Art, he noted, is a universal language that enhances India’s soft power and nurtures holistic nation-building. Kavinder Gupta also called for greater academic engagement in the Union Territory, stressing the importance of knowledge-driven, sustainable, and locally tailored solutions for the region’s unique geography and fragile ecosystem. He assured full administrative support for establishing an IIM Jammu academic centre in Leh and said close collaboration between academia and administration forms a strong foundation for balanced and sustainable development. Guest of Honour Shriram Dandekar reflected on IIM Jammu’s journey from its early days at a temporary campus to its present stature. He lauded the institute’s multidimensional approach that integrates management education with creativity and culture.
Appreciating the leadership of Padmashri Dr. Milind Kamble and Prof. B. S. Sahay, he highlighted the institute’s modern library, academic governance and growing reputation, wishing students success in their professional journeys.
In his address, Dr. Milind Kamble, Chairman, Board of Governors, emphasised that the symposium reaffirmed IIM Jammu’s commitment to holistic and humane education. He said the participation of 21 international and national painters enriched the learning ecosystem by fostering visual thinking and meaningful interaction between artists and students. Welcoming the dignitaries and artists, Prof. Sahay, highlighted the institute’s mission to nurture ethical and socially responsible leaders. He recalled the institute’s evolving engagement with art through live painting initiatives, Basohli art workshops and contemporary art collaborations, stressing that IIM Jammu has consciously invited artists to co-create a living artistic legacy on campus. The symposium was introduced by Prof. Shyam Narayan Lal, Chairman, ?nandam: The Centre for Happiness, IIM Jammu, while internationally renowned painter Kamlesh K. Gandhi, Curator of the Symposium, welcomed the gathering and introduced the participating artists. The symposium features eminent artists including Tapan Kumar Dash, Anjani Reddy, Santosh Verma, Svetlana Kravchenko, Krishna Setty, Pradeep Naik, Hina Bhatt, Shrikant Kadam, Binoy Varghese, Dr. Chaminda Gamage, Dr. Sunil K. Vishwakarma, among others, representing diverse artistic traditions. With participation of 21 eminent painters, 25 emerging artists and 90 art students, it stands as one of the largest collaborative artistic platforms hosted by an academic institution in the region. On the eve of the event, the Language Lab “The Akshar” – The Communication Lab was inaugurated. The inaugural proceedings concluded with a vote of thanks by Brigadier (Prof.) Neeraj Soni, Co-Chairperson, Anandam, IIM Jammu. Organised under the aegis of ?nandam: The Centre for Happiness and the Painting Club of IIM Jammu, the symposium reinforces IIM Jammu’s role as a pioneering institution integrating management education with cultural excellence and creative leadership.