On Monday, the Fr. Albert Huart Hall came alive as Xavier Business School (XBS) at St. Xavier's University, Kolkata, celebrated the formal inauguration of its 9th MBA Batch (2026–28).

The academic year kicked off with the traditional lighting of the lamp, a ceremony attended by university leaders, proud faculty, and the ambitious new cohort of management students.

This year's Chief Guest, Cmde P.R. Hari, IN (Retd.), Chairman and Managing Director of Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd. (GRSE), shared powerful insights from his stellar professional journey. He challenged the incoming professionals to build strong leadership skills, embrace resilience, and make ethical choices in an ever-evolving business world.

Welcoming the students, Fr. John Felix Raj, SJ, the Vice-Chancellor emphasized that an XBS education goes beyond textbooks, urging the batch to balance academic rigor with integrity and social consciousness. To help the students’ transition smoothly into campus life, the Registrar, Fr. Xavier Jeyaraj, SJ, also provided an overview of the academic guidelines and institutional code of conduct.

Wrapping up the memorable event, the Dean of XBS delivered the vote of thanks, appreciating everyone—from the chief guest to the organizing team—who made this inspiring launch pad possible for the leaders of tomorrow.

Dr. Sitangshu Khatua