BITSAA Houston Chapter Launched on BITSians Day

BITSAA International, USA: Houston Chapter inaugurated by Consul General P. Harish (third from right).

BITSAA International, USA: Houston Chapter inaugurated by Consul General P. Harish (third from right).

HOUSTON: The BITSAA- Houston Chapter was officially launched on August 2, the BITSIANs Day, in Rachana’s Sankalp Restaurant by the Consul General of India, Parvathaneni Harish and his wife, Nandita. The event was attended by more than 80 proud BITsians that included some of the successful local entrepreneurs such as Ramesh Bhutada of Star Pipes, Viswa Bahl of Ratnala-Bahl Engineering Co., Narendra Gosain of Walter P. Moore and Shailendra Sacheti of M.S.International, Inc. and several other prominent BITSIANs.

From left: Gurunathan Ponnuchamy, Venkat Yadha, Kalyan Chakravarthy, Consul General of India, P. Harish, Krishna Vavilala, Sindhura Reddy.

From left: Gurunathan Ponnuchamy, Venkat Yadha, Kalyan Chakravarthy, Consul General of India, P. Harish, Krishna Vavilala, Sindhura Reddy.

Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences, famously known as BITS-Pilani is a renowned institute of higher education of international standing. In addition to its flag ship location in Pilani, Rajasthan, it expanded its campuses to Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh and Goa. Further more, it is the only institution of higher learning in India that has an off-shore campus as well, in Dubai. The institution is a dream come true for its founder, late G.D.Birla – an eminent industrialist, a participant in Indian freedom struggle and a close associate of the Father of India, Mahatma Gandhi. BITS symbolizes entrepreneurship and leadership, the institution has world renowned reputation of creating immensely talented technical and business leaders over decades.

BITS Alumni Association (BITSAA) members estimated to be around 40,000 are spread over 80 countries all over the world and are strongly connected through BITSAA International which is a voluntary association that operates at a global level. BITSAA came into being after some Bitsians lost their lives in the 9/11 attacks. As BITS celebrates its Golden Jubilee on January 2 and 3, 2014 in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, the institute has for the first time in its history, declared every first Friday of August as BITSians day to connect the strong network of its students worldwide who have persistently defined its glory in the last five decades.

Houston being the 5th largest city in US with a broad industrial base, has become home for over 300 BITSians, which led to an initiative to start a new chapter in this region. The BITSAA Houston chapter was ceremonially inaugurated on Aug 2, in tandem with the BITSian day celebrations all over the world and their families who relived their memorable BITSian days.

Venkat Yadha, in his opening remarks described that the mission of the chapter is to connect BITsians in the region professionally and personally. The group will focus on initiatives which will connect students at BITS Pilani with other prestigious educational and professional institutions in the Houston region opening up opportunities of financial assistance and mentorship programs. Krishna Vavilala, BITS alumni from 1960 and a prominent Houstonian emphasized on the discipline inculcated by the Birla educational system in its students and their secret recipe of bringing talented brains from all over the nation and turning them into future leaders. Krishna Vavilala explained that the Houston group will focus on expanding BITSian presence by increasing ties with local educational institutions and industries.

The Consul General of India, Parvathaneni Harish, who himself has studied engineering before he entered foreign service,lauded the Birla institute for its role in building professionals and a great pool of knowledge over the last five decades and extended his support to the group’s mission. The evening proceeded with bridging the BITSians of several generations sharing their nostalgic memories and funny tales from school days and a common pride of being a BITSian.

Kalyan Chakravarthy, concluded the evening by extending warm thanks to Consul General P. Harish, his wife Nandita and their daughter Amani who made the evening more memorable by their participation and support, especially to all the BITSians and their families who were present for the historic launch of the Houston Chapter.

For further information on BITSAA International visit
http://www.bitsaa.org/. or call Krishna Vavilala @ 713-795-5169, Venkat Yadha @ 860-214-6135 or Kalyan Chakravarty @ 561-670-3384.