50 students from tribal region attend national-level discussions, listen inspiring stories and life at IIM Nagpur Media Conclave 2026
September 09 2026, NAGPUR: Some visits last only a day but open a much wider window. For nearly 50 students from remote and tribal Gadchiroli, their journey to IIM Nagpur for the Media Conclave 2026 was one such experience.
They came to attend discussions on media and leadership; they returned with a closer view of a world shaped by ideas, education, enterprise and public service.
The students from the University Institute of Technology, Gadchiroli, supported by Lloyds, were special participants at the conclave, organised on the theme “Media, Leadership and the New World Order.” IIM Nagpur welcomed them not merely as visitors, but as young participants in the conversations taking place on its campus.
Their day began with the inaugural function presided over by Shri Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways. Shri B. Prabhakaran, Managing Director, Lloyds Metals & Energy Limited, was the Chief Guest, while Dr Bhimaraya Metri, Director, IIM Nagpur, welcomed the dignitaries and participants.
“I was especially happy to see students from the University Institute of Technology, Gadchiroli, at the conclave. For me, their presence made the occasion even more meaningful,” said B Prabhakaran.
As Shri Gadkari, Shri Prabhakaran and Dr Bhimaraya Metri delivered their speeches, the auditorium became a classroom without a conventional syllabus. Through the keynote addresses by media Gurus, these students got the global views about artificial intelligence, media credibility, economic transformation, leadership and development journalism.
Later, the Padma Conclave shifted the conversation from major national issues to deeply personal stories of service. Padma Shri awardees Dr Chandrashekhar Meshram, Dr Dhananjay Sagdeo and Shri Subhash Sharma spoke about their work in healthcare, tribal communities and natural farming. The session, moderated by Prof Prashant Gupta, Dean – Faculty and Academics, IIM Nagpur, allowed the visiting students to see how grassroots service could earn national recognition and inspire others.
Beyond the formal sessions, another important conversation unfolded outside the auditorium.
Members of IIM Nagpur’s Nexus student club accompanied the visitors on a tour of the campus. As they moved through the Institute and interacted with its students, IIM Nagpur became a place they could see closely, experience and, perhaps, imagine themselves being part of one day.
Welcoming the students, IIM Nagpur director Dr Metri said, “Institutions create their greatest impact when they expand the horizons of young people. I hope this experience strengthens their confidence to dream big, pursue higher education and become leaders who create more leaders.”
By the end of the day, the students had listened to a Union Minister, an industry leader, distinguished journalists and three Padma Shri awardees. They had also walked through the campus of one of India’s leading management institutions and interacted with the students who bring it to life.
