As the city bid an emotional farewell to Lord Ganesha following the festivities, students of K.P.B Hinduja College of Commerce (Hinduja College), the flagship autonomous higher education institution guided by the Hinduja Foundation, came together to extend the spirit of celebration into an act of community responsibility. In a post-Visarjan beach clean-up initiative at Dadar Chowpatty, over 150 students and volunteers joined hands with Mumbai University, BMC, Maharashtra State and Coastal Guard to help restore the shoreline and encourage greater awareness around keeping Mumbai’s beaches clean.

The initiative reflected the belief that while the festivities may come to an end, the values of responsibility, community and care for the city should continue. The drive was carried out as part of the wider National Service Scheme -NSS-led initiative undertaken in collaboration with the University of Mumbai, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Coastal Guard. Students actively participated and covered several metres of the shoreline, with volunteers spending the day collecting and segregating waste along the beach, helping restore the shore following the immersion festivities. The activity included clearing flower offerings, plastic and other decorative materials, cloth and post-Visarjan debris, with several bags of material collected.

Dr. Navin M. Punjabi, Principal, Hinduja College, said, “Our responsibility as an educational institution is not limited to preparing students for their professional lives. We also want them to understand the role they can play as responsible citizens. Plastic and debris left on our beaches don’t stay there they eventually make their way into the ocean, where they harm marine life and ecosystems that are already under stress from a warming planet. Drives like this help students see the direct link between everyday civic action and larger environmental challenges, while giving them the opportunity to take meaningful action in their own city.”

For the students, the initiative was more than just a clean-up drive- it was a gesture of gratitude towards Mumbai and a reflection of the belief that every celebration can leave behind a positive impact, not just memories. What began as a small student initiative over two and a half decades ago has today become an institutional tradition passed down through generations of students.

Guided by the ethos of the Hinduja Group founder Parmanand Deepchand Hinduja “My dharma is to work so that I can give” the College’s beach clean-up sits alongside its wider outreach programme, including blood donation drives, tree plantation drives and other community initiatives.

Hinduja Foundation aims to empower 1 million students by 2030 

Bengaluru, 3 rd March, 2025: Marking 75 years of illustrious journey in education, the Hinduja Group reaffirmed its commitment to shaping India’s future through its flagship institution, Hinduja College of Commerce,  which started as a humble primary school for children of refugees. Today with over 6000 students, Hinduja College is now advancing towards becoming a deemed university.

Today the Group through Hinduja Foundation nurtures over 7,00,000 students across India through initiatives like Road to School and Road to Livelihood. With ambitious plans to empower 1 million students by 2030, the Hinduja Foundation continues to champion education as a catalyst for change and is a key contributor to India’s vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047.

The celebration witnessed the presence of esteemed dignitaries, including the Hon’ble Vice President of India, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar, as the Chief Guest. The Governor of Maharashtra, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan was also present as Guest of Honour. Hon’ble VP Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar felicitated outstanding students for their academic and extracurricular achievements.

Addressing the students & dignitaries at a function to commemorate the 75 years in education through Hinduja College, the Vice President of India Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar stated, “Sanatan must be a part of the country’s culture and education because it stands for inclusivity and stressed the need to remain well grounded or rooted in it. He also urged corporate India to invest in education to create specialised institutions. Philanthropic endeavours should not be driven by the philosophy of commodification and commercialisation. Our healthcare and education systems are being plagued by these. He also called education the most impactful transformative mechanism that brings about equality.’’ He also expressed his confidence that Hinduja College will not stop at just becoming a deemed university but become an institution of global eminence.

Reflecting on this milestone, Mr. Ashok Hinduja, Chairman, Hinduja Foundation, remarked, “The institution is set to establish a Skill Development Centre, reinforcing its commitment to bridging industry-academia gaps, with long-term plans to transition into a Deemed University and expand student capacity multi-fold. College plans to introduce new programs in Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, and Wealth Management, along with specialized courses in Climate Finance and Export-Import Management.” 

Mr. Ashok Hinduja also urged the government to consider introducing Sanatan principles in education. Agreeing to this suggestion the Vice President added that “Sanatan promotes inclusivity”.

Mr. Paul Abraham, President, Hinduja Foundation, said, “Hinduja College is undergoing redevelopment to build a state-of-the-art, multi-storied facility equipped with cutting-edge infrastructure and modern amenities. This ambitious project is expected to be completed by 2028. We expect the new Facility to triple the physical capacity of the college to create enhanced capabilities for digital outreach and programming across a spectrum of opportunities.”

Hinduja College offers more than 30 academic programs and achieved NAAC A+ accreditation in 2023-24. Granted autonomous status in 2022, the college has aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 to equip students with future-ready skills.

The college’s vision is clear: “To empower our students not only to excel but to outshine.” As part of its commitment to empower students.