Eighteen Years: A Journey That Shaped Us

There's something magical about the number eighteen. It marks adulthood, new beginnings, and fresh possibilities. Today, as I look back at another eighteen – the eighteen years since twenty bright-eyed individuals stepped into ECGC's training house at National Insurance Academy Pune – I'm filled with a profound sense of gratitude and nostalgia.

We were the Golden Jubilee batch, carrying not just our own dreams but the weight of fifty years of institutional excellence on our shoulders. Twenty strangers from different corners of India, each with our unique stories, brought together by destiny and determination. Little did we know that those training days would forge bonds that would outlast careers and transcend geographical boundaries.

The WhatsApp notifications buzzing on my phone today tell a story of their own. Messages flow in from across cities and organizations, each ping a reminder of where we started. Some have ventured onto different paths, choosing to explore new horizons beyond ECGC OF INDIA Limited. . Others have remained, building their careers within the organization that first brought us together. Yet what strikes me most is how, regardless of where life has taken us, we've all carried forward the fundamental lessons and values instilled during those formative days.

Our batch was special – not just because we were the golden jubilee cohort, but because of how we approached each challenge. Every morning session, every case study discussion, and every evening of preparation taught us something beyond the curriculum. We learned resilience from each other, drew strength from our diversity, and discovered that professional growth is as much about building relationships as it is about developing skills.

Looking back, I realize that every step in our careers, whether within ECGC or beyond, has been influenced by those initial months of training. The foundation we built wasn't just about understanding insurance and trade finance; it was about understanding life itself. We learned that growth doesn't mean forgetting where you came from – rather, it means building upon those early experiences and carrying forward the best of what they taught us.

Today, as our batch's WhatsApp group lights up with memories, shared jokes, and updates about our lives, I'm reminded that success isn't just measured by designations or achievements. It's measured by the relationships we maintain, the values we uphold, and our ability to look back with fondness while moving forward with purpose.

To my nineteen batchmates, wherever you are today: Thank you for being part of this journey. Though half of us may have chosen different paths, we remain connected by those precious months that shaped our professional beginnings. Our stories serve as testament to an important truth: that while careers may evolve and paths may diverge, the bonds formed during true moments of growth remain unbreakable.

As we mark this milestone, let's remember that every step we've taken – whether within ECGC or in new ventures – has contributed to who we are today. Our success, individual and collective, honors the faith placed in us as the Golden Jubilee batch. More importantly, it validates the truth that staying connected to one's roots while embracing growth isn't just possible – it's essential.

Here's to eighteen years of memories, growth, and enduring friendships. Here's to the paths we've chosen and the bonds we've maintained. And here's to the understanding that every new beginning, every career move, and every professional milestone is made more meaningful by remembering where it all started – in that training house at National Insurance Academy Pune, where twenty strangers became family.