XLRI Professor Venugopal Pingali Retires After 33 Years, Former Students Say ‘Everyone’ Felt It Personally: ‘A True Icon’

A good teacher creates an indelible impact on a student’s life. And one professor’s retirement at XLRI Jamshedpur has gone viral on social media, both for the emotions he showcases in the video, and the turnout that reflects how loved, and respected, he was. A post on his farewell shared on LinkedIn also saw former students describing his farewell as a reflection of the lasting impact he had on generations of management students. Prof. Venugopal Pingali recently delivered his last session at XLRI Jamshedpur, bringing the curtain down on a 33-year academic career. In a LinkedIn post, Prof. Manish Singhal recalled how students, staff and faculty gathered outside the classroom to bid farewell to the professor. “The admiration, affection, and respect on display were remarkable to witness,” Singhal wrote. Singhal, who joined XLRI in 2006, recalled that Pingali was Dean (Academics) at the time and remembered the warmth with which he was welcomed. He also shared how Pingali encouraged him to return to IIM Calcutta to complete his thesis, even helping him navigate the issue of leave. That accommodating nature, Singhal said, was among the qualities he remembered most fondly. Pingali is also known among XLRI students for developing marketing frameworks rooted in the realities of Indian markets, which helped generations of MBA graduates understand the subject. The post quickly prompted former students and colleagues to share their own memories, with many highlighting Pingali’s simplicity, humility, humour and ability to connect with students. “The affable gentleman that he is!” one person commented. Another former student wrote about having Pingali as a professor during their MBA at the National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE), praising his “remarkable humility, composure, patience and exceptionally high emotional quotient.” The commenter added that Pingali taught students lessons that went beyond the classroom, including empathy, patience, humility and the importance of being a good human being. Another former XLRI student recalled that Pingali was Dean when their batch joined the institute and said conversations about his personality still fill their batch WhatsApp groups. “Sir was Dean when our batch joined XLRI. Our batch whatsApp groups are filled with discussions on his simplicity, presence, humour and humbleness.” The former student also described how Pingali helped them understand XLRI’s culture, adding: “No one of us there in XLRI for more than decade yet everyone feeling his retirement as personal. It explains sir’s contribution.” Another alumnus remembered Pingali’s role in shaping XLRI’s first-ever GMP (Defence) batch and credited him with making a lasting impact through his teaching. “Special moment to witness. Prof. Venugopal was instrumental in shaping the first-ever GMP (Defence) batch at XLRI Jamshedpur, where I had the privilege of learning Marketing under his guidance.” The comments also brought back some lighter memories from Pingali’s years at XLRI. One alumnus recalled sharing a Sales & Distribution course with him in the mid-1990s, writing: “Fondly remember sharing the Sales & Distribution Course with him way back in mid ’90s. Which students quickly called “Dukhi Admi” [SAD MAN!].” Another former student summed up the professor’s teaching style in a few words: “Nearly two decades ago, I had the privilege of being his student. He had a gift for making learning simple, engaging, and genuinely fun.” And for the batch of 1996, the memories go back even further. “We the 96BMers were the first students of Sir Pingu as we fondly called him. Right for 1994 he left massive mark on many of our lives – including many like me who were inspired to pursue Sales and Marketing Careers.”