CWRU Bicentennial alumni event in Mumbai celebrates 200 years of excellence
Case Western Reserve University officially kicked off its bicentennial year with an enthusiastic alumni gathering on Jan. 10 in Mumbai, India—the first such event of 2026. Nearly 120 alumni, parents and friends came together for a day filled with inspiration, connection, and vision.
The afternoon began with a thought-provoking panel discussion on “The Future of Education at CWRU” featuring professors Umut Gurkan and Rohan Akolkar (GRS ’05, chemical engineering), moderated by Mumbai-based alumnus Vikram Gupta (MGT ’01). The discussion focused on CWRU’s commitment to entrepreneurship, experiential learning, university-industry partnerships, and the integration of advanced technologies like Artificial Intelligence.
Attendees then broke into city chapter sessions, where alumni from across India connected in person and began planning a year of bicentennial activities. The highlight of the evening was a celebratory dinner and reception hosted by Shailesh (GRS ’73, GRS ’75, operations research) and Kalpa Mehta. Together, guests watched a bicentennial video and listened as President Eric W. Kaler reflected on CWRU’s storied history and ambitious future. Kaler’s remarks sparked lively questions and conversation, underscoring the deep pride and engagement of CWRU’s Indian alumni community.
As Shailesh Mehta emphasized, being the first to celebrate this milestone was truly special—a testament to the enduring global bonds that unite the CWRU family as we embark on our third century.
