New Delhi, July 15 -- The business world can be ruthless. Corruption, manipulation and unchecked power may be hiding in plain sight, much like Gotham City. The fourth edition of Shree Arohan, the annual entrepreneurship summit organised by the Shikshayatan Entrepreneurship Society (SES) of Shri Shikshayatan College, Kolkata, was dedicated not only to fostering entrepreneurial thinking but also to promoting ethical business practices, innovation and entrepreneurship. With the theme, 'Gotham: Rule the Game Before the City Decides Your Fate', the event explored the delicate balance between ambition and ethics in the business world.
The inaugural ceremony on July 11 at the college campus began with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp by Principal Dr Tania Chakravertty, Secretary P K Sharma and CA Vijayshree Panda, along with the guests participating in the panel discussions, including heritage conservationist Iftekhar Ahsan, entrepreneur Suraj Juneja, image consultant Sashi Jain Dugar and Srinjoy Sen. Millennium Post was the media partner for the event. "Since the last edition, it has become an inter-college competition. Through Shree Arohan, we want to foster a startup mindset, encourage entrepreneurial thinking and bring industry leaders onto one platform," said Dr Chakravertty.
More than 13 colleges from Kolkata participated in the summit. Around 25 stalls were set up across classrooms on three floors, where student entrepreneurs from Shri Shikshayatan College had the opportunity to sell their products, interact with visitors and showcase their ventures.
One of the key highlights of the event was the panel discussion, where Ahsan shared valuable insights on transitioning from digital selling to physical retail spaces. He emphasised the importance of bridging online platforms with real-world, tangible experiences. Dugar spoke about how long-term credibility is built by delivering valuable content rather than relying on superficial visuals. Entrepreneur and startup mentor Juneja explained how he scaled a creator-led business through strategic content creation.
The day was packed with events, including Arkham Ascent, a high-intensity business simulation; The Blackgate Files, an interactive marketing challenge; Vaults of Knightfall, a financial puzzle game; and Wayne's Hiring Desk, an HR event designed to assess participants' people management skills and more.
While students from several reputed colleges across Kolkata participated in these competitions to test their business acumen, the student entrepreneurs of Shri Shikshayatan College also made sure to put their best foot forward by showcasing their ventures on campus. Among them was Samriddhi Banerjee, a second-year BCom student, who is determined to grow her scented candle brand, Whimsical Wonders. Ashna Kadir and Alisha Rahman, founders of The Healing Khazana, have been making perfumes and handmade soaps for the past eight months, selling most of their products online. Bhumi Sonkar, another second-year BCom student, hopes to continue running The Cakery Co. even after graduation.
The closing ceremony featured a captivating musical performance by Gunjan, the music society of Shri Shikshayatan College, whose soulful renditions added a vibrant cultural touch to the event. This was followed by the prize distribution ceremony, where winners across the six flagship events were felicitated. Special awards were also presented in recognition of excellence in entrepreneurship, innovation and participation.
Arkham Ascent
Shri Shikshayatan College (SSC)
Sanjana Jha
Garima Saboo
The Blackgate Files
Shri Shikshayatan College (SSC)
Aahna Roy
Shreya Kumari Mahato
Sania Haque
Vaults of Knightfall
Goenka College of Commerce and Business Administration (GCCBA)
Md. Farhan Khan
Pratibha Biswas
Kshirja Jaiswal
Wayne's Hiring Desk
The Heritage College (THC)
Rajvi Gupta
Gourav Das
Voices of Arkham
Shri Shikshayatan College
(SSC - Team XI), Abhipsha Sarkar
City of Falls
Amity University (AUK)
Ishaan Sen, Ayush Biswas
Best Stall Decor
The Yarn Diary by Priti Ghosh and Payel Choudhary
Highest Revenue
Pie Over The Sky by Jhanvi Jaiswal
Best Sales Strategist (tie)
Hamper Express by Ishita Choudhary and Rinku Choudhary
Hush n Flour by Hera Zafar and Alvia Murad
Best College Representative
Arita Paul (Goenka College of Commerce and Business Administration (GCCBA))
Best College
Shri Shikshayatan College (SSC) - 60 +10
Runner-up College
Goenka College of Commerce and Business Administration (GCCBA) - 35 +10
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.