Bombay Shaving Company CEO Shantanu Deshpande shares why advancing of 25 year IIM Calcutta reunion by 10 years 'Scared him to no end'

Shantanu Deshpande , CEO of Bombay Shaving Company , recently shared a post on LinkedIn about IIM Calcutta’s decision to advance its traditional 25-year alumni reunion to 15 years. The change, he revealed, stems from a sobering realisation that left him deeply unsettled. Deshpande recounted a conversation with a friend who attended the 15-year reunion and inquired about the shift. While one reason cited was the prevalence of mid-life crises, the other was far more alarming: an increasing number of alumni were not surviving to attend the 25-year milestone.


Read Bombay Shavings CEO Shantanu Deshpande’s post here A friend I was talking to had just gone to his 15 year reunion at IIM Calcutta.

And he (and a few more alums) asked the profs why the OG 25 year reunion had been advanced to 15 year.

One reason was that at 15Y, people were at mid life crises so always good to get together.

But, the other reason scared me to no end.

Increasingly, larger % of batches were expiring by the time 25Y passed.

They were just no more.

So they advanced it by a decade.

Covid or vaccines or lifestyle or something else, God alone knows.

Never know when it's your time. Eat well, exercise consistently, sleep well, be happy while you're on this planet.

One never knows when it's time.

The revelation sparked a broader discussion on LinkedIn and social media about the impact of lifestyle choices, stress, and health concerns on longevity. Deshpande urged his audience to prioritise their well-being, emphasising the importance of healthy habits and cherishing life’s moments.

The post has since gone viral, resonating with professionals across industries and prompting reflections on the pressures of modern life. “The post has since gone viral, resonating with professionals across industries and prompting reflections on the pressures of modern life,” commented a user.