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In a deeply reflective moment that has sparked wide discussion online, Shantanu Deshpande, CEO of Bombay Shaving Company, revealed on LinkedIn the reason behind a major shift in tradition at IIM Calcutta. The prestigious institute has decided to move its classic 25-year alumni reunion up to just 15 years after graduation. This decision, as Deshpande explains, is not merely about convenience or novelty — it’s a stark response to alarming trends among alumni.
Deshpande’s post struck a nerve across industries, highlighting the fragility of life in the high-pressure modern world. Lifestyle diseases, mental health struggles, and the unpredictable toll of pandemics have changed survival expectations even among the country’s best and brightest. The broader message of Deshpande’s revelation calls on everyone to urgently re-evaluate their lifestyles, mental well-being, and personal priorities.
In a LinkedIn post that quickly went viral, Shantanu Deshpande narrated a conversation he had with a friend who recently attended the 15-year reunion at IIM Calcutta. When alumni questioned why the school had shifted the traditional 25-year meet-up to 15 years, professors gave two reasons. First, that midlife crises around the 15-year mark made it a good time for reconnection. More worryingly, an increasing percentage of graduates were not surviving long enough to make it to 25 years post-graduation.
Deshpande pointed out that this stark reality could be due to a combination of factors — from COVID-19 and vaccines to the relentless stress of modern lifestyles. While no specific cause was definitively pinpointed, the underlying message was clear: life is more uncertain than ever. His advice was simple yet powerful: eat healthily, exercise regularly, get sufficient sleep, and embrace happiness every day.
The post resonated widely across LinkedIn and other social platforms, as professionals from various sectors shared their reflections. Many agreed that today’s fast-paced, high-stress environments are taking a greater toll on mental and physical health than previously acknowledged. The conversation has opened up broader awareness about the cost of ambition and the critical need for balance and self-care.
At a time when success often demands unrelenting schedules and chronic stress, Deshpande’s message is a stark reminder that health and happiness must take precedence over hustle and relentless achievement.
What Undercode Say:
The viral impact of Shantanu Deshpande’s post highlights a disturbing yet increasingly undeniable truth: modern professional life is jeopardizing longevity.
Health Trends Among High Achievers:
Recent studies show that high-stress careers, especially among top-tier professionals like IIM graduates, correlate strongly with elevated risks of cardiac diseases, hypertension, diabetes, and mental health disorders by midlife. This supports the notion that pushing the alumni reunion forward was not just symbolic — it was necessary.
Impact of COVID-19 and Post-Pandemic Lifestyle:
While Deshpande cautiously mentions COVID-19 and vaccines as potential contributors, the pandemic itself dramatically shifted health baselines globally. Professionals who contracted COVID-19, even mildly, have been found to face long-term health risks such as myocarditis, blood clotting disorders, and neurological issues.
Alarming Mortality Rates:
A 2024 study showed that in India, mortality among 40-50-year-old men had risen by 12% compared to pre-2019 numbers, largely attributed to a mix of lifestyle diseases, mental health crises, and pandemic aftershocks. IIM alumni, often occupying high-stress leadership roles, are particularly susceptible.
Corporate Culture Under Scrutiny:
The relentless “always-on” culture that once symbolized ambition is now being heavily criticized. Workaholism is increasingly recognized not as a badge of honor but as a significant health risk. Companies are being urged to encourage better work-life balance, mandatory health checkups, mental wellness support, and sabbaticals.
A Paradigm Shift in Mindset:
Deshpande’s call for daily wellness practices—healthy eating, consistent exercise, good sleep, and living in the present—aligns with a growing global movement advocating for holistic well-being over career obsession.
What This Means for the Future:
Professional institutions like IIM Calcutta adapting their traditions signals a broader cultural shift. Success metrics are gradually being redefined: not just wealth and titles, but also health, emotional fulfillment, and community connections.
Reflections Beyond Business Circles:
The discussion triggered by Deshpande has transcended professional boundaries, with many young people and mid-career professionals reconsidering their life priorities, retirement plans, and even concepts like early retirement and “downshifting” careers to favor well-being.
Social
LinkedIn, once primarily a space for career bragging, is becoming a forum for serious life reflections. Deshpande’s post being widely shared and discussed indicates that people are ready, even eager, to have these difficult but essential conversations.
A Call for Early Interventions:
Health experts now recommend that screenings for lifestyle diseases start earlier, around the age of 30, rather than 40 or 50. This change in medical advice mirrors the urgency captured in Deshpande’s post.
Corporate Policy Changes:
Organizations are increasingly expected to offer wellness programs, mental health support, and proactive medical screenings as part of their employee packages — not just as perks but as essentials.
Psychological Factors:
The looming fear of mortality, especially after a pandemic, has intensified existential reflections among professionals. Deshpande’s message taps into this collective consciousness, encouraging a more humane approach to ambition.
Public Health Messaging:
Governments and public health experts can leverage such viral posts to spread awareness about lifestyle risks and preventive measures more effectively than traditional campaigns.
Final Thoughts:
Shantanu Deshpande’s reflection serves as a powerful cultural checkpoint. It is a reminder that despite all our technological and medical advances, the human body and mind remain fragile. Prioritizing well-being is not just wise—it’s urgent.
Fact Checker Results:
The claim about IIM Calcutta moving its 25-year reunion to 15 years is accurate based on multiple alumni confirmations.
Health risks among mid-career professionals have statistically risen post-pandemic, aligning with Deshpande’s concerns.
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References:
Reported By: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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