The final day of the ONGC Youth Meet 2022 saw many a sessions for the young officers from the corporation’s work centres. While these sessions would be significant for their technical knowhow, and professional upkeep, a spectacular session with a particular guest speaker bewitched everyone among the audience. Former cricketer and ONGCian, Padma Shri Virendra Sehwag took an interactive session with the new crop of ONGC officers on 8 August 2022. While many officers were starry-eyed at the interactive session, most could not stop gushing from asking Mr Sehwag stories from the dressing room of the ‘Men in Blue’.

Sharing his robust personal experiences on and off field, Mr Sehwag articulated how each one of them had instilled humility, courage and hope into his own life. He recalled how the legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar would pray in front of his portable temple before and after every match, when they would play together for  Team India. He also recalled how hopelessness would set in after losing crucial matches, while he attested that it was all those failures that taught him the best lessons.

Former cricketer Virender Sehwag was the guest speaker for the Closing Ceremony of ONGC Youth Meet 2022

Mr Sehwag opined about the challenges that he faced, and simplified how he never used to stress about scoring big runs because consistency was paramount. The fact that he went to the field and performed the best he could was more important than scoring big numbers. His address inspired many in the audience, especially the cricket aficionados who revere his prowess on field, and also those who were well aware of his legendary status in popular culture while they were growing up. While his honesty and simplicity retained many of his admirers, Mr Sehwag managed to certainly increase that count with his visit.

With energy high and audience ecstatic post the session, the Closing Ceremony was graced by the presence of CMD and Director (HR) Dr Alka Mittal, MD-ONGC Videsh Rajarshi Gupta, Director (T&FS) OP Singh, Director (Onshore) Anurag Sharma, Director (Finance) Pomila Jaspal, Director (Operations-ONGC Videsh) ON Gyani, Director (Exploration-ONGC Videsh) Sanjeev Tokhi, and Director (Finance-ONGC Videsh) Anupam Agarwal. Prize distribution started soon after for the winners of the ‘Youth EC’. Janhvi, Manish, Ashir, Radhika, Rishabh, Shalini, and Shrijana were felicitated by the EC members, while other participants in the panel discussion also received prizes. Winners of the ‘Urja Quiz’, including Raj, Ayan, Ravi, Aakash, Aman and Nitin were also felicitated onstage among enthusiastic cheers.

ONGC CMD Dr Alka Mittal delivering her address at the Closing Ceremony of ONGC Youth Meet 2022

CMD Dr Alka Mittal shared her thoughts with the Graduate Trainees as a Graduate Trainee she once herself was. She explained how each of the young officers can contribute to the organization by first working the best on themselves, which will help others notice them as the best among the crowd. Dr Mittal asked the young ONGCians to learn to work harder, and focus on themselves, because this will organically come back to the organization. She mentioned how the core values, including sense of belonging, integrity, team spirit, discipline, and social responsibility will be instrumental for them and the organization’s evolution. Dr Mittal concluded her address by asking the young officers to put the best for themselves, and have faith that everything will fall into place.

MD ONGC Videsh Limited Rajarshi Gupta articulated that the youth present in the auditorium should remain thusly in their enthusiasm and approach. He claimed that each one of them were ambassadors of ONGC, and carry its pride everywhere. Stating that the “meeting ends today, but the journey starts tomorrow”, he asked them to go back to their desks, seek assignments, dutifully complete them, learn from them, and keep going ahead by keeping ONGC’s and India’s flag high.

Winners of the Big Youth Debate with Members of EC at the ONGC Youth Meet 2022 Closing Ceremony

Director (T&FS) OP Singh first expressed his regret for not being present on the first day of the ONGC Youth Meet. He requested the youth present there to always remember the policy of ‘no pain, no gain’, which was instrumental in making ONGC what it is today with the inexhaustible efforts of so many ONGCians. He mentioned how each one of them were the future builders of ONGC, requested them to always remember his mantra of success, that is reading, because without knowledge, nothing big can be achieved. He also reminded them to never shy away from interacting with seniors and key executives to clear their doubts. While wishing them well for future, he also requested them to be unconditional with the honesty of their work.

ONGC Director (Finance) Pomila Jaspal expressed her gratitude towards CMD Dr Alka Mittal for conceptualizing the first-ever ONGC Youth Meet through which the top management can corelate with the young ONGCians. She asked the young officers to consider abiding by the mantra of “work-life balance, patience, and skill-upgradation”, which will consistently aid them to be the best in their field. She requested all of them to be resilient, which will help in eradicating any hardships they might face in their professional field of experience.

Young officers at the Q&A session with former cricketer Virender Sehwag

Director (Exploration) ONGC Videsh Sanjeev Tokhi stated how he recharged he felt with so much energy in the room, and requested the young officers to take it forward in ONGC’s journey, while wishing them the best.

A short film made by ONGC Corporate Communications on the first day of the ONGC Youth Meet was also screened at the Closing Ceremony, and drew much applause from the audience and members of the EC.

One for the album