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![IndianExpress Avatar](https://lunarcrush.com/gi/w:24/cr:twitter::38647512.png) The Indian Express [@IndianExpress](/creator/twitter/IndianExpress) on x 4.3M followers
Created: 2025-07-27 09:18:00 UTC

🎓 Dabs, finger hearts & BTS poses at an IIT convocation?

At #IITRopar’s graduation ceremony on July 16, Director Prof Rajeev Ahuja — now fondly dubbed the ‘Pookie Professor’ — became a viral sensation for all the right reasons.

As #students walked up to receive their degrees, Ahuja met them with playful poses: #Messi-style victory walks, Gen-Z hand signs, and even Korean hearts.

But beyond the internet fame lies a deeper story. Since taking over in 2021, Ahuja has quietly reshaped campus culture — from #mentalhealth initiatives and open-door policies to #startup support and student-led clubs.

For Ahuja, a #convocation isn’t a stiff ritual — it’s a milestone meant to be felt. “If I can’t make students feel at home, what am I doing here?” he says.

With roots in #Haridwar and academic stints in #Sweden, he’s bridging generations, one cheerful pose at a time.

From being a “guardian-like figure” to easing #IIT’s high-pressure ecosystem, here’s how one professor redefined leadership — by simply listening.

Click on the 🔗 below to read why IIT Ropar students say they’ll never forget the man behind the shades and smiles


Written by: @divya5521

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