India's ad wizard Agnello Dias speaks at Chowgule College Founder’s Day

Panaji, 27th August 2013: As a tribute to its founder Vishwasrao Chowgule, Chowgule College celebrated Founder Day at the college campus. This year the college hosted ad wizard Agnello Dias, Chairman of Taproot India, the country’s most awarded advertising agency at the college campus to interact with students. 

Widely known as Aggie, Agnello Dias is a Goan hailing from the village of Sarzora in south Goa who has today grown to be one of the leading names in the advertising world. Some of Agnelo’s popular ad campaigns include the Nike ad with the popular Bebdo song by Lorna, Airtel’s foot - tapping Har ek friend zaroori hota hai, Times of India’s Aman ki Asha campaign and the Mumbai Mirror campaigns amongst others. Having worked at some of the most prestigious ad agencies like JWT, Lowe Lintas and Leo Burnett  today Agnello Dias is the proud Chairman and Co-founder of Taproot India. His name has figured in the 100 Most Creative People in Business list for 2013 compiled by US-based Fast Company magazine. Dias, is the only Indian on the list. His company, Taproot India also received the Creative Agency of the Year at Ad Fest 2013 held in Thailand. In 2012, the Gunn Report which details the most successful print and television advertising campaigns of the year mentioned Taproot as the No. 1 creative agency in India.

Speaking about his journey through life, Agnello Dias shared his personal stories of success and trials with the students. Said Agnello Dias. Chairman and Co-Founder, Taproot India “Always wonderful to come back to Goa.  It was an interesting experience sharing my personal journey with the students of Chowgule College, this is the first time I have been asked to speak about my life."

To mark the celebration of Founder’s Day, Chowgule College every year gives away five special awards to the staff members and students who have contributed their dedication and hard work towards betterment of the college and society. Shrikrishna Adsul received an award for Excellence in Research & Consultancy, Prof. Andrew Barreto for Outstanding Performance in extracurricular activities related to students. The award for Best General Administration and Accounts to Doreen C. De Souza and Dayanand R. Vasta received an award for the best support staff. The prestigious Hira Wagh Award was presented to Gauravi Keni for all round excellence in academics extracurricular activities and sports.

Founder’s Day celebration is an annual fixture on Chowgule College’s calendar of events. Regarded as one of the pioneer of industrialization in the state, Sri Vishwasrao Chowgule fought against the odds to create what he believed in. A philanthropist at heart, he founded Smt. Parvatibai Chowgule College in the year 1962. He had a clear vision for the college and was committed to advancement in the field of education. Founded in memory of his mother, the college was inaugurated by a woman, the then External Minister Mrs. Lakshmi Menon on 23rd June 1962. Since then the college has come a long way under the able guidance of the trustees of the Chowgule College Society and has achieved numerous milestones in the field of education, sports, academics and cultural events.
 
Says Dr. R. V Gaonkar, Principal, Chowgule College, “We at Chowgule College thought of inviting individuals who have extraordinary stories to share. Our aim is to enable the staff and students to get inspired by the personal stories of individuals who have gone on to be achievers in their own chosen fields.”

Chowgule College has over the years invited various achievers from across the country to interact with its students. Chetan Bhagat, Nandita Das, Viswanathan Anand and Geet Sethi among others have been speakers at the college.