SPEECH OF HONOURABLE GOVERNOR PUNJAB AND ADMINISTRATOR, UT CHANDIGARH, SHRI BANWARI LAL PUROHIT ON THE OCCASION OF 53RD ANNUAL CONVOCATION OF PUNJAB ENGINEERING COLLEGE CHANDIGARH ON NOVEMBER 2, 2023 AT 11.00 AM
- PRB
- 2023-11-02 13:30
I am glad to be at the 53rd Annual Convocation of Punjab Engineering College (PEC), Chandigarh.
It is fascinating to know about the origin of PEC, one of the oldest and the finest institutes in the country, having completed its 100 years and the first academic institution to come up in the new capital city of Chandigarh in 1953.
I congratulate the entire PEC community, the students, the alumni, their families, the faculty and staff members and the administration whose collective contribution has taken this institution to its present heights.
I believe that two professions form the twin foundations for developing a nation and that are healthcare and education.
Chandigarh as we know, is the one city of India that houses the topmost higher education institutions in both engineering and health care.
We are fortunate to have an institute like PEC which has produced thousands of top notch engineers and scientists, public servants, industrialists, bankers and artists.
PEC’s stellar alumni include, Padma Bhushan Prof. Satish Dhawan, the former Chairman of ISRO; Prof. R.N. Dogra, an eminent educationist and founder Director of Indian Institute of Technology, (IIT), Delhi.
Kalpana Chawla, the first Indian-American astronaut and the first Indian woman in Space also graduated with her bachelor's degree in Aeronautical Engineering from PEC in 1982.
I am happy to note that recently, the Institute has started a Centre for Research Facility to foster its research efforts and has started research and academic programmes in thrust areas identified by the Government of India.
I am sure this new batch of young graduates on whom degrees have been conferred today will carry forward this rich legacy of the institution.
Graduation is a watershed event in one’s life, where students make a commitment to themselves and the society to become intelligent, informed, disciplined, enthusiastic and committed agents of progress.
I extend my wholehearted congratulations to all of you and to proud parents who relish this event with more fondness than the graduating students.
For the students, it is the beginning of a new phase of your life when most of you will enter from your student life into your professional life. From the serene surroundings of your institution, you will make an entry into the actual world. This is going to be full of challenges. But remember, therein lies the real possibilities too.
I have no doubt that you are fully equipped and trained to turn these possibilities into certainties. What is required on your part is the clarity of goal and the determination and resolve to achieve that goal. In the words of Aristotle, “Excellence is never an accident. It is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, and intelligent execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives -choice, not chance, determines your destiny.”
Dear Graduands,
Our scientists, engineers, economists and other professionals have contributed immensely to India’s improved standing on the global stage today.
We have shown the world our brainpower. Indians leave the mark wherever they go. There is hardly a global reputable corporation that does not have a presence of an Indian mind.
Over the past few years, India’s innovation ecosystem has tremendously improved too. India is ranked 40th out of 132 countries among the top innovative economies according to Global innovation Index (GII) 2022.
The success of India’s first Mars mission in the first attempt i.e. indigenously built Mars Orbiter Mangalyaan is a classic example of frugal engineering, in which one-tenth of NASA’s Maven explorer amount was spent. This demonstrates India’s leadership in technology.
Young Friends,
During Amritkaal, you represent the human resource that will take our Bharat to 2047. You are makers of 2047, when the nation will celebrate the centenary of its independence.
As they say, when the youth progress, they do not progress alone, they make the country and society progress with them.
In the knowledge-based economy, intellectual capital has become supreme over production capital. The intangible assets such as human intelligence and ingenuity have become vital for sustainability of organizations.
Industry has production capital. Academia provides the intellectual capital to the industrial organizations. Both these capitals are required to be integrated for the growth of the economy.
The educational institutions need to collaborate with the industry for understanding the emerging needs of the industrial organizations. I believe the industry-institute symbiosis is essential for the integration of intellectual and production capital.
And our youth should possess the blend of 4Cs; curiosity, creativity, collaboration, and commitment. The success of Chandrayaan-3 is a great example of curiosity, creativity collaboration and commitment. Be curious about the world around you, raise questions and try new things. Do not be afraid in taking risks and trying new things. Remember, "There cannot be a greater Guru than competition and the deadliest enemy than fear of failure.
My Dear Young Friends,
Today, I want to underline that as you commit yourself to your professional goals, never forget your larger social responsibility towards your fellow human beings. No matter what you achieve in life, always remain connected to the grassroots.
You should keep close to your heart Mahatma Gandhi’s message of Sarvodaya which means “rise or development of all’ and Antyodaya which means ‘the upliftment of the most deprived’. Gandhiji believed that our ‘swaraj’ or independence is incomplete until we succeed in uplifting the last man and woman of the country.
Remember, you are not only an asset to your profession but also the intellectual wealth of our nation. You are the product of an education system of a new nation born out of an old civilization. Our history, culture and other issues of national importance should excite you. As truly educated beings, you should have a good understanding of these aspects our country. Therefore, read and learn as widely as possible. Be the best citizens of our country, and wherever you go, spread out our civilizational values of Satyam, Shivan, Sundaram (that is, truth, goodness, and beauty), and vasudhaiva kutumbakam (the world is a family).
I am confident that the values and education imparted at PEC have enabled you to become world-class professionals as well as outstanding human beings who would have a hand in making this world much more amicable, egalitarian (bZxSfyVsfj;u), and developed place.
Bharat at 2047, the destiny, is in your hands; Make our Bharat proud !
My best wishes to all the graduating students for their bright future.
Thank you,
Jai Hind.