उपराज्यपाल, दिल्ली
Distinguished Guests, Esteemed Faculty, Proud Parents, and Dear Graduands
Good morning, and a very warm welcome to the 14th Convocation Ceremony of the Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology Delhi. This day marks a milestone, not just in your academic journey, but in the larger journey of your life. It is a day of celebration, reflection, and renewed purpose.
02. At the outset, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the graduating students. You have worked hard, overcome challenges, and today you stand on the threshold of new beginnings. I also congratulate the faculty members who have guided, mentored, and inspired these young minds, and the parents, who have always stood behind them, with faith and encouragement.
03. You are stepping out into a world that is dynamic, complex, and full of opportunities. The times we live in, are shaped by rapid advances in technology, scientific discovery, and digital transformation. Yet, amidst this wave of progress, it is essential to remember, that the true purpose of education extends beyond acquiring knowledge or professional success. Its deeper goal lies in nurturing wisdom, integrity, and compassion - values that define one’s character and one’s contribution to the society.
04. At IIIT-Delhi, you have had the privilege of learning from its exceptional faculty, engaging in pioneering research, and being part of an environment, that values innovation. This Institute has grown to become one of India’s most promising young Institutes.
05. It is a matter of pride to know that in the field of research, several faculty and students have received distinguished awards and fellowships. IIIT-Delhi faculty members have been featured in the top 2% of most influential scientists in 2025.
06. I congratulate the Institute on setting up a new research centre on the campus, the IIITD Centre for Space Technology. I am happy to acknowledge that the campus has signed several MoUs with academic universities in India and globally. Top officials from several other universities visited IIIT-D to establish academic and research collaborations.
07. I am happy to know that IIIT-Delhi's annual flagship events like RIISE 2025, themed "Building in the times of AI," “E-Summit to support young entrepreneurs” and the “Digital Delhi Conclave”, tackled issues like Digital Public Infrastructure and SDG 9. I am sure the Institute will earn more feathers in its cap, in the coming years.
08. The institute’s commitment to excellence has been recognized globally, with rankings that place IIIT-D among the top young institutions in India and beyond. The institute has earned recognition in the NIRF 2025, QS World University Rankings 2025 and the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. Such achievements are a testament to the collective efforts of our students, faculty, and staff, and they inspire us to aim even higher.
09. As you leave this campus today with your degrees, know that you are now part of a global community of around 5,000 alumni. This community is a source of support and inspiration, filled with individuals, who have gone on to make significant contributions in diverse fields. Stay connected with the institute and with each other as you continue to learn, grow, and achieve great things.
10. As you begin your professional journeys, I urge you to remain lifelong learners, for the pace of change in today’s world, demands constant adaptation, curiosity, and creativity. Let your education not end with this convocation, but serve as the foundation for a life, dedicated to continuous learning and purposeful engagement. The truly successful are those, who are flexible, open-minded, and willing to learn from experience and from others.
Never stop learning, because life never stops teaching.
You should always be alert to the fact that:
Thousands of great ideas can’t make you successful,
But execution of one great idea can change your life.
Dear students,
11. True success lies not merely in personal achievements, but in the positive difference, you make in the lives of others. May your work be guided by a deep sense of purpose and responsibility, and may your innovations contribute to building a more equitable, sustainable, and humane world. You will have to instil within yourselves, the capacity to take decisions, how much so ever tough day may be.
बड़े निर्णय लेते वक्त डरना गलत बात नहीं है,
लेकिन डर के कारण, निर्णय ही न लें, ये गलत बात है।
12. As graduates of IIIT Delhi, you carry with you a legacy of excellence and service. I am confident that you will continue to uphold the values of this esteemed institution - of curiosity in thought, commitment in action, and compassion in spirit. The education you have received here is not just about academics; it is about values, ethics, and character. Education opens your mind, broadens your horizon and makes you inclusive. Remember:
जब आप किसी को छोटा देखतें हैं,
तो या तो आप उसे दूर से देखतें हैं, या अपने गुरुर से देखतें हैं।
Friends,
13. Your academic skills and professional achievements must also inculcate in you humility. Humility that teaches you to appreciate others. Humility also inculcates in you the ability to assess yourself critically in the context of society and the country.
याद रखें:
सादगी और विनम्रता कोई तालीम नहीं जो किताबों से हासिल हो,
ये वो संस्कार हैं, जो किरदार में झलकता है।
14. Before I conclude, I would like to draw your attention, especially that of the management and faculty present here, towards what I consider a bothersome trend. Institutions of specialized higher learning in the field of technology, to my mind, should not be producing graduates, who go on to acquire further degrees and jobs in fields, totally outside the field of technology. It is indeed a wastage of national resource, as indeed individual talent, when engineers equipped with degrees in engineering opt to become corporate managers of sales, marketing and finance. It somehow militates against academic integrity, when engineers and doctors choose to become civil servants.
15. While I do not want to get into the larger debate of independence of choice, where the jury is yet out, I would like to reinforce once again, what I have been saying since long. Our scholars of engineering and medicine need to indulge in basic, fundamental and applied research. Only then, will we be, able to create assets that contribute to the larger task of nation building.
16. Our institutions, as indeed our governments, like their counterparts abroad, need to create an ecosystem of research that leads to discoveries and disruptive technologies. Only then, will we be able to bring in and be a part of, what is termed as the forth industrial revolution.
17. In this regard, I would advise the faculty to go beyond the established exercise of research and explore yet unchartered spheres. You should work towards:
Developing Space Technology that enables our Satellites to scuttle collisions with debris of outlived and active satellites- especially if collisions are targeted with hostile intent. There are about 11000 active satellites with a further 30000 debris of old satellites revolving in space, we will have to develop a preventive dome against their collision into each other, and with our planet.
Evolving technology shields for preventing the use of Cloud Seeding as a weapon by elements hostile to India. While Cloud seeding can bring rain and prove to be a boon for parched places, it also has the potential of being deviously used to cause unseasonal rains that destroy crops, cause flash floods and cloud bursts.
Developing Mother Drones, that stationed at a strategic locations, control actions and activities of other drones.
Evolving technologies that make it possible for Aquatic Drones to be developed for under water use.
18. I am sure successful attempts by IIIT Delhi in such direction would help them emerge as a prime institution of fundamental research in Aero-space & Drone Technology by establishing a synergy with Information Technology.
19. Towards the end, I once again congratulate each one of you. This day marks both an end and a beginning - the end of your years as students, and the beginning of your journey as professionals, innovators, and responsible citizens of this country. You may not be able to benefit each and every one with your deeds but you can definitely contribute meaningfully to nation building.
हर पेड़ फल दे, यह जरूरी नहीं,
कभी किसी की छाया भी बाद सुकून देती है
20. May your journey ahead bring pride to your families, glory to your alma mater, and service to the Nation. I wish you all the success.
Thank you
Jai Hind