उपराज्यपाल, दिल्ली
Hon’ble Chief Minister, Smt Rekha Gupta ji,
Hon’ble Minister of Education, Shri Ashish Sood ji,
President, Google APAC, & Chief Guest of the occasion, Shri Sanjay Gupta,
Secretary, DTTE Shri Pandurang K Pole,
Vice Chancellor, NSUT, Prof. Anand Shrivastava,
Distinguished faculty, proud parents, and above all, the graduating class of 2025, of Netaji Subhas University of Technology.
My warm greetings to each one of you.
Dear Students,
Today marks a milestone in the journey of this remarkable university and indeed, in your own individual lives. As we gather at the Third Convocation of Netaji Subhas University of Technology, we celebrate, not only academic excellence but the promise of a future. A future, shaped by engineers, who can build a world that is more sustainable, more inclusive, and more humane.
02. “माता भूमिह पुत्रोहम पृथिव्याह।” - Earth is my mother, and I am her son.
All of us should remind ourselves of the tremendous wisdom of this ancient verse from the Atharva Veda. As children of Mother Earth, we will thrive, only when Mother Earth thrives. In its race for technology and development, human kind seems to have overlooked this fundamental truth.
03. However, with a paradigm shift, that is now visible, in our concern for global warming, carbon emissions and focus on reclaiming degraded landscapes, it seems, we have been awakened by Mother Earth just in time. The environment has become central to any discourse around technology or development, as you would see in the UN-COP commitments made by Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi himself.
04. The theme of this year’s convocation - Engineering Education for Sustainable and Inclusive Development - could not be more relevant. We are living in an era, in which every discipline of engineering must address not only innovation, but also sustainability; not only economic growth, but also equity; not only technological advancement, but also environmental responsibility.
Dear Friends, Ladies & Gentlemen,
05. NSUT stands tall today, as one of India’s leading technological universities. Its performance, in national rankings reflects steady growth, deeper research engagement, and a vibrant academic culture. But numbers alone, do not define the strength of this University. What truly distinguishes NSUT, is its commitment to preparing young engineers, who understand that their education, is not merely a passport to professional success, but a tool for nation-building and social transformation.
06. Sustainable and inclusive development is not just a policy objective - it is a moral imperative. We are a nation of immense diversity, enormous potential, and real challenges. Climate change, environmental degradation, uneven access to technology, growing urban demands, and the need for gender-balanced progress - all of these call for engineers, with vision and empathy. This is where your journey begins.
07. Engineering today is at a crossroads. From clean energy systems to smart mobility, from green buildings to responsible Artificial Intelligence, from waste-to-resource technologies, to circular economy models - every sphere of engineering, demands ‘disruptive sustainability’ as its core principle. The world no longer needs solutions that are merely efficient; it needs solutions, that are equitable and ecologically sound.
08. Your education at NSUT has given you exposure to scientific rigour, problem-solving frameworks, and opportunities for innovation. But what makes engineering education truly transformative, is the ability to look beyond the lab, and understand the social context of technology. The most successful engineers of your generation will be those, who think not only of “what can be built,” but also of “what should be built.”
09. In this context, I have said often and I repeat, you must remain sensitive to the world around you. Education that does not bring happiness to someone’s life is of no real value. The teaching of human values cannot be confined to books.
याद रखें:
सादगी और विनम्रता कोई तालीम नहीं जो किताबों से हासिल हो,
ये वो संस्कार हैं, जो किरदार में झलकता है।
10. Inclusive development is equally essential. A sustainable future cannot be built, if large sections of society, remain excluded from progress or from participation in technological growth. Engineering must serve as an equalizer. Whether it is designing accessible public infrastructure, developing cost-effective healthcare technologies, improving digital access for rural India, or ensuring, that our cities and villages benefit, equally from scientific advances - your aim should be to make development, more inclusive.
11. To my mind, the very purpose of an education or degree in engineering or medicine, gets defeated, if an engineer, choses to forego his core competency and opt for, a career in civil services, corporate sales, marketing or finance. I believe, that your aim should be to first apply yourself to the fields of your core competency and if you choose to pursue higher pursuits, they should be in the field of fundamental and applied research. Research, that can provide the country with solutions, for which it is dependent on import of technology.
12. I would also like to highlight here, the crucial role of women in the fields of science, engineering, and technology. Around the world, women engineers, researchers, and innovators are reshaping industries, leading global companies, and pushing the boundaries of scientific knowledge. And yet, women remain underrepresented in many technical domains. For sustainable and inclusive development, this imbalance must be addressed. Empowering women in science and engineering is not only about fairness -it strengthens innovation, broadens perspectives, and accelerates national progress. I encourage NSUT and its graduates to champion gender equity, support women’s participation in STEM, and build environments, where every individual - irrespective of gender - can thrive.
13. The National Education Policy 2020 has rightly emphasized inter-disciplinary learning, ethical grounding, and the integration of Indian Knowledge Systems. These elements are essential in nurturing engineers who can think holistically - who can combine modern science, with the timeless wisdom of sustainability, rooted deeply in India’s civilizational ethos. From water conservation traditions, to architectural principles of energy efficiency, from ancient metallurgical brilliance, to ecological balance embedded in our cultural consciousness, India has always believed in progress, that does not harm the future.
14. Dear Graduating students, as you step out, into a rapidly changing world, remember that engineering is ultimately a service to society. Your work will impact lives - sometimes quietly, sometimes profoundly. The code you write, the systems you design, the structures you build, the technologies you create - all of these must carry the imprint of responsibility.
आए हो निभाने को जब किरदार जमीं पर,
कुछ ऐसा कर चलो कि जमाना मिसाल दे।
15. I call upon you to uphold three qualities in your professional journey ahead:
First, curiosity. Continue learning, adapting, questioning. Technology evolves rapidly - your willingness to keep growing will define your relevance.
Second, compassion. Engineering solutions must work for all, not just the privileged few. Let empathy guide your innovation.
Third, courage. Dare to take the unconventional path. Break new ground. Address problems, others have overlooked. Sustainable and inclusive development requires bold thinkers and brave doers. Remember:
संघर्ष में इंसान अकेला होता है,
सफलता में दुनिया उसके साथ होती है।
जिस-जिस पर ये जग हँसा है,
उसी ने इतिहास रचा है।
16. To the faculty of NSUT, I must say, that your dedication has shaped these young minds. Dear parents, your sacrifices, encouragement, and faith have carried them, to this proud moment. And to the graduates -today is both a culmination and a beginning. Carry your knowledge with humility and your ambition with integrity. And as you move ahead in your professional lives, never lose the curiosity and willingness to change and adapt to different ideas.
Never stop learning, because life never stops teaching
17. As you step forward into the world, as your Chancellor, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to you all. May your careers be fulfilling, your innovations transformative, and your contributions enduring. I conclude with the words of one of India’s greatest sons, Swami Vivekanand:
संघर्ष से मत डरो।
जितना बड़ा संघर्ष होगा,
उतनी ही शानदार जीत होगी।
Thank You.
Jai Hind!