THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, DELHI
Hon’ble Madam Justice, Gita Mittal ji,
Chancellor, Jindal Global University, Shri Naveen Jindal ji,
Vice Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) C. Raj Kumar
Esteemed Members of the Faculty, Distinguished Guests,
Beloved Graduating Students and Families, Ladies and Gentlemen.
A very good morning to all of you.
01. It is a matter of privilege for me, to be delivering the Convocation Address, on the occasion of 14th Convocation, of the O.P. Jindal Global University. Convocations, indeed are momentous events, more so, for the students and their families.
02. Dear Students, today onwards, you will walk into a life, hitherto unchartered. Per our ancient traditions, you have today completed the phase of गुरुकुल and await your दीक्षांत. At the outset, as you move ahead in your life, I convey my best wishes to you.
03. Your achievements, which we celebrate today, are not just limited to you, your family, and your institution, but they are the achievements of our country. The future of India, depends on young educated youth, like you.
04. I would also like to congratulate the faculty, management of the University, parents and guardians on this occasion. Without your unwavering guidance and support, these young brilliant minds, would not have achieved, what they have today.
05. Friends, in a short span of 15 years, O.P. Jindal Global University has evolved into a center of excellence. I can imagine the hard work that must have, gone into shaping this institution. I take this opportunity to also congratulate the Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor and the faculty of the University for this achievement.
किसी ने सही कहा है:
कौन बताता है समंदर का रास्ता नदियों को,
जिन्हे मंज़िल का जूनून है, वो मशविरा नहीं लेते।
06. Ladies & Gentlemen, as I see the sparkling eyes of the young brilliant minds, present here, I see a sparkling future for the country. The students gathered here have completed their courses successfully, in Law, Public Health, Literature, Environment & Sustainable Development.
07. All these disciplines, are those where, their practitioners, will get a huge opportunity to shape the nation’s trajectory. I am sure that all of you will succeed brilliantly, in the professions that you now, go on to pursue. But even as you move ahead, remember that the education you have received here is not just about academics; it is about values, ethics, and character.
चरित्र को पवित्र करने का कोई इत्र नहीं होता,
इंसान अपने किरदार से खुद महकता है।
Dear friends, you have the privilege of graduating from such prestigious institution. In your professional career ahead, you would be competing with many others who did not have access or opportunities of studying in famed universities, like yours. It is my advice that you never under-estimate them; they can be equally competent and productive. It is said:
जब आप किसी को छोटा देखते हैं,
तो या तो आप उसे दूर से देखते हैं, या अपने गुरूर से देखते हैं।
08. Even as, you proceed to excel professionally, to my mind, there is a larger national and global concern that should occupy your mind space. An education or a career that does not bring happiness to the people, particularly to the marginalized ones, is, to my mind, not a successful one. Empathy, should be the pole star in all your endeavors, even when, you pursue your own ambitions.
मेरा मानना है:
होंगी तुम्हारे पास जमाने भर कीडिग्रियाँ,
अगर छलकती आँखों को न पढ़ पाए, तो अनपढ़ हो तुम।
09. We are living in times that are unprecedented. What was pragma earlier, is increasingly becoming dogma. We are witnessing a public discourse, wherein, the very idea of India as a Nation is being questioned by people in responsible positions. This is being done by very deliberately, deepening our historical, social, cultural and geographical fault lines.
10. To say that, as a Nation or a civilization, we did not have fault lines, would be denying the truth. However, the founders of modern India, very consciously and after much deliberation, chose to adopt a Constitution, that aimed at cementing these fault lines. Leaders like Baba Saheb Amebdkar, Sardar Patel, Dr. Rajendra Prasad and Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee among others, led the unprecedented exercise of converting a civilizational nation state, into a political nation state.
11. Caste, class, creed, religion, region, culture and geography, were all very meticulously woven into a civilizational idea that was India - Bharat. We created an indestructible Union of India.
12. The years that followed after our Constitution came into effect, witnessed many a challenges. We witnessed separatist tendencies, communal and caste riots, class violence and threat to our national sovereignty. However, we weathered it all, and emerged stronger, as a nation, during the almost eight decades after independence.
13. I will not be off the mark, if I were to assert that, this process was achieved mainly, by ironing out and cementing our historical fault lines. This process was largely bi-partisan. All major political parties, the intellectuals, the civil society and Indians at large participated in this महायज्ञ of nation building.
14. It is unfortunate, that we are today witnessing, a well thought out, deliberate exercise of undoing India. Needless to say, this dubious exercise is supported by elements, who never wanted a strong, self-sufficient and secure, sovereign India.
15. Dear Students and the intellectuals present here, as we move ahead, let us give these issues a serious thought. Let us put things in perspective, and chart our way, ahead as a nation.
16. Ladies & Gentlemen, as the Lt. Governor of Delhi, it gives me great pride to note, that the NCR region is not just confined to economic activity, but has also emerged as the intellectual Capital of India. Jindal Global University’s success and that of various other centres of higher learning in the area, underlines that we are, indeed, becoming a hub for education and innovation.
17. To this end, I am happy to inform you that we are developing a new education hub in Delhi, at Narela. Many of you would know that, Narela is right in your neighbourhood. I hope that the upcoming education hub, which will house many a government universities, will also see, robust participation of private institutions.
18. It is my endeavor, to see greater collaborations between institutions in Delhi - government as well as private. I hope to see a free flow of knowledge, a vigorous exchange of ideas and productive partnerships, all of which will strengthen the nation’s academic fabric.
19. Dear students, your Graduating degree brings with it accountability and responsibility. By all means, strive to excel and succeed, and at the same time, always remember that you need to contribute to the society and the nation. Your academic skills and professional achievements, must also inculcate in you humility. Humility that teaches you to appreciate others and also inculcate 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।
20. Dear Friends,
India is witnessing a paradigm shift. Under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, we are emerging as one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, a leader in digital innovation, a champion for sustainable development, and a voice for the voiceless on the international stage.
21. A lot depends on what our youth chooses to do with their lives. You have many options. You can start businesses that create jobs. You can do public service and strengthen governance. You can work to uplift the most vulnerable and marginalized communities. You can work for environmental protection. You can work to actualize the intent of our Constitution, and you can work to preserve our heritage.
22. The choices are yours alone to make, but the foundation for you making the right choice has been laid here at JGU. I am of the firm view that an institution excels when it produces scholars and professionals that contribute meaningfully to nation building.
23. Your parents deserve the deepest respect, I salute them. They are the force behind your success, their sacrifices must be remembered on all days of your life. They believed in you and brought you to this wonderful moment.
24. To the professors, who have shaped these young minds, your contribution is immeasurable and priceless, you are the architects of this intellectual edifice.
25. Coming back to you, Dear Graduating Students, you are stepping into the larger world. You are equipped with knowledge and skills. You have courage and conviction. You have the discipline to make new paths. If you combine all these, the world will be yours.
मुबारक हो सीढ़ियां उन्हें,
जिन्हे छत पर जाना है
आसमां से आगे है मंज़िल मेरी,
मुझे रास्ता खुद बनाना है।
Go ahead and make this country proud, make yourself proud, make your parents proud. The opportunity is literally in your hands. Make the most of this opportunity. Remember:
भाग्यशाली वो है, जिसे अवसर मिलता है,
प्रतिभाशाली वो है, जो अवसर पैदा करता है
विजेता वो है, जो अवसर का उपयोग करता है।
26. I pray that you will serve our nation and greater humanity with empathy and honor. Congratulations, God bless you all.
Jai Hind.
****