When you complete your degrees and take a
step ahead getting a job or studying further, remember to do your real job that
does not mean your office work rather the job of giving back to society,
explained senior scientist Dr Jeffrey S Kargel in his chief guest address at 7th
IIT (Indian Institute of Technology) Indore Convocation on Saturday.
“This achievement is not yours alone, the
society gave you an opportunity and made you capable, now it is your first job
and responsibility to give back to the society,” Kargel said. He added that all
of us are employed with earth with nature as our boss.
Kargel gave a note of all the Indians who
have won Nobel prize, stressing particularly on Rabindranath Tagore for his philosophies
on raising a child. “Some people’s misguided philosophies deny others persuade
of happiness and life even their grand children,” he said.
He added that in the name of patriotism,
countries are not only ruining their present but the future of their children
and earth. “Service of India includes serving humanity, as Mahatma Gandhi
explained and such should be our patriotism,” Kargel said.
He gave an example of Shilshila Acharya,
who has given jobs to 1260 women in Kathmandu, Nepal to prepare biodegradable
cotton bags. “This replaces the one-time use plastic concept, hence saving
environment and providing livelihood as well,” Kargel said.
He quoted the responsibility of students
towards human live, non-human live and other geographical treasures like
beaches, mountains and water bodies of the world.
Deepak B Phatak, IIT Indore chairman, board
of governors in his address quoted lessons from Upanishad. “You have been
racing against each other to score better, in future your race would to earn
more wealth, but I want you to beware of two possibilities,” he said.
He said that that there is a dangerous possibility
of thinking only in terms of performing better or worse than others, which
could turn things downhill and lead to a miserable life. “Introspect your
goals, life aims and lessons based on bigger goals for the world and don’t just
compete,” Phatak said.
He added that rat race will tempt to compromise
with your moral values. “But you will feel bad even if you win after the
compromise, so develop and practise strong ethical values,” Phatak suggested.
Further, he quoted the role of leader and
asked students to learn to become one by practising generosity.
IIT director Pradeep Mathur presented the
report of the institute and highlighted some projects like Resipocare. He
quoted the news of Prof Ram Mohan from university of Illinois joining the
institute.
Toppers
President of India Gold Medal: Rahul
Choudhary
Best Woman Award: Vanitha Reddy Naina (Msc
Chemistry)
Best All Round Student Award: Shah Vinit
Haresh
Silver medals awarded to:
·
Apoorva Joshi (B Tech Computer
Science Engineering)
·
Bhole Ashish Kiran (B Tech Electrical
Engineering)
·
Badabagni Hitesh (B Tech Mechanical
Engineering)
·
Vanitha Reddy Naina (Msc
Chemistry)
·
Mayank Sharma (M Tech
Mechanical Engineering)
Gold medallist
“I was born in Jaipur. I have been living
in Gurgaon for last 15 years. I already have been placed at Golden Sacks,
Bangalore, so I intend to work there. I might come back for masters in computer
science after gaining some experience. I had newer experiences at IIT Indore,
as it was new too. We had a tinkering lab, where we could work on our ideas
without seeking approval from professors. I had the option of going to IIT
Madras and IIT Bombay, but I was getting computer science at IIT Indore only. I
feel better suited to pursue research in future.”
First chemist from family of farmers Vanitha Reddy Naina (Msc Chemistry)
“I feel very happy. I was confident but not
sure. My father (farmer Teja Rao Reddy) had tears in his eyes. I am the first
in my family to get to this position. When I was in 12th, I saw this as a
dream. I wanted to be different. It is a tough subject and that attracted me to
it. I was born village Loddaputti, Srikakulam, Andra Pradesh. We had financial
problems but my father managed to support me. "
Total graduates
108 B Tech Students
29 M Tech
55 Msc
83 Doctoral