‘Graduation is only the beginning of a very challenging journey’

“You live in an era where the Fourth Industrial Revolution and advances in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence are changing our society and workplace. Technology is controlling every aspect of our life, but we must remember that it is a useful servant and a dangerous master”, she said.

“We need to build special capacities in our education system to nurture the students. These capacities will enable the students to meet the challenges of our national mission of transforming the nation into a developed country and ‘Vishwa Guru’. 

The capacities which are required to be built are spirit of research and enquiry, creativity and innovation, use of high technology, entrepreneurial skills and moral values. I am confident that the students who have earned their degrees today will take part in nation building of this great country in a meaningful way”, Mahajan added.

The Special Convocation at SRMIST saw diploma, under graduate, post graduate and doctoral students from Engineering and Technology, Science and Humanities, Medical and Health Sciences and Management being awarded their degrees. 

In all above 6000 students received their degrees, 3850 in person and the rest in absentia. Nearly 140 students received medals for their academic achievements and 41 graduates were awarded the PhD degree.

The honourary degree of Doctor of Science (DSc) was conferred on Padma Shri Dr Mohan Kameswaran, Indian Otorhinolaryngologist and Founder, Madras ENT Research Foundation. 

Dr Kameswaran asked students to cherish the moment but also understand the purpose of life. Maintaining that his dream was for deafness alleviation especially in young children, he recalled an instance some 20 years ago when a young boy of 16 years suddenly lost his hearing ability after a viral fever.

Referred to him after the boy tried to commit suicide, Dr Kameswaran tried what was at that time a rare and expensive surgery - cochlear implant - that in fact restored hearing for the young lad who then went on to become a software engineer.