Farewell Speech to B.Tech. Students of RKGITW, Ghaziabad

(Delivered on 29 April 2013)

Dignitaries on the dais, guests, faculty members  and dear students.

I feel privileged to have been invited on this momentous occasion and get a chance to speak with you.  Dear Students, Remember you are among those selected one million Indians who graduate each year to become engineers in this country of more than 1.2 billion. You will now become part of the knowledge wealth, the demographic dividend of this great Nation. We are proud of you. We are also proud of the fact that our great country produces engineers, whose numbers is more than the total population of more than 68 countries in world, having less than one million people.

Today India has established herself as knowledge superpower and continues to regain her leadership position at the Global Stage. To sustain this unique achievement you will have to make significant endeavour in your future. I am reminded of the famous sage ‘Chanakya’ who wrote in Niti Shastra, “Let not a single day pass without your learning a verse, half a verse, or a fourth of it, or even one letter of it; nor without attending to charity, study and other pious activity”. Chanakya wisely underscored this aspect and promoted learning. He could foresee that if the Government and Citizen alike are well-informed the duties of State can be discharged more efficiently. Today we are transiting through the internet age where information availability has become better and better. Every aspect of our lives is being redefined, refined and recreated by the ‘Information Technology Enabled Services’. It has exposed many a wrongs happening around leading to youth of today becoming more-angry than before.  Such anger is neither good for individuals nor for the country as a whole. You as engineers need to find solutions to such social issues and help bridge the ever expanding schism between communities and income levels. This large country can ill afford creation of islands of prosperity among ocean of poverty. You as women of substance will have to squarely face this challenge and invent workable solutions. The knowledgeable person in you needs to be humble and sensitive to the less privileged people of the society. Only then your knowledge would be appreciated and you will become the engine of emancipation for poor and needy; improving their lives. Chanakya thus advises us to make it a daily habit to learn something and indulge in charity howsoever small and in whatever way you can afford to.

When we passed out of college India was known to be a poor country. The situation has vastly improved since then and you have the opportunity to excel to the level you wish to in India or abroad. Around the world today, you will not be looked down as a poor person from the country of snake charmers. An Indian passport holder is today looked upon as a peace loving, technically superior and hardworking employee. Ensure your actions add more radiance to glory of Incredible India whether at home or abroad. Always remember ‘Excellence with Humility”.

You will be joining various organisations at entry level. In most of the cases this also happens to be the most critical level and your performance may directly influence the profits and prestige of the company you serve. So what is needed from you? Ask me one single attribute and I say, give me a sincere engineer and I need nothing more. That is the request of many a Industry leaders today. So ensure you give your 100% to whatever is assigned to you. Your output at work may fall short of expectations of your superior but your sincerity and teamwork will bridge that gap.

There will be some occasions to celebrate and certain times to face failure in your professional life. Remember ‘Success is never final and Failure is never fatal, it is the courage to continue what counts’. Learn to manage failure and most important fear of failure as that is what destroys many a people. Abraham Lincoln wrote to his son’s teacher, “Teach my son how to win. But most important also teach him how to handle failure.  Also great Martin Luther King said and I quote, “The ultimate measure of a person is not where She stands in moments of comfort and convenience but where they stand at times of challenge and controversy”. Winston Churchill summed up by just saying five words to the convocation ceremony of graduates like you. These five words were, “NEVER NEVER NEVER GIVE UP”.

Another suggestion I wish to make is to focus on self discipline and continuous learning. While self discipline makes you perform rightly even while not being supervised, continuous learning gives you the edge among your peers when you are debating professional issues.  You have to understand that this B.Tech. course has given you a basic foundation over which you will build your future professional image.  I am sure you would like to be known as a person who is current with her profession and needs no knowledge hoarding to be ahead of peers.  A person who practices self discipline and continuous learning seldom faces any professional hardship. They are considered jewels of the organisation and cared adequately.

Avoid gossip and politics at workplace. Very easy to say but most difficult to practice. I have seen many a careers being spoiled due to such ills. Remember, “Wise people discuss issues while it is the dumb who discuss people”.  Never discuss colleagues senior or junior or join a group where such discussion may be on.  Learn to say No when someone pesters you to give your opinion about someone. Also keep your relationship healthy and communication open even while you have to leave an organisation to join another one. 

Lastly, I would request you to reinforce and enhance your respect and care for your parents and teachers. It is because of them that you are what you are today. They have given you the most valuable gift of your life. Opportunity and Knowledge. They made sure you are among the fortunate 1% of this country who are on path of progress without fear of any kind. They have possibly given up their comforts for your tomorrow. So take on from here. Be indebted to your family, faculty and friends in that order, who helped you shape into your present self.

God Bless You Students … Jai Hind.