Young People Should Apply Technical Knowledge for Human Welfare: President Murmu at NIT Jamshedpur Convocation

Jamshedpur: President Droupadi Murmu on Monday called upon young graduates to use their technical knowledge as a means to promote human welfare and inclusive nation-building, while addressing the 15th convocation ceremony of the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Jamshedpur, as the chief guest.

Describing convocation ceremonies as more than celebrations of academic achievement, the President said they mark the beginning of a new phase in life, one that calls for fresh commitments and responsibilities. She stressed that true success should not be defined solely by high positions or professional accomplishments, but by the positive impact an individual’s work has on society.

Referring to national and global challenges, President Murmu said issues such as waste management, sustainability and environmental protection require not only technical solutions but also a broader understanding of social and economic dimensions. She encouraged students to adopt a holistic approach while applying their skills to real-world problems.

The President appreciated the establishment of the Centre for Innovation and Incubation at NIT Jamshedpur, noting that such initiatives play a vital role in strengthening the startup ecosystem and nurturing innovation among young minds. She added that academic institutions should be assessed not just on rankings and placement statistics, but also on the value they add to society.

The convocation ceremony began with the traditional lighting of the lamp by President Murmu, along with Jharkhand Governor Santosh Gangwar, NIT Jamshedpur Director Prof Gautam Sutradhar, Chairperson of the Board of Governors Sunil Alagh and other dignitaries. Prof Sutradhar administered the oath to the graduating students during the ceremony.

Gold medals were awarded to Priyanshu Raj of B.Tech Electrical Engineering and Krishnashtami Mandal of MSc Physics for their outstanding academic performance.

Welcoming the President, Governor Santosh Gangwar recalled Jamshedji Tata’s vision of empowering society through education alongside industrial development, a legacy that NIT Jamshedpur continues to carry forward. He urged students to actively participate in nation-building. State Minister Deepak Birua also congratulated the graduating students and award recipients.

Earlier in the day, President Murmu attended and addressed the closing ceremony of the 22nd Parsi Maha and the centenary celebrations of the Ol Chiki script in Jamshedpur. Speaking on the occasion, she highlighted the rich language, literature and cultural heritage of the Santhal community. She noted that before the creation of a dedicated script, Santhali was written in Roman, Devanagari, Odia and Bengali scripts, often leading to inaccuracies in pronunciation.

The President recalled that Pandit Raghunath Murmu developed the Ol Chiki script in 1925, which later became a powerful symbol of Santhal identity. She also mentioned that on December 25, the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, she had released the Constitution of India in Santhali, written in the Ol Chiki script.

Expressing confidence in the initiative, President Murmu said it would enable Santhali-speaking citizens to read and understand the Constitution in their own mother tongue.

With inputs from IANS