Raipur: Raipur witnessed a momentous occasion on Wednesday as Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan attended the third convocation of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Raipur.
Addressing the gathering, he called upon the graduating students to uphold their responsibility of safeguarding the health, faith, and lives of the people of India with devotion and integrity.
The Vice President reminded the graduates that convocation is not merely a celebration but a solemn occasion of responsibility. In his keynote, he reminded the graduating doctors that their degrees symbolise not only achievement but also responsibility.
“Today you are receiving your degrees, and tomorrow you will be entrusted with an even more valuable responsibility—the health, faith, and lives of the people of India,” he said, urging them to serve with devotion and dedication.
Tracing the journey of AIIMS Raipur since its inception in 2012, the Vice President highlighted its role in bridging regional disparities in healthcare, education, and research across Central India. Within a short span, the institute has become a major tertiary care centre for Chhattisgarh and neighbouring states, extending advanced medical services to rural and tribal communities.
He described the institution as a symbol of Chhattisgarh’s transformation from an era of fear and deprivation to one of peace, progress, and possibilities.
Reflecting on the state’s past challenges, Radhakrishnan noted that difficult terrain, poor connectivity, and left-wing extremism once hindered development. Roads, schools, and hospitals were scarce in remote tribal areas. Today, he said, Chhattisgarh is emerging into a new era of prosperity, thanks to the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai.
“The decades-long Naxalite threat has ended, and areas once known for violence are now known for roads, schools, hospitals, connectivity, investment, and opportunities,” he remarked.
The Vice President praised AIIMS Raipur’s clinical milestones, including the state’s first kidney transplant, a success rate of over 95 per cent in renal transplants, and achievements in corneal and ear transplants. Approval of a heart transplant programme, he said, marks another leap forward in advanced medicine.
He also emphasised balanced development as the cornerstone of India’s vision for 2047, noting that higher education expansion and rising female enrolment—up 42.2 per cent since 2014—are vital indicators of progress.
At the convocation, 376 women and 313 men received degrees. Radhakrishnan urged them to firmly say “no to drugs” and to harness technology for inclusive growth.
“May your knowledge bring health, your research bring innovation, and your service inspire,” he concluded before presenting gold medals and certificates to meritorious students.
(IANS)
