Rourkela: Gracing the 18th Annual Convocation of Rourkela National Institute of Technology (NIT) today here in the steel city, Indian President Ram Nath Kovind reminded the students of the famous talisman of Father of Nation Mahatma Gandhi and advised them to become a good citizen first and contribute to nation-building by bringing change in the lives of the needy and poor countrymen.
In his keynote address, the President said, “Graduation is an important stepping stone in your life. I’m sure all of you have worked very hard to reach this stage today. Contribute to the world and bring change in the lives of the people.”
He added, “There is a huge responsibility on each one of you to pay back to the society and country which have contributed to your education and success so far. I urge you all to introspect what are the values and principles you stand for and what is kind of career you want to pursue. By far the most important point of introspection is what kind of person you want to become. I’m sure everyone wants to be a good citizen, a citizen who always keeps the interest of the country uppermost in his mind.”
“I would like to suggest to look throughout your life at the famous talisman of Mahatma Gandhi. I advise you to never judge your success only in terms of material gains,” the first citizen of India stressed.
While initiating his speech, President laude, “This area of today’s Odisha has been immensely rich in history and culture. It has been the cradle of the scientific approach since early times. Built about 800 years ago, the Sun Temple of Konark is an example of perfect blend of art and science. It’s listed among UNESCO’s world heritage sites in India.”
He further said, “It was here in Rourkela that one of my illustrious predecessors, Dr Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India, dedicated to the nation the first blast furnace of large steel plant in India. As one of the first urban centres in India, the city has kept pace with modernization.”
He added, “As the second-largest government-run technology institute in eastern India, NIT, Rourkela has made significant contribution to the field of engineering and technology. For over six decades, this engineering collage has been enriching the pool of technical professionals in the country. In 2002, it was given the status of national institute of technology.”
“I’m pleased to know that NIT, Rourkela has students from all over India and also from other countries. There are students from 33 out of the total 36 states and union territories in India. I’m told that students of 17 different countries are also enrolled in various academic disciplines. Thus, the community of over 7000 students is studying in this beautiful 700 acres of campus that represent rich diversity. I’m sure that the students graduating today will strengthen the rich legacy of this institute,” the President of India remarked.
On the occasion, the President of India decorated seven meritorious engineering graduates and postgraduates with gold medals out of them were three girl students.
Earlier, Odisha Governor Prof Ganeshi Lal felicitated and gave away citations to the illustrious alumni of the then Regional Engineering College (REC)-cum-NIT at present.
Prominent among others, Union Petroleum & Natural Gas and Steel Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Odisha Health and Family Welfare Minister Naba Kishore Das, Sundargarh MP Jual Oram and Rourkela NIT Director Prof A. Biswas also shared the dais with the President of India.
Soon after the function at NIT, the President, Governor, Union Steel Minister, Odisha Health Minister, local MP and other dignitaries left the campus for the inauguration of the upgraded Super Specialty Hospital in the campus of Ispat General Hospital (IGH) of Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) here in the city.
