Cuttack, September 1: Sri Sri University today celebrated its Second Convocation in the presence of Mr. Naveen Patnaik, the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Odisha as the Chief Guest, Mr. Pradeep Kumar Panigrahy, Hon'ble Minister, Department of Higher Education and Mr. Savji Dhanji Dholakia, a leading industrialist as Guests of Honour and Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, a humanitarian and a spiritual leader and the founder, Sri Sri University.
81 MBA graduates received their certificates; six were awarded gold medals for outstanding performance under various specializations. Two students, Mr. Seetharaman, Chairman, Doha Bank, Dubai and Ms. Suseela Rani, Assistant Professor, Lendi Institute of Engineering & Technology, Andhra Pradesh, received their Ph.Ds. They have the distinction of being the first doctorates to graduate from Sri Sri University.
Opening the convocation, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said, “Three qualities are essential to succeed in life: passion, stability and strength. There can be no achievement without passion, or a vision. Along with a vision, you also have to have stability, your emotions must be stable otherwise your dreams will keep changing and it doesn’t lead you anywhere. For this you have yoga, pranayam and meditation. An attitude of selflessness or service to society also brings stability. You also need to be strong physically, mentally and spiritually. Knowledge and experience bring stability. The whole world is your university, so learn from everybody,” quoting the Upanishads.
The detailed transcript is as follows: Holding hands to higher education is essential.
“It’s such a joy to see this university coming up with such flying colours. For the youth who are outgoing I would tell you today we have a galaxy of people who are here to inspire you. Keep three things in mind. One is to have passion, second- Be stable and Third- Be strong. There are people who have strength who need to be stable so Upanishad says आशिष्ठो दृढिष्ठो बलिष्ठ: (ashishto, dridhasto, balishta). Have passion and vision and also have dreams. Unless you have dreams you will not achieve anything. Those who have dreamt of something big achieved and contributed to the world.
With dreams you need to have stability in life, your emotions must be stable or you will be changing dreams. If you are over ambitious that’s what you will do. You will ignore your strengths and weakness but keep dreaming which does not lead you anywhere, only to depression.
Along with the dreams you need to be stable, so for that you have learnt yoga and pranayama. And an attitude to serve the society also brings stability and selflessness. Be strong mentally emotionally and spiritually.
If you are weak you can’t achive anything. To achieve the highest be strong. To become strong there is nothing like knowledge. Knowledge and experience are strengths in life. To gain that never stop learning, learn from everybody. Teaching is also learning. As you start teaching and you keep learning more and more. Remember आशिष्ठो दृढिष्ठो बलिष्ठ: (ashishtho, dridhishtho, balishtha). Have vision and dream. Be stable in life and be strong.
The world is your university that’s why it’s called Vishwa Vidyalaya . The whole world is your university, learning never stops keep learning and encourage others to come and learn. With these few words I wish you all the best and all the parents and everyone here. Remember there is an educational paradise here. Send children to get good sanskara, good education, let’s make the world and the nation proud.”
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CM Naveen Patnaik at the Convocation
Speaking on the occasion, Mr.Naveen Patnaik expressed his gratitude towards the contribution made by Gurudev towards holistic education.
“We want our new generation to be both economic and social entrepreneurs. Our students must be able to dream big and contribute on a global scale. As Gandhiji said,”you have to be the change you want to see in society”. Always try to believe in yourself, you are the sole makers of your destiny,” he said, addressing the graduating students.
Minister of Higher Education and Guest of Honour, Mr.Pradeep Panigrahy stressed on the importance of higher education and its value to overall development of a society. Guest of Honour and Founder Hari Krishna Exports, Mr.Savji Dholakia, spoke about his experience as a business leader and the importance of commitment and focus in achieving success.
Presenting a report on the milestones achieved by the University since commencement in 2012, Vice Chancellor Dr.Nand Lal announced the launch of
several new courses in the next academic year including two-year Master’s programmes in Mathematics, Statistics, Sanskrit, Philosophy, a two-year Bachelor’s program in Education, three-year Bachelor’s programme in Tourism and Travel Management and four- year Bachelors programme in Fine Arts (BFA) .
The varsity is also starting programmes in Architecture, Journalism and Osteopathy. The programme in Journalism has a target to create ethical and effective journalists and the B.Ed programme has been designed to create dynamic teachers who can offer the best of modern technology along with ancient wisdom.
The University also awarded honorary Ph.Ds to outstanding individuals in various fields Mr.Ramoji Rao (Founder, Ramoji Group), Mr.Mahesh Gupta(CMD, Kent RO Systems Ltd) and Mr.Binod Chaudhary (President, Chaudhary Group).
A Convocation Brochure was released by the University to mark the occasion. The Convocation was attended by industry leaders, senior bureaucrats and media personalities.