India's Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has said that research and innovation in a sense are key to the attainment of a goal of a developed nation. How high India is in the field of research and innovation will define its prowess to the global community.
Addressing the fourth Convocation of the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Delhi, he stated that it will give cutting edge to our soft diplomacy. He further urged educational institutions to harness their potential as “crucibles of innovation and research” and called upon corporate entities to support this mission through substantial contributions.
He stressed, “Associations of trade, industry, business, and commerce must come forward to fuel research and spur innovation through liberal financial contributions.”
Dhankhar spoke on the crucial role of alumni in strengthening the educational ecosystem, urging active participation and contributions to alumni associations. He remarked, “I strongly urge to have an alumni fund making annual contributions is all important. Some of the best institutions globally have been on an upward trajectory because these institutions are fueled by alumni energy.”
Dhankhar also emphasised that education is not commerce but a service to society. “You must serve. It is your duty, and divine ordainment to pay back to the society, and the best way to pay back to the society is to invest in education.”
He added that investment in education is an investment in human resources, an investment in the present, and in future. It is through education that we discover our glorious past of thousands of centuries, he stated.
