President Murmu Urges IIT Dhanbad Graduates to Champion Innovation with Compassion

The President emphasized the dual responsibility of modern academic institutions: to equip students with knowledge and to instill a sense of societal purpose.

President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, addressed the 45th Convocation of the Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad, today, marking a momentous day for the institution and the graduating class. Held in the vibrant academic environment of IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, the event was graced by dignitaries, faculty, students, and their families, celebrating both academic excellence and a renewed call to nation-building through innovation rooted in empathy.

Celebrating a Century of Legacy and Progress

In her keynote address, President Murmu hailed IIT (ISM) Dhanbad’s century-long legacy. Originally established in 1926 as the Indian School of Mines, the institution was founded with a specialized focus on mining and geological sciences. Over the decades, it has transformed into one of India’s premier technical universities, known today for its multidisciplinary approach, research output, and societal contributions.

President Murmu lauded the institute's ability to remain relevant by expanding its academic reach beyond mining into fields such as computer science, engineering, management, environmental studies, and data sciences. “This institute,” she said, “is not only producing trained professionals but also nurturing innovators and nation-builders who are aligned with the needs and aspirations of our citizens.”

Educational Institutions as Pillars of Societal Growth

The President emphasized the dual responsibility of modern academic institutions: to equip students with knowledge and to instill a sense of societal purpose. “Institutions like IIT-ISM must not only create engineers and researchers of global standards but must also shape responsible, sensitive, and ethical professionals,” she remarked.

Highlighting the role of education in addressing complex global issues, President Murmu identified climate change, resource scarcity, digital disruption, and rising inequality as urgent challenges. In this context, she asserted, “The role of institutes like IIT-ISM becomes even more crucial. They are the guiding lights for our youth and must help find sustainable, inclusive solutions.”

Building a Technological and Equitable Future

Smt. Murmu acknowledged India’s potential to emerge as a global technological leader, driven by its vast pool of human resources and expanding access to digital education. She noted that the increasing focus on technical education is paving the way for India to become an innovation hub. However, she cautioned that innovation must not come at the cost of social equity or environmental sustainability.

To this end, the President urged IIT-ISM and similar institutions to focus on:

• Enhancing industry-academia linkages to foster practical knowledge.

• Promoting a culture of patents and intellectual property, enabling India to become a creator, not just a consumer, of technologies.

• Strengthening start-up ecosystems, especially those driven by young innovators.

• Adopting an interdisciplinary curriculum to cultivate holistic and problem-solving mindsets among students.

A Call for Ethical and Empathetic Innovation

In her closing remarks, President Murmu delivered an inspiring message to the graduating students, calling on them to rise beyond personal ambition and contribute meaningfully to society. “Your education is a tool,” she said, “but how you use it will determine your legacy. Let your knowledge serve as an engine for social change, for environmental sustainability, and for building an inclusive India.”

She envisioned a future shaped not only by innovation and efficiency but by compassion and ethics. “Innovation driven by compassion—not just innovation—makes the world better,” she emphasized, urging the new graduates to embody values of empathy, excellence, ethics, and intelligence in all their pursuits.

A Vision for India’s Youth

The President’s convocation address reaffirmed the government’s larger vision of transforming India's education sector to align with the goals of Viksit Bharat (Developed India). Her speech resonated with the essence of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which advocates flexibility, creativity, industry relevance, and inclusivity in higher education.

As the graduating class steps into the world, her message serves as both a charge and a challenge—to create, contribute, and care. The ceremony concluded with the conferring of degrees, medals, and recognition of academic achievements, amid resounding applause and patriotic fervor.