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Dr. C.N. R Rao delivers Convocation Address at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham

The second convocation of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham Deemed University was held at the Ettimadai, Coimbatore campus on 11 September, 2005. Dr. C.N.R Rao, FRS, Honorary President, Jawaharlal Nehru Center for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore delivered the convocation address. Dr. Rao also holds the Linus Pauling & INSA – Albert Einstein Research Professorship at Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. Sampujya Swami Ramakrishnananda Puri, one of the foremost disciples of Her Holiness Mata Amritanandamayi Devi (AMMA) and Trustee of the Math presided over the function. He also delivered the benedictory address.

219 students were conferred degrees and diplomas during the occasion. This included :

•105 MBA degrees for graduates of Amrita School of Business, Coimbatore

•56 M.Tech degrees for graduates of Amrita School of Engineering, Coimbatore

•13 Post Graduate Diplomas in Journalism (PGDJ) for successful candidates of Amrita School of Journalism, Coimbatore.

•45 MSc Computer Science degrees for candidates from Amrita School of Applied Sciences, Amritapuri, Kollam, Kerala.

23 medals and proficiency certificates were also given to rank holders in the various disciplines. All the graduates were administered a pledge to uphold the values of the university and serve society.

The programme began with an academic procession led by the Chief guest, deans of the university, academic council and board of management members. Brahmachari Abhayamrita Chaitanya, Chief Operating Officer of Amrita University delivered the welcome address and introduced Dr. C.N.R Rao to the august gathering. Dr. Venkat Rangan, Vice Chancellor of Amrita University presented the “State of the University” address. He highlighted the recent initiatives of the Amrita University in research and

societal transformation like the “Village Resource Center” rural transformation project with ISRO, which was inaugurated by the President of India, Dr. Abdul Kalam and the Indo-US agreement in higher education. Five leading American Universities, including the University of California campuses at Berkeley and San Diego, Carnegie Mellon University, Cornell University, and State University of New York at Buffalo, which are ranked among the best universities of the world, will join Indian institutions led by AMRITA Vishwa Vidyapeetham, ISRO, and Department of Science and Technology to enhance science and engineering education in India over the EDUSAT.

In his benedictory address, Swami Ramakrishnananda Puriji said that the graduates were entering a much more responsible phase in their lives. For this phase, they would need awareness, commitment and discipline. Without awareness, life becomes mechanical; without commitment, life becomes directionless and without discipline, nothing can be achieved. “Life will bring its share of unhappiness and depression. AMMA’s childhood life will serve as an important lesson on how to face challenges and unfavorable circumstances."


Quoting AMMA, swamiji said that “Education is not only for earning a living but also for life. At Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, in addition to the education for earning a living, spiritual understanding is also imbibed in the students. This would prepare them to face life”. He prayed to AMMA that the graduates would reflect the universal values like Love, Patience, Humility, Compassion and Equanimity of Mind in their lives.

In his convocation address, Dr. C.N.R Rao said that he had addressed several convocations, but for him, this convocation was unique because of its spiritual nature. Especially at a time, when our age-old traditions were being forgotten. For a person, leading a life in pursuit of science, there would be no time for petty things.

Taking a leaf from Swamiji’s benedictory address, Dr. Rao advised the graduates to develop humility and generosity. And the fact that they had a great role model of generosity in AMMA. All the various institutions of AMMA have come because of Her generosity to society. He also said that if he would give a one-line goal to the graduates, it would be, “Be famous and well known in whatever you do”.

About Dr. C.N.R Rao

Dr. C.N.R Rao is one of the greatest scientists in India and the world. He has more than 1200 research publications in top ranking international journals. He has written 37 books. He is a fellow of more than twenty science academies, which include Royal Society, London, National Academy of Sciences, USA and Russian Academy of sciences. Dr. Rao has received an amazing 37 Honorary doctorates from leading universities in India and abroad. He served the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore as director for more than a decade. The awards and honors that he has received is numerous, Marlow Medal for outstanding contribution to Physical Chemistry, Royal Society Medal, Hughes Medal, Padma Vibhushan, Chevalier Honor from the French President, a few among them. At the national and international level, he has held various important positions, which include Chairman, Science Advisory Council to the Prime Minister; Member, Atomic Energy Commission; Director, Reserve Bank of India; President, International Union for Pure and Applied Chemistry etc. Recently in a function to felicitate Dr. CNR Rao, Dr. Kalam said that the city of Bangalore is on top of the world because CNR Rao lives in Bangalore.