57th convocation Speech at IIT Kanpur by Shri Rajesh Prasad on 29.06.24 2

57th Convocation speech by Rajesh Prasad at IIT Kanpur.
The youtube link is at :
https://youtu.be/7oNpTdxKzv8?feature=shared

1. 57
th
Convocation Speech at IIT, Kanpur on 29.06.2024
by Shri Rajesh Prasad, Director/Operations, RVNL


Very Good Afternoon to all the distinguished Faculty members, Organisers of 57
th

Convocation, dear young engineers- graduating, post graduating, few getting Ph.D
and very proud parents…

I am deeply honoured and privileged to be part of this Event.

I still remember, and have fond memories of Lecture Hall (L-7). The first time, in L-7,
we had an introduction session with the then Director Dr. Sriniwasa Sampath – in
June,1983 – India had won the World Cup just before that (It was an inspiration –
strength of teamwork). Dr. Sampath had then said – All IITs are equal but IIT, Kanpur
is more equal.

For all the young aspiring engineers, the proud parents and also for me – it is a
nostalgic moment, proud moment – I cherish this moment, and never would forget
the moment.

Munhsi Tulsi Das has said in the Ramcharitmanas:-

अबिगत अकथ अपार, नेतत नेतत तनत तनगम कह'

अर्थात:- कुछ अनुभव इतने आलौककक, इतने अनंत होते हैं की उन्हें शब्दों से व्यक्त नह ं ककयथ जथ
सकतथ। And this moment is one such moment, which I am completely at a loss for
words to express adequately.

On this occasion, I greet all the faculty members, teachers, related staff of IIT Kanpur
for their immense contribution in shaping and sharpening the young minds. I also
take this opportunity to congratulate all young engineers. When I got a mail for -
“Guest of Honour” for this event, I was excited and thrilled, but then, I was
wondering– what thought should I communicate. Yesterday, I had a two hours session
where I presented my experience and few motivational stories to faculty members and
students. But for this occasion – I have selected the topic – Help India to make
Developed India (ववकससत भथरत).
आजथद के अमृत महोत्सव से ववकससत भथरत की और हम सब अग्रसर हो चुके हैं, That is why
this topic becomes more relevant and important.

Dear Young friends, you are now nurtured and designed with a different mindset. If
you desire which I am sure, all of you, to be successful, always think big and think
differently, think positively. Thinking is a skill that must be learnt and practised
regularly. Always dream big and think positively. Lateral thinking is always more
important than the knowledge, we acquire in our lives.

2. In simple terms:- THINK stands for :-

T- Tactful, Take charge (All of you are going to be leaders).
H – Hardworking, Honest, Hopeful, Helpful and Happy
I – Inspiring, Integrity, Imaginative
N – Noteworthy, Nicest, Natural
K – Kind to everyone, including old parents, knowledge, keen

Dear Young Friends, always take care of aging parents and keep on getting their
blessings. It will always help you in moving forward, moving upward, moving onward
in your life and also in your esteemed career in time to come.

Also remember, we need little madness to achieve success. Imagination is the
beginning of creation, so as I said, dream big, think big, success will automatically
follow you.

In our lives, we have got plenty of problems and there is not even a single problem of
which solution is not available in Bhagvad Gita (having 18 Chapters 700 Shlokas).

Success and failure are part of life, do your best to reach out to your goal. I will cite
two shlokas today.

Chapter -18 – Shloka 26

मुक्तसङ्गोअहंवादी धृत्युत्साह समन्ववत:

(संज्ञथ आसक्क्त से रहहत। समथ्यथ अहंकथर से रहहत। धैया और । उत्सथह। से युक्त।

जो करतथ भौततक आसक्क्त से रहहत, समथ्यथ व अहंकथर से रहहत धैया व उत्सथह से युक्त, कथया की
ससद्धध व अससद्धध में हर्ा - शोक आहद ववकथरों से रहहत है वह सथक्त्वक कतथा कहथ गयथ है।

ससद्धयससदद्योतनर्विकार: कर्त्ाि सान्त्वक उच्चच्चयते।

(ससद्धध अससद्धध में (सफलतथ, असफलतथ में। ववकथरों से रहहत। ऐसथ कर्त्था सथक्त्वक कहथ जथतथ है।
Success is not built on success. It is built on failure. Sometimes it is built
on frustration. Sometimes it is built on catastrophe. So, once again I repeat,
think big, dream big and try big.

- Prioritize value over volume
- Get through your ‘TO DO’ List

3. Dear Young friends, you all are born and now nurtured and designed as
leaders and you have to lead and set examples to get success.

Chapter -3, Shloka-21
यद्यदाचरति श्रेष्ठस्ित्तदेवेिरो जनः ।
स यत्प्रमाणं कुरुिे लोकस्िदनुवितिे ॥

श्रेष्ठः तर्त् + तर्त् एव इतर:

श्रेष्ठ पु�र् जो जो आचरण करतथ है, सथमथन्य लोग भी वैसथ वैसथ आचरण करते हैं, वह जो कुछ प्रमथण
कर देतथ है, सथरथ समुदथय उसी कथ अनुसरण करने लगतथ है।

Follower follows whatever leader follows, follower may not follow whatever
leader merely says. Find extra time and listen better to become a top class
leader.

A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way.
Do not wait for opportunity, create it……… John Maxwell

- Always remain focussed and flexible. The key to success in your
endeavours is to focus on goals rather than obstacles. COVID-19 has
taught us so many things – Convert-Crisis into Opportunities, as done in
RVNL.
- Always take care of your conduct, behaviour and altitude, these three
qualities will make you true professional.
- You all need to be healthy and fit. Take examples of the various
leaders in various fields – all are fit. The greatest wealth is health.

He who has health, has hope and he who has hope, probably has
everything….

Alvin Toffler (American Writer and Futurist) had said:-

“Learn, Unlearn, Relearn” with passage of time.

- Dear friends, you must have clarity in thoughts and actions. – Be master of
mind games and negotiation skill.
- Secret of success is passion, always be passionate.
- Spread love & joy – to have blissful life.

4. When child is empowered by parents – child transforms to a responsible citizen.
When teachers - (faculty members at IIT, Kanpur) empower with knowledge
– Good human beings take shape.

Biography of Late Milkha Singh – (Flying Sikh) …….Last page states that

समटा दे अपनी हस्ती को, अगर कुछ मतििा चाहे |
कक दाना खाक में समलकर गुले गुलजार होता है ……अल्लाम इकिाल

" ऐ जीव, यहद तू कुछ प्रथप्त करने कथ इच्छुक है, तो अपने अक्ततत्व को अर्थात अपनी अहंतथ (अहंकथर)
को पूर तरह समटथ दे:
अहंकथर की भथवनथ जीव के उपथजान को पल भर में नष्ट कर देती है।

Always think of the teamwork, it divides the task – multiplies the success.

At the end,,,,
�पं देहह जयं देहह यशो देहह द्ववर्ो जहह

Please grant us beauty, please grant us victory and please destroy one’s inner enemies.

सवे भववतु सुखखनः सवे सवतु तनरामया,
सवे भद्राखि पश्यवतु मा कन्श्चद् दुख भागभवेत I
May all be happy, may all be without disease, may all look for well-being of
others, may none have misery or any sorrow.

All the best for future endeavours and always remember to
‘Help India to make Developed India’.

Jai Hind, Jay Bharat.