Sambalpur, Sep 7: Education becomes truly meaningful when it is complemented by practical skills, former Union Education Minister and Member of Parliament Dharmendra Pradhan said at the 36th Convocation Ceremony of Sambalpur University.
Addressing the graduating students, Pradhan emphasized that the knowledge and skills acquired at university should empower young people to fulfil their responsibilities towards society.
He noted that when individuals understand and discharge their responsibilities, they can contribute to protecting the rights and ensuring the well-being of thousands of people around them.
Pradhan extended his heartfelt congratulations to all students who earned undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, as well as those who received gold medals for their outstanding academic achievements.
Pradhan said the world is passing through a period of profound transformation driven by disruptive technologies and artificial intelligence. In this rapidly changing environment, he stressed the importance of combining deep reading and learning from libraries with the responsible use of emerging technologies such as AI and ChatGPT.
Highlighting Odisha's rich historical heritage, Pradhan referred to the ancient archaeological and rock-art evidence associated with Asurgarh and Bhim Mandali in Bargarh.
He said that thousands of years of civilisation in the Mahanadi basin provide scientific evidence of the region's remarkable and ancient cultural legacy.
He urged the graduating youth not to restrict their aspirations merely to personal or family advancement. Instead, they should take responsibility for carrying Odisha's glorious heritage forward while contributing to the larger development of the state and the country.
Pradhan particularly called upon the younger generation to shoulder a major responsibility in building the Odisha of the future. With 2036 marking the centenary of the formation of Odisha as a separate province and 2047 marking 100 years of India's independence, he said the youth must play a leading role in shaping both Odisha and a developed India.
He also expressed confidence that Sambalpur University would strengthen its position as a leading institution in the country by working closely with the National Research Foundation and contributing to research, social studies and skill development.
He hoped that the university's students would emerge as an important intellectual force for the nation.
The convocation ceremony was attended by Odisha Governor Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati and Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj, among other dignitaries.
