IIT Palakkad hosts 5th convocation
The convocation ceremony for the graduating batch of 2023 took place at IIT Palakkad's Agora Auditorium, Nila Campus, Kanjikode on 22 July 2023. A total of 293 degrees were awarded to students from various programs, including Ph.D., M.Tech, M.Sc, MS, and B.Tech. Notably, this included 18 doctoral degrees in both science and engineering fields. The esteemed Chief Guest for the event was Shri S Somanath, the Chairman of ISRO and Secretary of the Department of Space. Shri Ramesh Venkateswaran, Chairman of the Board of Governors, IIT Palakkad, and Prof. A Seshadri Sekhar, Director of IIT Palakkad, presided over the ceremony. This marks the institute's fifth batch of graduates successfully completing their academic journey.
During his captivating and inspiring convocation address, Shri Somanath provided valuable insights to the graduates, guiding them on utilizing their education for personal growth, organizational advancement, and contributing to India's overall progress. He emphasized the crucial role of passion, urging the graduates to be exceedingly passionate in their pursuits, and to set high standards and dream big rather than settling for mediocrity. “Accomplishments don't happen accidentally, it is a result of conscious action,"added him. He expressed the belief that India's advancement as a powerful nation relies heavily on harnessing the potential of science and technology. Creating a new India requires substantial and intentional efforts, and the emergence of technology-driven institutions is essential to better serve the people of the nation.
He shared his life lessons with the graduands emphasizing the need to identify and explore areas with vast innovation potential and the need to compete with oneself with total commitment. He urged students to stay grounded as they achieve success in their lives.
Prof. A Sesadri Sekhar presented the major achievements and progress made by the institute in the last academic year. He urged the students to utilize their knowledge and accomplishments for the greater good and unity of the country.
During the ceremony, Professor Sekhar conferred degrees upon all the graduates in attendance, while Shri Somanath presented medals to students for their scholastic achievements. Notably, Mr. Gautham Giri from the Department of Civil Engineering received the prestigious Institute Medal for being the best B.Tech student, while Ms. Sheena Shaji, an MTech student in Geotechnical Engineering, was honored with the Institute Medal for being the best MTech student. The Institute Medal for the best MSc student was awarded to Mr. Debasish Dutta from the Department of Physics. It is worth mentioning that among the medal winners for the highest CGPA, five out of thirteen students were women, and nearly half of the doctorates were awarded to women candidates. This highlights the institute's commitment to gender diversity and equal opportunities.
Overall, the convocation ceremony celebrated the graduates' achievements and inspired them to make significant contributions to their respective fields and for the development of the society.
