Attending as chief guest at the 10th convocation of the KIIT University here on Saturday, Noble laureate Physiology or Medicine (1998) Prof Ferid Murad advised the graduates to set long-term career goals and work hard to achieve them.
“You are living in a challenging time when the world, especially with respect to science and technology, is changing incredibly fast and you have to be prepared for it,” he stated.Stressing on the supreme importance of education, he said quality of life is a function of education. The Nobel laureate advised the graduates not to forget their parents, families and society, who all supported them.
The university honoured five eminent personalities from different walks of life with Honoris Causa degrees such as social activist and Banchte Shekha founder and executive director, Bangladesh, Angela Gomes, Padma Vibhushan Dr Sitakant Mahapatra and IPl Chairman Ranjib Biswal. Padma Vibhushan danseuse Sonal Mansingh received the Honoris Causa Dlitt announced by the university last year.
Accepting his honorary DSc degree, Prof Murad said the KIIT is remarkable in supporting free education for thousands of poor students. The honour was conferred to him in recognition of his great contribution in the field of medical research and use of nitric oxide to cure pulmonary hypertension in premature babies, wound healing and endothelial dysfunction with atherosclerosis.
“The KIIT’s honour will encourage me to work for oppressed women and children with new strength and energy,” said Angela Gomes. A Ramon Magsaysay laureate, Gomes was conferred honorary Dlitt for her “indomitable spirit, courage and mental strength to change the perspective of the society towards women”.
Mahapatra was conferred Dlitt for his persona as a literary genius and a humanist.Mansingh said, “I have visited 90 countries and hundreds of institutions but have never come across a university like KIIT.” KIIT and its sister concern Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), are bright examples of what dreams and perseverance of a selfless man can do, she remarked, referring to the institutions’ founder Achyuta Samanta.
KIIT University Chancellor Prof Nl Mitra, in his presidential address, said the KIIT University is getting ready for its position in the realm of research institutions of the country. Vice-Chancellor Prof PP Mathur informed that this year the Union HRD Ministry has conferred category ‘A’ status to KIIT, which also recently received accreditation for its five engineering undergraduate programmes from the National Board of Accreditation (NBA) under the Washington Accord.
Achyuta Samanta urged the graduates to use their knowledge to give back to the society. He expressed gratitude to the Nobel laureate and other distinguished personalities for honouring KIIT by accepting the Honoris Causa.A total of 3,452 students of the 2013-14 batch received their degrees. As many as 35 scholars were conferred PhDs.