Prayagraj: Chairman of All India Council of Technical Education, New Delhi Prof TG Sitharam on Saturday said today’s India was scripting a new chapter of resurgence where timeless traditions are inspiring bold innovations and youth are powering a transformation.He said this while addressing the 20th Convocation ceremony of the Indian Institute of Information Technology, Allahabad (IIITA). “Atmanirbharta is not isolation; it is integration. It is not about shutting our doors to the world, but about standing tall as equals on the global stage,” he said. He added that Atmanirbhar Bharat is steadily unfolding in remarkable ways. “From the triumph of Chandrayaan-3 to the launch of Aditya-L1 for studying the Sun, India proved itself a pioneer rather than a follower in space technology. In the field of defence and aerospace, the development of “Made in India” jet engines, naval ships and advanced missile systems is redefining the nation’s strategic independence. This is your moment. This is India’s moment. Together, let us build a nation that future generations will cherish,” he said. Sitharam further said: “Let us rise together—from Swadeshi to Samriddhi, and from Samriddhi to Viksit Bharat.” The guest of honour, Deepak Ghaisas, chairman, Gencoval Strategic Services Pvt Ltd, Mumbai, said over the past decade, India quietly yet decisively transformed from a hub of frugal innovation into an emerging deep-tech powerhouse. “Today, India proudly hosts the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem, with over 1.7 lakh registered startups and over 100 unicorns. What once thrived on jugaad has now evolved into a system powered by institutional support and structural innovation,” he said. “Deep-tech demands sustained research and development, and as global experience shows, requires committed efforts to translate academic breakthroughs into commercially viable products. Institutions like IIIT Allahabad stand at the very heart of this transformation. By equipping you with the skills, curiosity and resilience to tackle tomorrow’s challenges, and by nurturing a vibrant research culture, IIIT-A is preparing you to become the architects of India’s scientific and technological future. As ambassadors of this institution, he urged passing out students to leverage their knowledge and skills not just to seek jobs, but to create them,” he said. Kamlesh Lauhati, vice president at Morgan Stanley, guest of honour and IIITA alumnus, said: “Today is not just a celebration of academic accomplishment, but a tribute to courage, persistence, and the spirit of ambition each of you exhibited in your unique journeys. Every triumph and setback will be a chapter in the story only you can author.” Prof Bheem Singh, chairman-BoG-IIITA, congratulated the new graduates of IIITA. IIITA director Prof Mukul Sharad Sutone said IIITA offers distinguished undergraduate programmes which are aligned with industry trends, technological progress and the aspirations of next-generation learners. As many as 648 students were awarded degrees while 22 medals were conferred on meritorious students. 440 undergraduate students, 176 postgraduates, 4 dual degrees in M Tech and Ph D, and 28 research scholars were awarded. PhD scholar Shikhar Agrawal (IEC2021016) was awarded the Chairman’s Gold Medal for his overall performance.
