Speech delivered today by Shri. Mukesh Ambani, President & Members of the Board of Governors of Pandit Deendayal Energy University, at the 10th Convocation – EQ Mag

Respected Chairman of the Standing Committee, Dr Hasmukh Adhia ji,

Our Respected Chief Guest Shri N Chandrasekar ji,

PDEU Director General Dr. Sundar Manohar ji,

My fellow members of the Board,

Faculty, teachers, staff, students and parents,

A very warm good evening.

We are privileged to have N Chandrasekar, the chairperson of the Tata Group, as the chief guest for today’s event.

He is a true inspiration to the business community and the youth of India.

Through his vision, conviction and rich hands-on experience, he has scripted Tata Group’s spectacular growth in recent years.

He has also led its forays into the businesses of the future.

I am particularly inspired by the gigantic steps the group has taken in the field of renewable energy under his leadership.

The steps reflect his faith in the ability of New Energy technologies to lead us to a better and brighter future.

If India has to become a renewable energy powerhouse, it is possible through the combined will and initiatives of many leading business groups working with the ethos of a national coalition.

Dear Chandrasekar ji, we are truly honoured that you took the time out of your very busy schedule to encourage and inspire the graduating students of this pioneering university.

Dear Friends,

PDEU is also extremely privileged to receive the leadership and guidance of Dr. Hasmukh Adhia ji.

He is not only a gifted administrator, but also one of the finest financial minds India has produced.

The banking and fiscal reforms he formulated as Finance Secretary have changed the face of our financial system.

I particularly cherish my interactions with him and I have benefited from his vast knowledge.

Under his chairmanship, PDEU has become the first private university in Gujarat to be awarded the A++ grade by NAAC.

The credit for this achievement also goes to the excellent faculty and staff of PDEU.

Let us give them a big round of applause.

Dear Students,

Today is your day. The arc lights are on you.

But standing in the wings are your parents and elders… it’s a very special day for them too.

They have waited eagerly to see you walk up to the stage and receive your graduation certificate.

It has been their lifelong dream.

Don’t ever forget the struggles they underwent and the sacrifices they made to bring you here.

Their contribution to your success is immeasurable.

Let me tell you something in your own lingo – the language of the youth.

Nowadays, every youngster is excited about 4G and now 5G.

But there is no ‘G’ in this world greater than Mata G and Pita G.

They were, are, and will always remain your most dependable pillars of strength and support.

Friends,

I am extremely excited about this convocation ceremony.

This batch of PDEU is graduating during a year that marks the beginning of India’s Amrit Kaal.

In our tradition, Amrit Kaal is regarded as the most auspicious time to start anything new.

And each of you are starting your professional journey in this period.

As the Amrit Kaal unfolds, India will witness an unprecedented explosion in economic growth and opportunities.

From a 3 trillion-dollar economy, India will grow to become a 40 trillion-dollar economy by 2047, ranking among the top three economies of the world in your working life.

In other words, a bright future beckons you. Be ready to step out confidently when opportunity knocks on your door.

This university has made you future-ready, because it researches and teaches Energy with a very comprehensive perspective.

Three game-changing revolutions will govern India’s growth in the decades ahead.

The Clean Energy Revolution, the Bio-Energy Revolution and the Digital Revolution.

Together, they will transform lives in ways unimagined.

While the Clean Energy Revolution and the Bio-Energy Revolution will produce energy sustainably, the Digital Revolution will enable us to consume energy efficiently.

All three revolutions will together help India and the world save our beautiful planet from the Climate Crisis.

I am confident that you, the students of PDEU, along with lakhs of other bright young minds from across the nation, will leverage these revolutions to enable India meet its energy goals.

Because each one of you is bubbling with energy and enthusiasm

Each one of you is brimming with creativity and ideas…

Each one of you is bristling with entrepreneurial spirit…

And each one of you is equipped with the knowledge and the skill-set needed to design breakthrough energy solutions for 1.4 billion Indians.

You have all the necessary ingredients to be the leaders India needs…

And as leaders of India’s future, you should ensure our nation leads the global clean and green energy revolution.

It is a goal each one of you should pursue in mission mode.

Let me share with you 3 mantras that will help you achieve success in this mission:

One, Think Big.

Be an audacious dreamer.

Every great thing ever built in this world was once a dream thought to be impossible.

You have to own your dream with courage, nurture it with conviction and realise it with bold and disciplined action.

It is the only way you can make the impossible possible.

Two, Think Green.

The Clean Energy movement is about adopting a green mindset.

It is about being sensitive to Mother Nature.

It is about inventing means to harvest its energy without harming it.

It is about ensuring that we leave behind a better and a healthier planet for the future generations.

And three, Think Digital.

In your mission of making India a clean energy leader, digitisation will play the role of a force multiplier.

Technologies such as AI, Robotics and IoT are powerful enablers of change.

Use them to your advantage.

These three mantras will be your astras in your mission of making India a global clean energy leader.

I am supremely confident that you will succeed in this mission.

Dear young leaders,

The COVID-19 period was a trial by fire for each of you….indeed, for all of humanity

But remember, the finest sword is forged in raging fire.

The experiences you encountered in the past couple of years are invaluable lessons no institution could have taught you.

They have shaped you into better professionals.

They have made you tougher from within.

They have filled you with the spirit of care and empathy.

And they have taught you the importance of service to humanity with honesty and integrity.

With these learnings in your kitty, no mountain will be too high to climb; no river will be too wide to cross.

So roll up your sleeves and move ahead.

Glory awaits you.

My hearty congratulations to each and every one of you once again to the class of 2022.

Good luck and God bless.

Pandit Deendayal Energy University, (Earlier known as Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University) Gandhinagar

Pandit Deendayal Energy University (PDEU) is the first and only private university in Gujarat with the highest grade of ‘A⁺⁺’ awarded by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC).

Already conferred the status of Centre of Excellence (CoE) by the Government of Gujarat and declared the best private university in the state by Gujarat State Institutional Rating Framework (GSIRF), PDEU is committed to excellence in energy education, research and innovation. Under the visionary President of the Board of Governors, Dr Mukesh Ambani, PDEU is developing into a Multi-disciplinary Education and Research University (MERU) and aims to emerge as a world class seat of learning to prepare future-ready youth in science & technology, management and liberal arts.

The PDEU Director General, Dr S Sundar Manoharan, attributes the success of the university to the guidance and leadership of the BoG President, Dr Mukesh Ambani, the Chairman of the Standing Committee, Dr Hasmukh Adhia (IAS, retd), hardworking faculty and staff, and the support of all stakeholders.

PDPU was established through a State Act enacted on April 4, 2007. In 2021 it was renamed as Pandit Deendayal Energy University after the Honourable Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, encouraged it to do so. In its eye for excellence, PDEU has focused its attention on curriculum and research subscribing to Industry 4.0 demands and to train energy ambassadors for the nation in achieving “Aatmanirbhar Bharat”. The university offers programmes to address the need for trained human resources in the domains of science, technology, management, humanities and social sciences. Currently, more than 6500 students and research scholars are pursuing academics at the university in their areas of interest which include engineering and cutting edge technologies in renewable energy such as wind, solar, bio-fuel, geothermal energy and green hydrogen. The university has been an active campus in promoting Study in Gujarat Program to bring international flavour on the campus and help its students to become global citizens.