Vice President Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan today graced the 11th Convocation of the Central University of Tamil Nadu (CUTN) at Thiruvarur and congratulated the graduating students on reaching an important milestone in their lives.

Addressing the graduates, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan said a convocation celebrates not merely the award of degrees but the transformative power of education, the pursuit of knowledge and the dedication, perseverance and resilience that brought the students to this significant moment.

He also congratulated the parents and teachers of the graduating students, acknowledging their sacrifices and noting that they had foregone many of their present-day comforts for the glorious future of their children and students.

Highlighting the significance of Thiruvarur, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan said the sacred town, home to the magnificent Thyagaraja Temple, has for centuries been a centre of spirituality, scholarship and artistic excellence.

He noted that the sacred land had nurtured saints, scholars and the legendary Trinity of Carnatic music. True greatness emerges when culture, learning and values flourish together, he said.

The Vice President highlighted the tremendous expansion of higher education over the past twelve years. He said that at convocation ceremonies across the country, he often sees more women receiving degrees and medals than men, describing the trend as a welcome development.

The Vice President said education today cannot be measured merely by examinations or marks.

“It must be measured by the ability to think independently, communicate effectively, work collaboratively and continue learning throughout life,” he said.

He appreciated the Central University of Tamil Nadu for embracing this vision through its emphasis on multidisciplinary education, research, innovation and value-based learning.

Referring to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, recently passed by Parliament, the Vice President said preventing unfair means in examinations and protecting the interests of students are of paramount importance.

Recalling his tenure as Governor of Jharkhand, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan said that a similar bill had been passed by the Jharkhand Government during his tenure, and as the then Governor he had signed it immediately, enabling it to become law.

“Bad elements in society must be punished to protect the interests of good people,” he said, emphasising the need for strong measures to safeguard the integrity and fairness of public examinations.

The Vice President urged the graduates to “become creators rather than consumers of knowledge, innovators rather than imitators, and leaders rather than followers.”

Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan said that under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India is working towards the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047. He urged the youth to keep “Nation First - Rashtra Pratham” at the heart of their actions and harness their knowledge, skills and leadership for national development.

The Vice President urged the police and security agencies to take strict action against drug peddlers and those involved in spreading the menace of drugs.

He said drug abuse not only destroys the lives of individuals but also adversely affects families and society, and protecting young people from this menace is a collective responsibility.

He reiterated his appeal to students to “Say No to Drugs” and encouraged them to urge their friends to stay away from substance abuse.

Concluding his address, the Vice President wished every graduate success, fulfilment, good health and the satisfaction of making a meaningful difference to society.

A total of 1,103 graduates received their degrees at the convocation, including 50 Gold Medallists who distinguished themselves through academic excellence. Of the 1,103 graduates, 616 are women. Women also secured 37 of the 50 Gold Medals.

Governor of Tamil Nadu Shri Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha (Nagapattinam) Thiru V. Selvaraj, Chancellor Prof. G. Padmanabhan, Vice-Chancellor Senior Prof. Sulochana Shekhar, faculty members, parents and students were also present on the occasion.

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PR/ASM/VM