JGU convocation remains a grand affair

S Vishnu Sharmaa, INN/Chennai, @Svs037 

O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) was the centre of attraction when its eighth convocation and founder’s day was organised. Convocation ceremony witnessed 889 students receiving degrees. Donning ceremonial convocation robes, students proudly moved ahead to receive their degrees at a grand function at Indira Gandhi stadium in New Delhi.

The graduates included two doctoral candidates from the Jindal Institute of Behavioural sciences and were from the Jindal Global Law School, Jindal Global Business School, Jindal School of International Affairs, Jindal School of Government and Public Policy and Jindal School of Liberal Arts and Humanities.

Word of advise poured out from Zarin Daruwala, CEO of Standard Chartered Bank, India. She drew attention towards the disruptive role of global technology giants in the digital payment sector that are posing a major threat to banks in India.

She noted the effort it took for investment bankers like herself to catch up with rapid technological innovations in the past two decades and said that the banking and financial services industry as a whole as well as our Indian economy need to embrace technological advancements.

She remarked that doing so requires learning new tools and unlearning old techniques as well as agility and innovation. She also stressed the need for hardwork for coming up in life and also asserted that students must be prepared to handle challenges that come in their life in an effective way. 

Professor David Wilkins, Vice Dean, Harvard Law School said students must view the convocation as not the end of education but as the beginning. School is the easy part. The hard part is to learn to live in the real world. Education must be viewed as a life-long occupation and passion.

JGU Founding Chancellor Naveen Jindal said students need to figure out what matters most to us and give it our undivided attention. This is what will give us best results. Our ancient Indian philosophy Vedanta teaches us to follow Swadharma and not Paradharma. Swadharma is following our own nature, doing what your inner calling is and not what someone else asks us to do, he said.