Be curious, creative and critical in thinking, Cognizant co-founder tells IIT graduates

The Hindu

3 days ago

Lakshmi Narayanan, co-founder of Cognizant and Chancellor of KREA University, called upon young graduates to nurture curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking as they step into the next phase of life. Speaking at the seventh convocation of the Indian Institute of Technology-Tirupati (IIT-T) on Sunday, he emphasised the importance of being unique and different from the rest.
'Always pay attention to diverse perspectives, lend a hand to those in need and speak up for what is right. Write your own stories and be the heroes of those stories,' he advised the graduating students.
To inspire the young audience, Mr. Narayanan cited the example of Ole Kirk Kristiansen, a skilled carpenter who built the world-renowned Lego brand by taking the path less travelled.
JSW Group Chairman Sajjan Jindal, also Chairman of IIT-T's Board of Governors, highlighted India's major policy thrusts in technology and service sectors. He underscored the importance of the 'Viksit Bharat' vision of transforming India into a developed nation, achievable only through the collective dedication and perseverance of all citizens.
In his annual report, IIT-T Director K.N. Satyanarayana spoke of the institute's progress, including the completion of its permanent campus and significant developments in academic and research initiatives.
A total of 417 degrees were awarded during the ceremony: 212 B.Tech, 91 M.Tech, 53 M.Sc., 16 MPP, 13 MS (Research), 28 PhD, one M.Tech-PhD dual degree, one MS (Research)-PhD dual degree, one diploma, and one certificate in Foundations in Engineering Sciences.
Eighteen students were presented with medals and prizes. Arvind Srinivasan received the President's Gold Medal for outstanding academic performance, while Mega Varshini was awarded the Governor's Prize for excellence in both curricular and extracurricular activities among the 2025 B.Tech batch.