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TH
11 CONVOCATION
It gives me great pleasure to be amidst you on what is a milestone day in your life. As you
leave the portals of this premises that you have doubtless become fond of, you will be

overcome with an amalgam of emotions - excitement about what lies ahead, nostalgia
about what you leave behind, a sense of fulfillment at having accomplished your
ambitions, a tinge of regret of something left undone or unsaid. Many of us remember
this day with joy and glee, several decades later. And so will most of you.

I do not wish to disturb your string of reminiscences with homilies. But I do wish to leave
you with a couple of thoughts to ponder.

As you leave the safe and cosy environs of this campus (it is only in retrospect that you
will realise it was indeed a cosy atmosphere, notwithstanding the strict rules and the
exacting work), you will have the confidence of youth that will let you believe you can
conquer the world. Some of you will continue to progress in your chosen field of
specialization, and others will get off that track; yet others will explore more
adventurous paths. Chetan Bhagat for instance left management to pursue his interest

in writing, Rahul Dravid veered off engineering to seek his success in cricket. Walt
Disney was a newspaper editor. People have quit regular promising jobs to follow their
heart - they've engaged themselves in film making, baking, backpacking….

What they all did is to follow their heart. Listened to their inner self. You cannot fail if you
recognize your inherent strengths and build upon it. You will delve, explore, research,
learn, seek knowledge and excel. If you love gardening, be the best gardener. If you write,
strive to be the best writer. Live up to your own expectations, not of others.

Our ultimate goal is to be happy. A recent Harvard study, which examines almost a
century's worth of data, reveals a simple way to be happier and more successful. The
study tracked the physical and emotional well-being of 268 male graduates from
Harvard, as well as 456 poor men growing up in Boston from 1939 to 2014. Multiple

generations of researchers analyzed brain scans, blood samples, self-reported surveys
and interactions of these men to compile their findings.
The conclusions are simple. Good relationships keep us happier and healthier. Spend
more time with happy people. Try not to yield to negative perceptions. On anything.

This state has just concluded elections to the legislature. I do not know how many of
you got the opportunity to vote. I grew up in an era when many elite urbanites

considered it infra-dig to exercise their franchise. It is easy to forget the struggle that our

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