Lucknow: A strong message of nation-building and social responsibility resonated at the 11th Convocation of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU) in Lucknow on Saturday, where Defence Minister Rajnath Singh urged graduating students to combine academic knowledge with character, values, sensitivity and a deep commitment to the nation.
The convocation was held for students from the academic sessions 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026. Rajnath Singh attended the ceremony as the chief guest. Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, Rajya Sabha MP Mithilesh Kumar, BBAU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Raj Kumar Mittal and Controller of Examinations Prof. Vikram Singh Yadav were also present.
The ceremony began with floral tributes and garlanding at the statue of Dr Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar, followed by an academic procession, lighting of the ceremonial lamp and rendition of the university anthem. The organising committee welcomed the dignitaries with bouquets, while Vice-Chancellor Prof. Raj Kumar Mittal presented a report highlighting the university’s academic achievements. The proceedings were conducted by Dr Preeti Chaudhary.
Broader Thinking Essential for Achieving Bigger Goals
Addressing the graduating students, Rajnath Singh recalled the famous lines of former Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee: “Chhote man se koi bada nahin hota, toote man se koi khada nahin hota.”
He said that people need a broad mind and an expansive outlook to achieve major goals in life. A wider perspective and a positive approach, he added, help individuals find greater satisfaction and fulfilment.
Comparing the human mind to a circle, Singh said that as its scope expands, so does the possibility of happiness and contentment. He highlighted India’s centuries-old intellectual and philosophical traditions, noting that many values and ideas articulated by Indian saints and thinkers long ago are increasingly being embraced across the world.
He also said that India’s voice is being heard with growing seriousness on the global stage.
BBAU Graduates Carry Greater Responsibility
Rajnath Singh said that because the university bears the name of Dr Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar, a pioneering thinker and social reformer, expectations from its graduates are particularly high.
According to him, meaningful education should develop the “brain, heart and hands” together. The brain should cultivate logical and rational thinking, the heart should nurture compassion and human sensitivity, while the hands should enable individuals to transform knowledge into practical skills.
He emphasised that education must be accompanied by values and sensitivity. Young people, he said, must develop a strong sense of responsibility towards society and the nation.
Drawing an analogy with numbers, Singh said that character and values function like the digit that gives meaning to the zeroes placed after it. Knowledge alone, therefore, is not enough; it must be supported by character, values and commitment to the country.
Youth Should Become Job Creators
The Defence Minister expressed hope that BBAU would produce young people capable of transforming India’s future. He encouraged students not merely to seek employment but to become employment generators.
Referring to Ambedkar’s life and ideas, Singh said that the social reformer not only outlined the path of social transformation but also showed where the process of change could begin.
He urged students to draw inspiration from Ambedkar’s message of “Educate, Agitate and Organize” and move forward with determination. A degree, he said, is only the starting point of a journey and does not define its eventual destination.
Students must learn to take everyone along with them, he added, while developing the ability to turn challenges into opportunities.
Young Innovators Can Strengthen India’s Startup Ecosystem
Singh highlighted India’s position as the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem and said the country has enormous potential to progress on the strength of young people’s talent, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit.
He called upon the graduates to combine knowledge, skills and national commitment in their professional and social lives. A collective resolve, he said, can help India realise its aspiration of regaining its position as a global knowledge leader.
Brajesh Pathak Urges Students to Move Beyond the Race for Marks
Congratulating the graduating students, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak advised them to move beyond the race for marks as they begin the next phase of their lives.
He said the purpose of education should not be limited to obtaining a degree. Instead, students should use the knowledge acquired at the university to create a positive impact on society and contribute to taking the country forward.
Pathak urged the graduates to channel their knowledge, skills and talent towards nation-building. Recalling the contributions and ideas of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, Dr Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar and Atal Bihari Vajpayee, he said the responsibility of fulfilling the dreams envisioned by these leaders rests significantly with the younger generation.
He called upon the graduates to pursue social harmony, equality, national service and development, and to connect their individual achievements with the welfare of society and the country.
BBAU Records Strong Academic Performance
Vice-Chancellor Prof. Raj Kumar Mittal outlined the university’s academic achievements and future plans during the ceremony. He said BBAU has secured an A++ grade from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) and ranked 37th in the university category of the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF).
He added that the university is placing particular emphasis on the holistic development of students through a Panchakosha-based education system.
The 11th Convocation thus marked not only the formal awarding of degrees but also the beginning of a new phase for the graduating students, with the university leadership and dignitaries calling upon them to translate education and individual achievement into wider social and national contributions.
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