I am really delighted to be a part of the occasion when a premier institution such as IIM Bangalore is entering the year of its Golden Jubilee celebrations.

Since its inception in 1973, IIM Bangalore has been nurturing and promoting management talent and resources. In the last 50 years, it has not only produced managers but also leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs and change-makers. Education here prepares the best of minds to deal with problems, challenges and issues not only in the boardrooms, workplace and the marketplace, but also in every imaginable and perceivable walk of life.

The logo of IIM Bangalore carries a proclamation which reads “तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु”, which translates to “let our study be enlightening”. And it will neither be an exaggeration nor an overstatement that this proclamation is the most fitting and consistent with the legacy of IIM Bangalore. This institution not only equips its members with professional skills, tools and resources, but also guides them towards self-development and enlightenment, and helps them discover the talent hidden within themselves.

I have been told that the vision of IIM Bangalore is to be a global, renowned academic institution fostering excellence in management, innovation and entrepreneurship for business, government and society. The vision and mission of this prestigious institution are the noblest which open the doors of a future that allows you to be a force of positive change and rectitude.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Since its inception, professionalism, efficiency and competency have been the defining features on which IIM Bangalore has stood tall and proved its mettle. Along with eleven disciplinary areas and ten centres of excellence, it has pioneered innovation and capacity building and has left a lasting impact on education and research. I have been told that IIM Bangalore is making deep social impact using technology-enabled education by offering Massive Open Online Courses. I congratulate IIM Bangalore for being the coordinating institute for management education for SWAYAM, the Government of India's online education platform created to bridge the digital divide by helping the students who have remained untouched by the digital revolution and have not been able to join the mainstream of the knowledge economy.

India is a nation on the move with a highly young and dynamic demography. Hence, the work done by IIM Bangalore’s Centre for Public Policy in the domain of public policy research and skill development of youth through the Mahatma Gandhi National Fellowship programme is not only necessary but also praiseworthy.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We are living in exciting times and this is the age of the fourth Industrial Revolution. The work being done by the IIM Bangalore’s Data Centre and Analytical Lab in the areas of artificial intelligence, big data, and machine learning will have a profound impact on the future of business and economy.

I have been told that during the pandemic when the world was reeling under one of the worst and unprecedented tragedies in human history, the N. S. Raghavan Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning ran an online women’s entrepreneurship programme, supported by the National Commission for Women. It was attended by thousands of women entrepreneurs. The Women Start-up Programme, which NSRCEL designed and delivered, with initial support from the Department of Science and Technology is truly commendable. I am delighted to learn that NSRCEL, through its various programmes, has impacted close to 3,000 women entrepreneurs to date.

Ladies and gentlemen,

You have passed many hurdles, overcome many challenges and sacrificed a great deal to be here. Your presence in this reputed institution is a vindication of your talent and a recognition of your merit. You all have achieved remarkable milestones and success in your life. Your country and society is proud of you. But it is also crucial that you understand the responsibility that comes with all these accolades.

You have to remember many of your peers who have not been able to make it to the IIM not because they lacked aptitude, merit or talent. There are many factors like luck and inequality of access that play a crucial role in success. So, humility is another lesson that is being taught to students of prestigious institutions the world over to make them more aware of their social and moral obligations.

IIM Bangalore, known for its excellence and calibre, has been declared an Institute of National Importance. With this tag, a trust has been reposed in this institution which is seen with a lot of hope and optimism. This institute is a place where talent meets aspirations and good intentions. You are the torch-bearers of the people’s trust.

Last year you celebrated, with the nation, Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. Let that be a reminder of what we have achieved in the last 75 years. Your contribution to this journey is second to none. It is because of our collective efforts we are the fifth-largest economy today. We are a thriving and well-functioning democracy. We have scaled the moon and now our eyes are set on the sun. We are the growth story that astonishes and inspires the world.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We also need to be cautious and not be complacent. The world today faces profound challenges, whether it be the very real existential crisis of climate change or the more abstract moral challenge of deteriorating value systems. In the strife-torn world driven by brute impulses of commercialism, India gives an alternative vision of “Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam” to the world.

For those of you who are going to be the future wealth creators of the world, I will insist that you must imbibe Mahatma Gandhi’s lessons of life which are not inconsistent with the ethics of business. Without ethics, success was sinful for Gandhiji. According to Gandhiji, some of such sins are:

Wealth Without Work 
Pleasure Without Conscience 
Knowledge Without Character 
Business Without Ethics

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Your aim and goal should not be narrow, your aspirations should not know any limits. In your professional and personal lives, aim for excellence, and live up to the great legacy which comes along with your association with IIM Bangalore. Don’t complain about the world you inherited but do leave behind a world where future generations have nothing to complain about and where they can live with harmony, optimism, prosperity and equality.

Thank you, 
Jai Hind! 
Jai Bharat!