Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Wednesday addressed the students of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi. Lauding the students and faculty for their achievements, he said that knowledge and education are the most impactful transformation mechanisms to bring about societal change.

“Knowledge and education are the most impactful transformational mechanisms to bring about much-needed societal change. Inequities and equality are best assured when there is quality education,” Dhankhar said.

IITs have been the crucible in which the minds that have transformed India and the world were forged, he said.

“This institution, with its legacy of excellence, has been a beacon of light in India’s educational landscape for over six decades. It has produced some of the brightest minds that have gone on to shape the destiny — not just of this country but of the world,” Dhankar said.

“You are part of imminent institutions in the world and we do not need any calibration or certification from outside. This institute is one of the best in the world. You are fortunate beneficiaries of education at such an institution,” the VP said.

Dhankhar also reflected on the image that IIT holds across the world and said that many world leaders have mentioned their interest in having an IIT campus in their country.

“IITs today are the most acknowledged brand across countries. In my interaction with foreign leaders, I was overwhelmed when very passionately, one of them wanted an IIT campus in his country. That speaks volumes of the reputation this institution has,” he said.

IIT is set to open its first-ever overseas campus in Tanzania’s Zanzibar with a batch of 50 undergraduate students and 20 master’s students. It will also be the first to be led by a woman director.

Dhankhar mentioned during his speech that another campus is in the process of being set up in the Middle East.

The VP added that IIT has been a crucible for transforming India and mentioned the accomplishments of former IIT alumni like Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet Inc. and N.R. Narayana Murthy, CEO of Infosys.

“Their journey began here as your journey begins. You have the potential, capability, and guidance to reach those heights. I have no doubt you shall reach those heights,” Dhankhar said.

During an hour-long session, the VP also interacted with the students and faculty at the IIT campus in New Delhi on Wednesday morning. He encouraged students to become the “torch bearers” to lead India into the future– an India defined by innovation and enterprise.

“All students before me are the foot soldiers. You are warriors of Bharat in 2047. You will be shaping Bharat’s destiny. It is your responsibility to neutralise all anti-Bharat narratives and that is required to be done in a vigilant manner,” Dhankar said.

Calling the IIT one of the best institutes in the world, the VP said that IITs have played a pivotal role in India’s development story.

“The achievements have been nothing short of extraordinary. From revolutionising the agricultural sector to creating the third-largest startup ecosystem in the world, your contributions span across every sector of the economy. You harnessed emerging technologies to create cutting-edge products that are changing the way we live, work and relate to each other. Bharat has great expectations from you,” said the vice president.

“You are the greatest spinal strength of this country. You will shape the future of the country in coming years”, he said.

Dhankar further spoke about the recent accomplishments and the “unstoppable rise” of India. He mentioned G20, India’s role in playing the problem solver during larger world conflicts, and spoke about how India gave the world yoga.

“We are living in an era where the Bharat influence is felt far beyond its borders. I have experienced it during my three visits abroad, interacting with global leaders, ranging from presidents of powerful countries, India is looked at very differently. India defines its own policies and its own interests and the world takes note of what India does and what India would do. We have witnessed the unstoppable rise of Bharat. This rise is on an incremental trajectory and bound to be so,” Dhankhar said.

“We set the agenda. We gave the world yoga. Millet was declared by the United Nations as the grain of 2023,” he added.

The vice president also spoke about India’s determination to invest and foster an environment that will encourage technological development and spoke of recent investments in quantum mechanics, the national green hydro mission, and recent changes in NCERT to introduce basic courses on artificial intelligence.

He further expressed hope that India will soon become the third-largest global economy by 2030 and that the world’s eyes are fixed on India with hopes and expectations.

In attendance were the faculty and students of IIT Delhi, including Delhi IIT director Professor Rangan Banerjee; Deputy director operations Professor T.R. Sreekrishnan; Deputy director strategy & planning Professor Ambuj Sagar and Professor Narayanan D Kurur.