Mangalore, April 6: Calling upon the younger generation to participate in international affairs, Shashi Tharoor, Minister of State for External Affairs said that people must be globally active, if they are to create and maintain the society they want at home.
He was speaking as chief guest at the 28th Annual Convocation of Mangalore University held at the University premises on Tuesday, April 6.
Congratulating the students who secured degrees, Tharoor said that our success at home is the best guarantee that we will be respected end effective abroad.
Speaking on the topic ‘Why Foreign Policy Matters’, he said that many of the student passing out today will have international careers or will join the Government.
“Some of you may even be contemplating a diplomatic career as members of our foreign service. Whatever you do your lives will be touched by some aspect of Indian foreign policy and you will be part, target or beneficiary of some instrument of that policy”, he said.
Tharoor also said that jobs everywhere, too depend not only on local firms and factories, but on faraway markets for products and services, on licenses and access from foreign Governments, on an international environment that allows the free movement of goods and persons, and on international institutions that ensure stability.
Today, he said, global forces press in form every conceivable direction. “People, goods and ideas cross borders and cover vast distances with ever greater frequency, speed and ease. We are increasingly connected through travel, trade, the Internet; what we watch, what we eat and even the games we play” he added.
Arguing that India’s growth and prosperity would be impossible without the rest of the world, he stated, “The distinction between domestic and international is less and less meaningful in today”.
In a grand ceremony Mangalore University conferred one Doctor of Science (D.Sc) in Materials Science, and 62 Doctor of philosophy degrees. 30 gold medals and 56 cash prizes also received by the students.
Seven Honourary Doctorates also conferred on the occasion on eminent personalities and achievers including Dr. Rakesh Kumar Bhandari, Director of Variable Energy Cyclotorn Centre, Bidhan Nagar, Calcutta, Dr. M Mohan Alva, Chairman of Alva’s Education Foundation, Moodbidri, AS Vishnu Bharat, Charterred Accountant, Bangalore, Madhura M Chatrapathy, Trustee and Director of Asian Centre for Enterpreneural Initiatives, Bangalore, Oscar Fernandes, Former Union Minister of State for Labour, Kolyur Ramachandra Rao, Kalaprasada, Udupi and R Chenraj Jain, Chairman of Jain group of Institution, Bangalore.
H R Bharadwaj, Governor of the State of Karnataka the Chancellor of the University, presented the honourary degrees.
Aravinda Limbavali, higher education minister of the state, Prof K Chinnappa Gowda, registrar, Syndicate members, Academic Council members and many other dignitaries were also present.
After welcoming and introducing the guests, Prof. TC Shivashankara Murthy, the Vice Chancellor of Mangalore University presented the annual report.
The programme commenced and ended with national anthem.
Name of Source: Coastal Digest