Vinoba Bhave University Convocation: Gold Medals for 20 Toppers

Hazaribagh: The 11th convocation of Vinoba Bhave University was held on Friday, with Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar emphasising the decisive role of youth in building a developed India. In his address, he said national development requires not just economic strength but also an educated, skilled and socially committed citizenry.

The ceremony took place at the Swami Vivekananda Auditorium in Hazaribagh. During the event, 20 postgraduate toppers were honoured with gold medals. Nine undergraduate toppers were given certificates, and 36 research scholars were awarded PhD degrees.

The Governor told the graduates that a degree only certifies learning. The real measure of knowledge, he said, lies in its application for the benefit of society and the country. He advised students to remain lifelong learners and to keep building their capabilities as circumstances evolve.

He invoked the legacy of Acharya Vinoba Bhave, after whom the university is named. Vinoba Bhave's Bhoodan movement, he noted, carried a powerful message of compassion, social cooperation and justice. The Governor said education must aim to deliver development to every citizen, especially the last person in the social order.

Turning to national progress, he pointed to rapid advances in science, technology, space, digital services, entrepreneurship and innovation. He cited Startup India, the India Semiconductor Mission and Atmanirbhar Bharat as initiatives generating new opportunities for young people. He urged students to take advantage of these openings and to give shape to fresh ideas through enterprise.

The Governor also underlined that ethical values must guide skills and knowledge. Describing Jharkhand's distinctive identity, he referred to its natural wealth, cultural diversity and rich tribal traditions. The talent and perseverance of the state's youth, he said, represent its real strength.

He called on higher education institutions to direct this talent wisely, focusing on research, innovation and solutions suited to local conditions. Quality education, research and moral values, he insisted, deserve equal importance. Universities, he concluded, should produce citizens who are alert to their rights, committed to their duties and capable of creating positive change in society.