Seventh Annual Convocation of IIT Dharwad held, Sudha Murthy conferred honorary doctorate

Infosys Foundation co-founder Sudha Murthy was awarded an honorary doctorate at the seventh annual convocation of IIT Dharwad on Saturday (July 18). | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Bhim Singh, Chairman, Anusandhan National Research Foundation and Honorary Professor, Department of Electrical Engineering, IIT Delhi, said the real purpose of research is to solve real-world problems and improve people’s lives.

Prof. Delivering the convocation address at the seventh annual convocation of IIT Dharwad on Saturday (July 18), Singh emphasized the need for stronger collaboration between academia and industry.

He congratulated the graduates on their achievements and reminded them that graduation is not the end, but the beginning of a lifelong journey of learning and innovation. He encouraged students to think beyond conventional solutions and advised them not only to ask “What’s wrong?” but also “How can we make it better?” He urged the young graduates to remain sincere, embrace continuous learning and strive for excellence with humility and perseverance.

He highlighted the rapid advances in artificial intelligence, renewable energy, electric mobility and digital technologies and told young engineers to become innovators and job creators rather than job seekers.

Presenting the report of the institute, IIT Dharwad Director Venkappayya R. Desai highlighted the institute’s continued growth in academics, research, innovation and infrastructure. He said the institute is steadily progressing towards its vision of developing Parashurama-Basaveshwara Akshaya Kshetra (PBaK) as a zero water, zero energy and zero waste campus by 2030.

Prof. Desai also highlighted the establishment of dhaRti (Dharwad Research, Technology and Incubator) Foundation, a Section 8 company of the institute to promote innovation and entrepreneurship. The foundation currently supports 24 start-ups and has secured significant grants.

Sharing his own journey as an IIT alumnus and entrepreneur, Sharad Kumar Saraf, Chairman, IIT Dharwad, urged the graduates to turn challenges into opportunities, embrace technology as an investment in the future, fulfill their duties with integrity and perseverance and never give up on their goals.

He highlighted the transformative potential of artificial intelligence and urged students to responsibly use emerging technologies to promote innovation and national development.

Manoj Gupta, Managing Director, Tata Power Renewable Microgrid, Bengaluru, challenged the students to use their knowledge and engineering skills to develop practical solutions to real-world challenges, especially in rural India.

Prabhat Kumar, Chairman, Pan IIT Alumni, India, emphasized that the story of IITs was the story of India’s progress. He said IIT graduates carried the legacy of nation building and were expected to contribute beyond personal achievement.

Honorary doctorate

During the convocation, Infosys Foundation co-founder Sudha Murthy was awarded an honorary doctorate.

Reacting to the award, she described teaching as the richest profession and emphasized that the real wealth of a teacher lies in shaping lives and creating knowledge. She advised the young graduates to strive for excellence with dedication, humility and perseverance while making a meaningful contribution to society.

A total of 313 students received various degrees on the occasion.

Published – 18 Jul 2026 22:14 IST