Hyderabad: In an age defined by digital likes and fleeting connections, genuine human relationships are what truly endure, said Debjani Ghosh, Distinguished Fellow at Niti Aayog and former Nasscom president, urging students to “talk to each other, not just connect”. She stressed that emotional resilience, purpose, and integrity would matter far more than degrees or job titles in the long run.Ghosh was speaking at the 24th convocation of the International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad (IIITH), where over 500 students graduated this year, including 109 BTech and 101 dual degree students.The convocation also marked a major leadership transition at the institute, as Prof. P.J. Narayanan announced he would step down as director after more than a decade. He will be succeeded by Prof. Sandeep Shukla from IIT Kanpur, a senior researcher known for his work in cybersecurity and formal methods.Sharing what she called five ‘life mantras’, Ghosh told graduates to pause and thank those who helped them, live with purpose, embrace failure, guard their integrity, and build deep human connections. “Success is never a solo journey,” she said, adding that while titles fade, integrity — your “source code” — remains.The ceremony was held in the presence of Governing Council Chair Prof Ashok Jhunjhunwala, who reminded students that IIITH, despite being a public institution, is not government-funded. “You’ve learned how to learn. Now keep learning from the world, and give back where you can,” he said, also welcoming Prof Shukla’s appointment.Reflecting on his 12-year tenure, outgoing director Prof. Narayanan said, “We are confident this batch carries both deep technical skills and the sensitivity to apply them in meaningful ways. Travel your life’s journey with concern for the society around you.”Prof. Shukla, who begins his term this August, said he was “honoured and excited” to follow in the footsteps of Prof. Narayanan and Prof. Rajeev Sangal. “IIITH is ready to take on greater challenges and make deeper contributions to society,” he said.Graduating students shared their hopes for impact-driven careers. Pranav Manu, who is interning with the Max Planck Society in Germany, aims to work at the intersection of science and social transformation. Vineeth, at Stripe in Bengaluru, said he dreamt of eventually creating jobs as an entrepreneur. Others, like Revanth and Anuksh Agrawal, are balancing global internships with longer-term aspirations of giving back.
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