VP C.P. Radhakrishnan Addresses Central University of Tamil Nadu Convocation

Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan on Monday addressed the 11th convocation of the Central University of Tamil Nadu in Tiruvarur, urging graduating students to become creators rather than consumers of knowledge, innovators rather than imitators, and leaders rather than followers.

Speaking at the convocation ceremony, Radhakrishnan noted that the event celebrated not only the conferral of academic degrees but also the transformative impact of education along with the dedication, perseverance, and resilience demonstrated by the students. He observed that education should not be evaluated purely through examination scores and marks, but rather by an individual's capacity to think independently, communicate effectively, collaborate with others, and pursue lifelong learning.

The Vice-President emphasized the necessity of implementing reforms in public examinations, stating that stringent measures are required to penalize wrongdoers and safeguard the interests of honest candidates. In this context, he referred to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill recently passed by Parliament, underscoring that preventing examination malpractices and protecting students remain matters of paramount importance.

Recalling his earlier tenure as the Governor of Jharkhand, Radhakrishnan mentioned that a similar legislative measure had been passed by that state government, which he signed immediately to enact it into law. He further highlighted the country's broader developmental goals, stating that India is working toward the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047 under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and urged the youth to place the principle of "Nation First – Rashtra Pratham" at the core of their endeavors.

Addressing social challenges, Radhakrishnan called upon police and security agencies to take firm action against drug peddlers and individuals involved in promoting substance abuse. He directly advised the student community to "Say No to Drugs" and encouraged them to guide their peers away from narcotics.

Radhakrishnan commended the Central University of Tamil Nadu for its emphasis on multidisciplinary learning, research, innovation, and value-based education. During the ceremony, a total of 1,103 graduates were awarded their degrees, including 50 gold medallists. Women comprised 616 of the total graduating students and secured 37 of the 50 gold medals presented.

The convocation was attended by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, Nagapattinam MP V. Selvaraj, University Chancellor G. Padmanabhan, Vice-Chancellor Sulochana Shekhar, and university faculty members.