ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT OF INDIA, SHRI RAM NATH KOVIND ON THE OCCASION OF INAUGURATION OF PERMANENT CAMPUS OF IIM NAGPUR
Nagpur: 08.05.2022
It is a moment of immense pleasure as I stand amid you all today in this newly inaugurated campus of Indian Institute of Management, Nagpur. I am sure that this institute with the permanent campus will not only be the academic training ground but it will be a life moulding experience for the students.
I am happy to know that besides an outlay of more than Rupees 500 crore, about 132 acres of land has been allotted for the construction of this permanent campus. I would like to congratulate the Government of India and Government of Maharashtra for taking these measures. I also extend my best wishes toeach person associated with the establishment of the new campus.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Educational institutes are not just mere places of learning. It is the place which polishes the inner and sometimes even hidden talents in each one of us. The curriculum gives us the occasion to introspect within ourselves the purpose, the ambition and hence fulfill our dreams.
We are living in an era where innovation and entrepreneurship are appreciated and encouraged. The stories of various unicorns or start-ups which have been slated to be worth more than 1 billion have scripted new history. It has opened new avenues as new sectors are coming under the loop of business enterprises. From food delivery to picking up odd things, all are provided by start-ups and app-based services. Hitherto unexplored territories like education, health etc have also become part of these new enterprises. Such forays can be the game changer for our country. It can be a combination of job provider and revenue earner for our people.
Both innovation and entrepreneurship have the ability to not just ease our lives through technology but can also provide employment opportunities to many people. I am sure that the eco-system at IIM, Nagpur will promote among the students the mindset of becoming job-creators, instead of being job-seekers. What requires is a spark from bright minds like you to bring these together.
It is indeed a mark of appreciation that IIM, Nagpur has established seven Centres of Excellence. I am happy to know that IIM, Nagpur through its Centre for Entrepreneurship has established IIM Nagpur Foundation for Entrepreneurship Development (InFED). What is a matter of immense pride is that InFED has successfully enabled women entrepreneurs to graduate from Women Startup Program and six of them have even launched their enterprises. Such programs provide an effective platform for women empowerment. I strongly believe that our daughters whenever provided an adequate platform, always shine to the optimum. It is a true tribute to the land of Savitribai Phule and Dr. Anandibai Joshi who were the first few stalwarts in the field of education and medicine.
I am happy to know that IIM Nagpur has begun taking steps in the direction of encouraging innovation. It has also assumed the responsibility of being a ‘Regional Innovation Organizer’ which works as a business incubator providing support services for innovation and entrepreneurship. It is through these ventures can we dream of being an Atmanirbhar Bharat.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am happy to know that this state of the art sprawling campus is a subject of appreciation. The campus portrays history of the region in the form of artwork and murals. I have been told that this Institute which is located in Multi-product Special Economic Zone called MIHAN is the first of its kind in the country. The building of this campus has been awarded the prestigious GRIHA 4 Star LD Rating Award for its energy efficiency initiatives. It reflects the commitment towards the environment. I hope that the students of this Institute will carry forward this legacy.
This Institute is blessed to be in the land of Nagpur. The city of Nagpur is famous for being the place which was chosen by Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution for his Deeksha-sthal. The land of Maharashtra has always been a vibrant social, economic and political centre. It was here that the seeds of social revolution of Dr. Ambedkar were sowed.
City of Nagpur is famous for the Zero milestone and hence often considered to be at the center of India. It is also in close vicinity of Sevagram Ashram which was home to Mahatma Gandhi and the place from where much of our freedom struggle was carried forward.Be it political, religious or cultural, the ethnic fabric of the state of Maharashtra has always been rich.
My dear young friends,
This new campus of IIM, Nagpur is the cradle for our young minds who would be soon stepping out in the world of new opportunities and accomplishments. My young friends gathered here are not merely the makers of their own destiny but of our country and on a wider canvas, the entire world. As we live in an interconnected world, you will soon be globe-trotters as professionals. However, in this pursuit, never forget the spirit and ethics of our country. You would be the emissaries of Indian culture and wisdom around the world and your performance would be the standard set for the entire country. I am sure that your success would be a matter of pride for every Indian.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Our traditions have always emphasized upon sharing, especially in the field of knowledge. Hence, it is our duty to share the knowledge which we have gathered. It was probably this principle, which led IIM, Ahmedabad mentor an institute like IIM, Nagpur. Just as IIM Ahmedabad has provided mentorship to IIM, Nagpur, I hope that the leading professional schools of our country, technical, management or humanities will provide mentorship to establish similar institutions. Knowledge sharing leads to greater growth of knowledge itself. The Indian tradition has beautifully described the benefit of knowledge-sharing in these words:
व्यये कृते वर्धत एव नित्यं
Which means – knowledge is bound to grow as you expend it.
I would like to congratulate IIM, Nagpur for taking the initiative to establish satellite campuses in Pune and Hyderabad and Singapore. My best wishes to the administration and faculty associated with this project.
As you all are aware we are celebrating 75 years of India’s Independence in the form of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. It should be the duty of every citizen to take steps for the betterment of our people. It should be our sole aim that when we celebrate 100 years of Independence in the year 2047, we are country of opportunities and development, promise and resources and contentment and pride.
Thank you,
Jai Hind!