India Will Once Again Become a Global Superpower: Dharmendra Pradhan
Gurugram: Union Minister of Education, Dharmendra Pradhan, expressed confidence that India is set to become a global superpower in the 21st century. At the 11th convocation ceremony of SGT University in Gurugram, he highlighted India’s remarkable economic growth, stating that the country is currently the world’s fifth-largest economy and is soon expected to rise to the third position. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and the central government’s strategic, long-term decisions for driving India toward becoming a developed nation and the world’s most prosperous economy by 2047.
Prominent advocate and President of the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) Rohan Jaitley attended the ceremony as the Guest of Honor. SGT University Chancellor Padma Bhushan Ram Bahadur Rai and Management Trustee Manmohan Singh Chawla also graced the event.
On this occasion, the university’s souvenir was unveiled by the Chief Guest and Guest of Honor. Pradhan emphasized that India’s vast youth population is its greatest asset. He noted that out of the country’s 1.42 billion people, over 680 million are under 25 years old—an unmatched demographic advantage globally. Addressing the graduating students, he urged them to map out the next two to three decades, strategize their careers, and remain connected to their roots. He encouraged them to create a personal roadmap for contributing to India’s development and economic growth by 2047.
The minister also drew attention to the importance of universities in shaping national economies, citing Silicon Valley as an example. Praising SGT University, he remarked that Gurugram serves as the engine of the Indian economy, while SGT University acts as its lungs, supplying talent and innovation. He highlighted India’s historical transitions through industrial revolutions, stating that while India played a labor role in earlier revolutions, it is now poised to lead in the fourth industrial revolution.
Women’s Empowerment in Focus at SGT University
Pradhan applauded the university for its commitment to gender equality, noting that out of 120 gold medalists at the convocation, 87 were female students. He remarked that SGT University reflects the true spirit of ‘Nari Shakti’ (women’s empowerment) in India’s growth story. During the event, he conferred top academic degrees, including Ph.D.s, to students from various faculties. The university also awarded honorary Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) degrees to eminent journalist and author Padma Bhushan Dr. A. Surya Prakash and renowned Gandhian scholar Dr. Shobhana Radhakrishna.
Chancellor’s Library Inauguration
Before the convocation ceremony, the Union Minister inaugurated the ‘Chancellor’s Library’ at SGT University. Chancellor Ram Bahadur Rai has dedicated his personal library to the university. Praising this contribution, Pradhan noted that the library represents a significant chapter in India’s knowledge tradition, containing extensive research materials on India’s socio-political history from independence to the present.
A Memorable Convocation Ceremony
The two-day convocation ceremony concluded with a strong sense of national commitment among the graduating students. Supreme Court Justice Rajesh Bindal, Apollo University Vice-Chancellor Dr. H. Vinod Bhatt, Hyderabad University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Basuthkar Jagadeeshwar Rao, and Indira Gandhi University, Rewari Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Jai Prakash Yadav also addressed the students, inspiring them to face future challenges with determination and make significant contributions to society.
The event was marked by an atmosphere of excitement and pride, with students and parents appreciating the grandeur of the occasion. The convocation reaffirmed SGT University’s dedication to academic excellence and its vision of producing future leaders who will propel India towards becoming a developed nation.
