Engineers, Blend Core Knowledge with AI to Serve Society, Says NITI Aayog Member at NIT‑T Convocation

On a bright Saturday in Tiruchirappalli, more than two thousand fresh engineers gathered under the canopy of the National Institute of Technology‑Tiruchirappalli’s 22nd convocation ceremony. The air was thick with excitement, the kind that only graduation can stir.

Into this buzz stepped Professor Abhay Karandikar – a familiar face in policy circles, a member of NITI Aayog, and a staunch believer in the marriage of deep‑rooted knowledge with the dazzling promise of artificial intelligence. He didn’t just hand out a speech; he shared a roadmap, a gentle nudge for the batch to think bigger.

“Every breakthrough in AI is built on a sturdy foundation of science, mathematics and engineering,” he said, pausing to let the words settle. “You are graduating at an extraordinary time. Each generation has witnessed a technological shift, but the speed and scale we see today are reshaping how we live and work.”

Karandikar’s tone was earnest, almost conversational, as if talking to a friend over tea. He reminded the crowd that, while AI can sound futuristic, its core is still the age‑old disciplines they’ve spent years mastering. “Don’t let the allure of gadgets eclipse the fundamentals,” he added, a slight smile tugging at his lips.

He then turned his gaze to the broader canvas – India. The country, he noted, is no longer a mere participant in the global tech race. From digital public infrastructure and renewable energy to biotech, space missions, and a booming start‑up ecosystem, India is emerging as a trusted innovation partner. “We’re being seen not just as a large market, but as a source of talent, research and technology,” he observed.

The professor’s message was clear: blend the rigor of subject knowledge with the agility of emerging tools, and you’ll have the power to shape society. He urged the graduates to let education be a lever for lasting impact, to serve nation‑building rather than just personal gain.

Amid the applause, the ceremony also celebrated academic excellence. B.N. Rashmi, a B.Tech graduate in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, received the President’s Gold Medal for being the top all‑round student. The moment captured the spirit of the day – a blend of tradition, achievement, and a forward‑looking optimism.

As the crowd dispersed, the underlying sentiment lingered: the future belongs to those who can fuse deep domain expertise with the intelligent technologies that are redefining our world.