Bright faces, relieved smiles - at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc.) convocation held at the J.N. Tata auditorium in the city on Saturday, 593 students were awarded graduation degrees and 56 were awarded medals for meritorious performance.
R. Chidambaram, Principal Scientific Adviser to Government of India, and a former student of the institute, delivered the convocation address. He called on graduating students to continue their research in the country. "Even if you go to the US for Masters, please come back, because India would have grown further," he told them. It was a chance conversation between Swami Vivekananda and JRD Tata that inspired him to start the Indian Institute of Sciences, said Mr. Chidambaram.
"India is trying to build an advanced technology super structure, but the foundation is built by basic science," he said. He spoke about the “haemorrhage of research talent” which takes place at two points — for pure science after the 10+2 stage and at B.Tech level for engineering. “There is a need to induct them into research careers and to retain them there,” said Dr. Chidambaram, adding, “India is trying to build an advanced technology super-structure, but the foundation has to be built by basic science.” The 593 graduates who received their degrees included those pursuing PhD, ME, M.Tech., MS, M Design and Masters in Management.
The first batch of BS (Research) graduates also received their degrees on Saturday.