I am deeply honored and privileged to address you today on this momentous occasion. As we gather here to celebrate your graduation from this esteemed institution, we acknowledge the unwavering determination and sacrifice that you and your parents have endured to reach this juncture. The fire within you, which once burned brightly, has now become a guiding light, and it is your solemn duty to nurture it into a radiant sun. Graduates, you have conquered countless sleepless nights in pursuit of a rigorous and demanding academic program. Yet, it is in the solitude of those darkest hours, away from the public eye, that your true character is revealed. Today, you stand among the ranks of the world's professionals, distinct from academicians, as in your domain, knowledge and skills are not static; they evolve and reshape the future of our world. As engineers, you possess an innate instinct to innovate, create, and transform, often with the simplest of tools. Your keen eyes seek out solutions that elude ordinary perception, and you instinctively track down problems like skilled hunters. Each one of you is endowed with unique talents, and the world looks to you, the graduates of IIT Mandi, to unearth and honor your individuality, thereby becoming the change you aspire to see in our world. We find ourselves living in a critical era, where artificial intelligence threatens to automate creativity and innovation. In this rapidly changing landscape, your very survival may soon be at stake. Remember, rather than futilely opposing the inevitable, adapt to coexist with it, leveraging its strengths while discerning its limitations to contribute meaningfully. In the words of the eminent engineer and visionary, Buckminster Fuller, "You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete." Graduates, you must innovate to forge these new paradigms, countering the challenges posed by those wielding the powerful tools of artificial intelligence. The path ahead will be fraught with both triumphs and tribulations. There will be moments of self-doubt, setbacks, and seemingly insurmountable obstacles. It is in these very moments that you must recollect the sacrifices and the painful nights you endured while preparing for IIT. Within those experiences lies the key to discovering your purpose - a purpose that is uniquely yours, waiting to be unearthed by you and you alone. IIT Mandi has not merely imparted knowledge but has instilled in you a spirit of innovation, collaboration, and an insatiable thirst for continuous learning. Nurture the innocent, passionate soul within you, for it is your passion that will fuel your innovation, and your purpose that will imbue your work with meaning.

Embrace lifelong learning, remain perpetually curious, and never cease to question. Surround yourselves with mentors, colleagues, and friends who both inspire and challenge you. Be leaders who uplift and inspire others, for genuine success is not gauged solely by personal accomplishments but by the profound impact you have on the lives of others. Forge ahead with your authenticity, for it is your unique, invaluable contribution. Congratulations, and may your future endeavors shine as brightly as the boundless promise you carry within yourselves.

Anirban Bandyopadhyay is a Principal Research Scientist at the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), Tsukuba, Japan. He did Ph.D. in IACS, Kolkata, 2005. During 2005-2008 ICYS research fellow at ICYS, NIMS, Japan. In 2008, joined as a scientist at NIMS, built organic jelly based artificial brain, quantum computer, molecular motor based drugs, brain inspired computing, written a book “Nanobrain: The making of an artificial brain from a time crystal”, 2020. 2013-2014 visiting scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA. Hitachi Science and Technology award 2010, Inamori Foundation award 2011–2012, Kurata Foundation Award, and Sewa Society international member, Japan. Published more than 100 papers, 23 patents, edited 17 books, reach out anirban.bandyo@gmail.com Blog www.nanobraintech.com T: @anirbanbandyo; P-+81-80-9454-3366