- Dr Sharad Kumar Saraf, Chief Guestemphasised unity and shared three key mantras for growth: The art of letting go, purpose-driven living and the importance of responsibility
- Rajat Moona, Director, IIT Gandhinagarreminds students that “Life does not end at IIT. It begins here,” focusing on continuous hard work and personal fulfilment
- The programme will continue until 16th August 2024
NE EDUCATION BUREAU
GANDHINAGAR, JULY 22
The Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar places great emphasis not only on educating successful engineers of the future but also on creating well-rounded individuals who would contribute to society, respect and adapt to their surroundings, and prove themselves to be great thinkers and problem solvers in all avenues of life. The first step towards realising the Institute’s vision was the Foundation Programme – a four-week-long immersive experience for first-year students joining IIT Gandhinagar.
For the incoming 2024 batch, the Foundation Programme was kick-started on 22nd July 2024 by the Chief Guest Dr Sharad Kumar Saraf, CMD of Technocraft Group and Chairman BOG, IIT Bombay, and the Director of IITGN Prof. Rajat Moona, who ceremoniously beat the drum to open the event. The programme will continue until 16th August 2024. The philosophy behind the Foundation Programme is to introduce students, who had been generally focused on JEE preparation for the past 2-4 years, to a range of hands-on activities and interactions with eminent personalities, providing opportunities for self-expression in various ways.
The programme was built upon the following five pillars:
- Values and Ethics: Fostered a strong sense of ethical judgement and moral fortitude.
- Creativity: Provided channels for nurturing and exhibiting individual creativity through art, craft, music, singing, media, theatre, and related activities.
- Teamwork: Developed a culture of teamwork and group communication.
- Social Awareness: Nurtured a deeper understanding of the local and global environment, and recognised our place as concerned citizens of the world.
- Physical Activity and Sports: Engaged in physical activity to ensure healthy physical and mental growth.
Honorable Chief Guest Dr Sharad Kumar Saraf delivered an inspiring speech at the Foundation Programme Inauguration today. Saraf said, “I saw the tagline ‘Dare to Dream’. I am sure all of you have a dream. Let me assure you that by the time you get out of IITGN, you will know how to execute it too. ‘Daring’ is important, but to execute it is even more crucial. This is what this Institute will teach you. I saw the fantastic sports complex on my way and wish for you to take full advantage of it. Please don’t limit yourselves to WhatsApp University, digital gadgets and iPads –things that we didn’t even have during our time. Spare an hour after your classes in the evening and play a sport of your choice. One of the most important things that IITGN has, which I have only seen in IIT Bombay and IIT Jammu is the ‘Invention Factory’. It is a unique endeavour that promotes students to be more creative. You come up with an idea and go out with a product. And many of these products turn into effective start-ups.”
Before the Chief Guest’s address, Professor Rajat Moona, Director, IIT Gandhinagar, shared his thoughts with the new students, He said, “Irrespective of whether you go to this place or that place, irrespective of whether you go to this branch or that branch, your future will always depend on how you choose to navigate your life. A few things that every student, every parent, must have heard by now is, ‘In two years, if you work hard, you will get a very good rank, you will go to IIT, and your life will be set.’ No, life won’t get set there; life will only start here. The day you stop working hard, the day you stop delivering the highest possible effort that you can put in, your life will stop there. It won’t matter whether you are 10 years old, 20 years old, or 60 years old.”
“The only reason why life will give you back in whichever form it will be because you worked hard on that. And you will work hard not because you will expect something to come back, but because you will work for yourself. You will never wait and anticipate the result. While preparing for IIT, did any of you think, ‘I want a rank between 200 to 400, and for this, I will only do this much, not less, not more.’ It doesn’t work that way; the only way it works is by sincerely putting your everything into it,” Professor Rajat Moona added.
