The first face-to-face graduation ceremony of Chinmaya Vishwa Vidyapeeth was held on 27 September 2022 at Chinmaya Eswar Gurukula campus, Veliyanad. The day marked 162 students qualifying to receive their degrees/diplomas.
The event started with the procession of students, led by the Registrar, Dr. Rahul Sharma, into the auditorium. The procession of dignitaries including the Chief Guest, Chancellor, Trustees, members of the Advisory Council and Donors, led by the Vice Chancellor.
The auspicious start of the event was marked by the lighting of the lamp by the Hon’ble Chancellor, Pujya Swami Swaroopananda; Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ajay Kapoor; Chief Guest, Shri. Nitin Paranjpe, Chief People and Transformation Officer, Unilever; Managing Trustee of CVV Trust, Dr. Apparao Mukkamala and CEO of Central Chinmaya Mission Trust, Ms. Manisha Khemlani. The invocation of Lord Ganesha followed the lighting of the lamp by our students.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ajay Kapoor welcomed the dignitaries, donors, staff and students and their parents to the much-awaited event. The Chief Guest, Shri. Nitin Paranjape, delivered the commencement address. He congratulated the students and thanked all the dignitaries, teachers and parents for their efforts to make this day for the students. He inspired the students by sharing his experiences and lessons learnt from them. He said that liking one’s job is the prerequisite for excellence. The next important thing was to try to be the best in one’s work domain. This attitude is inspiring and empowering since this is entirely in the hands of the individual and it is essential since it helps the individual open up their vast potential. It also gives a chance to be the best in the world. The third thing was to find meaning and purpose in life and keep pursuing the purpose. Shri. Nitin urged the students to seek the purpose of their life and make their purpose in life the compass to navigate the world. He encouraged the students to develop a robust Moral Quotient (MQ) to supplement the Intelligence Quotient (IQ) and Emotional Quotient (EQ). He stated that MQ is important to differentiate between right and wrong and gives the courage to pursue the former. He stated the students are blessed to have an education with the blend of Indian Knowledge Systems and Modern education which is grounded in the understanding of Indian culture, values and wisdom. He said he believes that it is this combination that is going to be critical in the world that all of us are going to face in the coming times. Shri. Nitin concluded by congratulating the students and wishing them success, fulfilment and happiness.
The Director of the Centre for Indian Knowledge Systems, Dr. Sunitha Grandhee chanted the Shiksha Valli of the Taittiriya Upanishad which was then explained by Dr. Apparao Mukkamala. He stated how the Upanishad extols everyone to: speak the truth, and perform one’s duty to the Gods and departed souls. He said this is from Krishna Yadur Veda and needs to be practised by us all. The things that we should not do: do not neglect continuing education. To keep pace with the world, one must continue one’s education. He further urged the students to have a purpose in life. There is enough evidence that people with a purpose in life have a longer telomere and live longer and happier.
Hon’ble Chancellor, Pujya Swami Swaroopananda led the graduation oath, which the students repeated. He then declared the conferment of degrees onto all the graduands qualified for the award of degrees in 2022.
Next, the Dean of Academics, Prof. Sreevalsakumar congratulated the students on their graduation, wished them well in their journey ahead, and presented the graduates to the Hon’ble Chancellor to receive the degrees. The graduates included those who qualified to receive degrees in the programmes: BCom, BA (Applied Psychology), BBA, BA (Sanskrit), PG Diploma in Advaita Vedanta, Diploma in Advaita Vedanta, MSc (Applied Psychology), MA (Music), MA (Sanskrit), MA (Public Policy & Governance) and MVoc (Renewable Energy Management). He also declared the names of the graduates who were awarded degrees in absentia.
The Dean announced the recipient of the Gold Medal for Academic Excellence as Ms. Sugandha Agnihotri of PG Diploma in Advaita Vedanta. Hon’ble Chancellor presented the gold medal and certificate to Ms. Sugandha following which, the benedictory address was delivered by Swami ji.
In his address, the Hon’ble Chancellor recalled the last day in his school, where the teacher stated that the values taught in school would stand with the students forever in life and advised them to live the values they learnt at school. He referred to a portion in the Vibheeshan Gita in which Sri Ramachandra, a mighty warrior himself, stands barefoot, without any army or sophisticated war machines to face Ravana who is a star warrior, with a mighty army and sophisticated machines. When Vibheeshana asks Rama if he will be able to face Ravana, Rama says that it is not the mighty army or machines or any resources that guarantee success, not even one’s might or one’s skills. While might and skill are necessary for success, it is that inner spirit of having built in oneself a chariot of Dharma and values that guarantee sure success. When intention, conviction, vision and vision are great, the students from this University cannot be ordinary. And having been equipped with such abilities, talents and virtues that they can face any challenge in life. Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda used to say that we are all born to succeed yet very few succeed since most are unable to live their knowledge, express their talent and efficiently use their skills. If we have the presence of mind, faith in the Supreme, faith in the wisdom of the universe, faith in the knowledge we have gained, and faith in self, then there is nothing in this world that one cannot attain or reach. The Chancellor urged the graduates to keep their purpose vast and noble, which benefits many and would result in fulfilment far greater than material gains, which will just be a by-product of their greatness and success. Therefore, Ram teaches Vibheeshan not to put any ifs and buts in life and not be challenged by any approaching calamity but to have a well-mastered mind that no situation in life can defeat. He advised the graduates to invoke devotion and faith and live a life of values even amid apparent failures. The Chancellor also reminded the graduates to have a life of purpose, set high goals in life, live a life of virtues, and not be afraid of failure. He reminded that the tragedy of human beings is not that they set high goals and don’t achieve them, but that they set small goals and achieve them. Pujya Swami ji invoked the blessings of Bhagwan, the Divine mother and Puja Gurudev, and all the great teachers for a successful and fulfilling life ahead.
Following the address, gold medallist, Ms. Sugandha Agnihotri shared her journey at CVV and thanked the University and fellow graduates for their ardent support throughout the programme. She stated that the acharyas helped her to learn Vedanta effortlessly in the Gurukula style and that the experience at CVV was life-changing and transformed her life from a wanderer to a seeker.
CVV students then performed a dance–drama based on the Ramayana and Bhagawad Gita, along with advice from Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda, that brought out the values one must pursue in life to be successful, fulfilled and happy.
Swami Advayananda, member of CVV Trust, led the Chinmaya Pledge, which was repeated by the graduates. The Registrar, Dr. Rahul Sharma delivered the vote of thanks.
The event concluded with the permission of the Hon’ble Chancellor to close the convocation followed by the singing of the National Anthem and the return procession of the dignitaries from the auditorium.