7th Convocation was held today i.e. 12.10.2013 at NIPER, S.A.S. Nagar. Padma Shri Prof. Goverdhan Mehta, FNA, FRS, National Research Professor, University of Hyderabad, was the chief Guest of the function, who delivered convocation address. Prof. K.K. Bhutani, Director introduced the chief guest to the audience. Prof. Mehta has over fifty awards and honors to his credit. He has been conferred with Padma Shri and “Chevalier de la Legion d ‘Honneur’ and Officers dans I’ordre des Palmes Academiqus by the President of France. Delivering the convocation address, Prof. Mehta congratulated graduating students, for perserving and succeeding in reaching a major milestone in their life. He advised students to excel in all future endeavors to fully realize their potential and aspirations, and serve the country and the humanity using attributes they imbibed through their association with NIPER. Prof. Mehta quoted Rabindra Nath Tagore “The highest education is that which does not merely give us information but makes our life in harmony with all existence.” Prof. Mehta said-I am pleased to recall that NIPER-Mohali was able to position itself in line with expectations of the nation and established itself as a leading centre of pharmaceutical research and education. Prof. Mehta dealt with six major points, which were --- persity, colors and flavors of India, which he could see in NIPER gathering also. Second point related to rejuvenation of science and technology enterprise. It is important for the country to excel in science and technology because it is the engine of growth of any country, more so for India because of number of poor people living here. Third point was related to Cultivation and assimilation of research and innovation culture. Any new ideas will get generated by innovative research and inquisitiveness of fresh minds. Fourth point related to Exploration of cross- and interdisciplinary terrain. Any research will be successful when it is interdisciplinary in nature.
He gave number of examples, where a person pursuing studies in one field changed over to a different field of research because of interest and novelty. Next point related to entrepreneurial instincts and Gazing at new horizons in the pharma space. Prof. Mehta, exhorted on the students to make others follow and not become followers. They should become entrepreneurs. It is heartening to note that our pharma sector in India is surging ahead not only through process innovations in manufacturing API’s and generics but is getting seriously engaged in discovery research and IP generation. More reforms are needed at policy level Prof. Mehta believed that institutions like NIPER-Mohali should strive to benchmark quality standards in teaching and research through idea infusion and re-invention. A total of 305 students were conferred degrees at this Seventh Convocation for batches 2011-2013. The degrees included 22 Ph.Ds, 188 M.S. (Pharm.), 25 M. Pharm., 17 M.Tech (Pharm.), and 53 students of M.B.A. (Pharm.). 2 students were awarded gold medal and citation by Chief Guest to Miss pya Priyanka T. of Pharmacology & Toxicology and to Miss Manasvi Bhardwaj of M.B.A. (Pharm.) respectively. Prof. U.C. Banerjee, Dean presented students for admitting to degree while Wing Cdr. P.J.P. Singh Waraich, Registrar read out the names of the degree recipients. Director administered pledge to all the degree recipients to uphold the dignity of their profession and honor of their alma matter and to utilize knowledge gained in the Institute for the service of mankind. Earlier, Prof. K.K. Bhutani, Officiating Director, NIPER while welcoming Chief Guest and members of various statutory committees also addressed students and congratulated them on completing their Post Graduate and doctorate programme of the Institute. He highlighted achievements of the Institute .NIPER’s annual report was also released by Prof.Mehta during the convocation.