Shillong, April 7: Graduates of IIM Shillong were today urged to utilise their privileged position to usher in change and contribute towards making the world more equitable.
The B-school held its sixth convocation today where 119 students were awarded the Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) while 31 students were awarded the Post Graduate Programme for Executive Diploma.
Managing director (Tata Chemicals), Ramakrishnan Mukundan, in his convocation address, told the graduates that "monogamy" in one's career was as good as "monogamy" in marital life.
"But you must choose your career well just like you need to choose your spouse well," he said. At the same time, he exhorted the "privileged" graduates to bring in change and contribute to a more equitable world.
"We are all privileged and we must use our privileged position to make change and contribute to a more equitable world," Mukundan said.
Moreover, he said focus must be more on energy, water, carbon efficiency and waste reduction.
"We really cannot escape this now. The recent extreme climatic events have shown what nature can unleash if we continue to plunder mother earth. In whichever firm or entity you create or you work for, please take this up as the number one priority. In addition, we cannot have the kind of difference between haves and have-nots," he added.
At the same time, he warned the graduates that the single-minded attention to share price today at the cost of long-term sustainability is the "cause of death of many organisations".
According to Mukundan, "disruptive innovation and collaborative consumption" are shifting the lines of economy while the digital world has made usage more valuable than ownership.
"That's a big fundamental shift. However, that is not the only shift. You will see many more in your 25 years and beyond," he said.
He appealed to the students to adopt the five principles of Mahatma Gandhi, which include ahimsa (non-violence), satya (truth), swaraj (freedom at individual level), sarvodaya (serve all), and antyodaya (serve the last person in the queue). "Let these be your guideposts in your decision and your work and life," he said.
Among the PGP students, Priyanka Garg received the gold medal for scholastic performance in academics while Gautam Jain received the silver medal. Jain also received the gold medal for the best performance by a candidate in quantitative finance courses.
The gold medal for the best all-round performance by a student in general proficiency including character, conduct and excellence in academics, extra-curricular activities and social service was awarded to Prachi Agarwal.
The institute's medal for positive contribution to campus life was awarded to Balakrishnan Muthukrishnan.