Date:25/08/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/08/25/stories/2006082519460400.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

``Right mix of idealism and ambition will bring success''

Staff Reporter

University Grants Commission Vice-Chairperson's advice to students

WELL DONE: UGC Vice-Chairperson Mool Chand Sharma (centre) with a university first-rank holder at the MOP Vaishnav College convocation on Tuesday. — Photo: Shaju John.

Chennai : Giving back to the society is as important as earning, University Grants Commission Vice-Chairperson Mool Chand Sharma said here on Tuesday.

At the convocation of MOP Vaishnav College, Mr. Sharma told the outgoing students to learn the art of giving.

Though globalisation and information technology revolution would lead to faster growth, new levels of poverty and ignorance would also accompany them, he said.

"There is no cause for us to be complacent... You need to be activists in your own way," the senior academic told the students.

He asked them to work and earn well for the next 10 years and start the process of giving back to society. Mr. Sharma recalled that the college's founder M. O. Parthasarathy had been a leading barrister who had given Rs. 25 crore to set up the institution.

Real success

The educationist said ambition and idealism were characteristic of youth but only a judicious mix of both would lead to real success.

"Sheer ambition is dangerous and sheer idealism could be utopian," Mr. Sharma added.

About 850 students received their Bachelors and Masters degrees. Seven departments (UG and PG) have secured the first rank in the university examinations. College secretary P. Haridas, Chairman of Board of Governors M. D. Srinivas and Principal Nirmala Prasad also spoke. A souvenir `The Graduate' was released.