JNU graduates carry societal responsibility along with academic success: Pradhan

He praised JNU for fostering an “inclusive atmosphere” and for its efforts to promote equity and social inclusion in student admissions and faculty recruitment. Additionally, he acknowledged the institute’s democratic ethos. “Debate, discussion, dissent, and even confrontation are essential elements of a healthy democracy,” he stated, adding that these processes should ultimately lead to a conclusion.

He emphasised that once a decision is made, there needs to be a “collective willingness to cooperate in its implementation to ensure smooth and effective administration.”

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan addressed graduating students at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), emphasizing that their degrees represent not only personal achievements but also a responsibility to society.

During the university’s convocation, he highlighted JNU’s strong and distinctive legacy of academic excellence, built through decades of dedicated contributions. He noted that JNU continues to be one of the country’s premier universities by maintaining academic autonomy and fostering a vibrant interdisciplinary environment where critical thinking is central to its mission.

Pradhan’s visit to the campus followed reports of some students raising “provocative” slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

The minister asserted that JNU graduates are poised to play a vital role in nation-building. He mentioned that many graduates would drive innovation and entrepreneurship by establishing start-ups and unicorns, while others would shape the nation’s intellectual discourse as writers, journalists, and thought leaders.

“The nation expects them to make an active, positive and meaningful contribution towards realising Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat – 2047,” he said.