Dr. C.N. Ashwath Narayan, Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka, Minister for Higher Education, IT and BT & Science and Technology & The Pro Visitor, CMR University presided over the event and conferred the degrees. Speaking on the occasion, the minister said commended the University for having successful come so far in so short a period of time. He further opined that Bangalore being a very important city in the world today, we need good universities and academic institutions. He advised the graduates that it is a very important stage in their life and career as they have been taken care of, for a long time and it is only now that they will have to come out in the open and fend for themselves. “If the foundation is strong, anyone can build a great house” he compared the same to the degree that the students are being awarded today. He told them that they have got a very good foundation from CMR University and it is for them now to take it further. He also announced that Karnataka will soon be the first state in the world to come up with an Innovation Authority to ensure that the law will not become an obstruction to anyone trying to come up with innovative ideas. He said that we will ensure that our state will become one of the easiest to do business and invite more and more people to invest in Karnataka. He further wished the students the very best of luck in their future.
Dr. G. Satheesh Reddy, Secretary, Department of Defence Research and Development, Government of India was the Chief Guest for the event and delivering his Convocation Address, he expressed his appreciation of the CMR University’s commitment to innovation and creativity he also said “Technologists play a major role in building the nation, but Universities play an important role in encouraging innovation.” He further said that India has shown to the world that we are capable of achieving the best. You have to be very strong academically and engage in the kind of research that will produce, first of its kind technology. If India has to be a technology leader, the research must come from our academic institutes and University. Not only DRDO but we also have to supply to the world. “So dear graduates use the training received and dream for your nation; that dream will never let you sleep.”
With the objective of emphasising the importance of arts and culture in a world that is increasingly obsessed by technology, CMR University has conferred the Renowned Actor & Filmmaker, Shri. V. Ravichandran, with Honoris Causa degree in Letters for his immense contributions to art & culture and Kannada film industry.
Gracefully accepting the same he said that a great responsibility has been cast upon his shoulders. However he expressed his confidence that he will ensure that he will always try to do the right thing for Karnataka. He also expressed his gratitude to the University for the great honour. He shared with everyone the fact that on the day that he was informed about the honorary degree was also his daughter’s birthday and the inspiring news on such a happy occasion has spurred him into the right frame of mind to launch his musical magnum opus which he has been planning for from the past 35 years.
He also expressed his immense gratitude to the University, the management for having identified, recognised and honoured his achievements and accomplishments to art culture and society.
Shri. K.C. Ramamurthy, IPS (Retd.), Chairman, CMR Group of Institutions was the Guest of Honour and awarded the medals to the recipients. Dr. Sabitha Ramamurthy, Chancellor, Shri K.R. Jayadeep, Pro Chancellor, Dr.Tristha Ramamurthy, Provost, Dr. M. S. Shivakumar, Vice Chancellor, Dr. C.M.Bhaskar Reddy, Pro Vice Chancellor-1, Dr. P.V. Sivapullaiah, Pro Vice Chancellor-2, Dr. Praveen R, Registrar & Prof. S K Balaraman, Registrar (Evaluation)were also present on the dais along with the members of the Board of Governors, Board of Management and Academic Council of the University.
In the 4th Annual Convocation, three Ph.D. scholars, 198 Post Graduate students of M.B.A., M.B.A (Executive-Product Leadership), M.Com, M.S.W, M.Sc. (Psy-Clinical), M.Sc. (Psy-HRDM), LL.M. (Commercial Law), LL.M. (Constitutional Law) programmes and 216 Under Graduate students of B.Com, B.Com. (Honors),B.Com. (Honors) IAF, B.Com. (Honors) RMA, B.B.A., B.A.,B.A. (Honors), B.Sc. (Film making), B.Sc. (Photography), B.Sc. (Sound Engineering) and B.C.A. (Game & Mobile Software Development) programmes were awarded degree certificates.
A total of 17 students, who have taken top positions in their programmes shared a total of 18 gold medals for their achievements. Ms. Priya Darshini, of the M.Com programme has the distinction of being awarded with two gold medals viz., CMR Gold Medal & ISDC Gold medal.
