Contribute to nation-building instead of going abroad, engineering graduates advised

Distinguished researcher and emeritus professor at Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, Gautam R. Desiraju advised young engineering graduates to contribute to nation-building efforts instead of joining the workforce abroad.

While referring to the ₹1,00,000 annual fee imposed by the Trump administration on companies for each H-1B visa, Mr. Desiraju said that there might be no place for Indian graduates abroad, but India’s own economy was “very strong”.

“India is growing. Our own macro-economy is very strong,” he said, while delivering the Graduation Day address for the graduating batch of 2021-25 at Vidyavardhaka College of Engineering (VVCE) in Mysuru on Saturday.

Pointing out that U.S. companies were unlikely to pay the huge fee imposed by the U.S. President to bring in Indian engineers, Mr. Desiraju said that the “arithmetic” of saving 100 U.S. dollars and sending home its equivalent in Indian rupees may have worked twenty years ago, but not anymore.

He said India was on the verge of emerging as the world’s third largest economy and the U.S. does not like it.

Recalling the long duration of time taken for a rail or road journey between Bengaluru to Mysuru earlier, and the present-day travel between the two cities, which is completed in two hours, Mr. Desiraju, who is also the grandson of former President of India S. Radhakrishnan, said that India, which has come of age, now requires more engineers to build roads and bridges. “We should all be part of the progress in India,” he said.

He described Artificial Intelligence (AI) as the “new danger”, which poses a threat of massive job cuts in the U.S. as well as in India. “Many of the jobs you are thining of doing will be made redundant,” he warned.

Wondering the need for young Indians to be fixated with computers and working in IT companies in Bengaluru, Mr. Desiraju cautioned the youngsters against lifestyle diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. He encouraged more engineering graduates to take to academics.

On China

Mr. Desiraju, however, called upon the young graduates to work in China if they get an opportunity.

Pointing out that the Chinese were ahead of many other countries in several fields, he said Indians should not hesitate to go and work short-term in China. “From my experience, they have high respect for the intelligence of Indians. If they realise that you know your work, they will treat you with respect. This is the difference between China and the U.S.,” he said.

Secretary of Vidyavardhaka Sangha (VVS) P. Vishwanath, in his address, urged the students to stay connected with their alma mater and inspire their juniors. VVCE principal B. Sadashive Gowda highlighted the college’s achievements and advised the students to carry forward the spirit of never giving up.

817 graduates

Meanwhile, a total of 817 engineering students, including 552 boys and 265 girls from different disciplines, who graduated from VVCE, were given their degree certificates on Saturday.

Deepti Bhat, who bagged the first rank in Computer Science Engineering, also emerged as the topper of the college. Other rank holders included Vidhyashankar B.V. — AIML; Rohan Vijay — CSE (AIML); Manoj S. — CV; Prerana Thejraj — ECE; Anushree S. — EEE; Dhruthi G. — ISE; S. Abhinav — Mechanical.

Gundappa Gowda, president, VVS; B. Shivalingappa, vice-president, VVS; Shrishaila Ramannavar, treasurer, VVS; Shobha Shankar, vice-principal; and Sudev L.J., Controller of Examinations; were present.