Manipal: On the 3rd and final day of the 21st Convocation of Manipal University, Manipal, the graduating students were guided and motivated by an alumnus, Faizal Kottikollon, as they prepare to re-invent themselves after leaving this campus. He instilled confidence and optimism in them by citing examples from his own life after graduating from Manipal Institute of Technology and TAPMI in Manipal. Considering the huge number of students receiving degrees, over 3,000, the Convocation this year was held on three days to facilitate a smooth conduct of the event.

Faizal, Founder and Chairman, KEF Holdings UAE, did not ask the thousand-odd students, present today, to make any fairy tale resolution, but told them the importance of inclusive growth and prosperity as he perceived. In his Convocation address at KMC Greens here on Saturday, he spoke about the ethics of hard work and discipline gained when he was a student at MIT and called upon the students to create value for those around them and particularly to the environment.

“I was fortunate to be armed with a world-class education in engineering and business management from Manipal. And I went about setting up what became the world’s largest integrated and most technologically advanced foundry for valves for the oil and gas industry called Emirates Techno Casting”.

Faizal informed the gathering that he had promised Narendra Modi during the Prime Minister’s recent visit to Dubai that he would provide cheap housing to India. “I will present the Prime Minister a house for Rs 5 lakhs in March in Chennai,” he said. “The technology can be used to construct buildings at a much lesser cost and shorter period of time,” he added.

“I also left from here with an extremely strong ethic of hard work and discipline that was instilled in me from the faculty and my peers here. I had an outlook to the world that was far more enhanced than my peers at other institutions. But more than that, I had a value system that allowed me to recognize the importance of inclusive growth and prosperity,” he said.

With boundless opportunities before them, Faizal told the graduates to continue to be “Inspired by Life” -- Manipal University’s maxim which is ingrained in the heart of every student. Then a word of caution in conclusion, “Remember to use that inspiration to give back as well”.

Gold Medal Winners: Beenaben Bahadursinh Mahida (B Pharm, Manipal College Of Pharmaceutical Sciences), Priya Arora (BAJC, School of Communication) Anupallavi E Poduval (BArch, Faculty of Architecture), Beena Annie Sam (Pharm D, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences), Pallavi Siddharth Toprani (M Pharm, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences), Vishala V (M.Com, School of Communication) Sachin Kumar M.S. (MSc Tech, Enabled Systems, School of Information Sciences) Renita Pinto (MBA, School of Management).