Mangaluru, (The Hindu): “Knowledge has half-life, so keep learning throughout life. That is the only way to ensure knowledge will not become obsolete. If you want to succeed in life, keep learning all the time from your colleagues, from your friends, from your juniors and tomorrow even from your children,” said Ashok Jhunjhunwala, Professor, IIT Madras, and former Principal Adviser, Ministry of Power, Coal, New and Renewable Energy, Government of India.

He the chief guest on the last of the three-day 25th convocation programme of Manipal University at KMC Greens here on Saturday.

According to a press release, Dr. Jhunjhunwala said, “Today, you are fortunate that you can also learn from the Internet. The day you stop learning, you will become obsolete. You are fortunate to graduate at a time when our nation is poised to grow out of its past and become a stronger nation. Each of you will indeed enjoy this, but have a special role to play and owe great responsibility in getting us there”.

“You are walking into the beginning of this transition. The knowledge and skills, honed by this institute, could make a difference. Robotics, 3D-manufacturing (also called additive manufacturing), nano-materials have all arrived and is going to transform society. There will be many occasions in the future when you will find that all you have learnt here, in the class and outside, to be very useful”.

“There will be lots of challenges and problems. One of the biggest problems that you will face in near future is the water problem in the world. Availability of water will be probably the world’s biggest challenge. And India will face this faster than others. The only way out is to recycle every drop that we use. If we do not solve the problem, you could see water-wars in your lifetime,” he said.

“Another related problem, especially for India, will be India’s waste disposal. Swachh Bharat will remain a slogan, if technologies and processes are not developed and used extensively. Quick-fixes will not work. The world has to become truly sustainable. It will be a great challenge,” Dr. Jhunjhunwala said.

A release issued here said that on the concluding day of the convocation, 1,269 graduates were awarded certificates. Two students, Sunaina Puri from Manipal College of Dental Sciences, and Malshe Rohit Sanjay from Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration received the prestigious Dr. T.M.A. Pai gold medals.