PATIALA: Thapar University, one of India's top technical universities, conducted its convocation ceremony for 2007-2008 batchesMonday.  Tarun Das, Chief Mentor, Confederation of Indian Industry, and  Gautam Thapar, President, Thapar University and Chairman & CEO, Avantha, presided over the ceremony.

Dr. Abhijit Mukherjee, Director, Thapar University conferred the degrees to the graduating students.

 Dr. A. Sivathanu Pillai, Distinguished Scientist & Chief Controller, Research & Development, DRDO, and CEO & MD, BrahMos Aerospace, was awarded a Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) for his outstanding contribution to the field of defence research and development.

 New facilities at the university, including the faculty chambers and MBA and undergraduate blocks were inaugurated. Mr. Gautam Thapar also laid the foundation stone for the sports complex.   

Gautam Thapar, President of Thapar University and Chairman & CEO, Avantha, said, "Besides being a premier institute of higher learning, Thapar University is today known for its research and development work and its  application in industry. For over fifty years Thapar University has contributed towards the nation-building process. I am sure the institute's pathbreaking work will take our country's technical expertise to the world."

Tarun Das, Chief Mentor, CII, said, "I am confident that these young graduates will become the torchbearers of the values and legacy of Thapar University. My congratulations to Dr. Pillai on being conferred Honoris Causa. Today, India needs more dedicated scientists like him, and I hope that his presence here will serve as an inspiration to many of these young people."

 The Director of Thapar University, Dr. Abhijit Mukherjee, said, "We train our graduates to have sound knowledge and skills, respect for profession and resolute social and ethical values. Like their predecessors, I am sure these graduates will prove us vindicated. Our students are encouraged to think laterally beyond the written text, so that they create new knowledge for the future world. An unmistakable sign of their future-readiness was apparent when they designed, fabricated and raced a formula car. They competed against more than seventy university teams at the Silverstone Race Track and won the best endeavour prize."