Knowledge must shape public life, economy and administration, says Vivekananda International Foundation president Gurumurthy

Pune: Knowledge and scholarship must play a greater role in shaping public life, the economy and administration, said S Gurumurthy, president of Vivekananda International Foundation, at the 14th convocation of Deccan College Post-Graduate and Research Institute on Tuesday.Gurumurthy, who was the chief guest, also highlighted Deccan College’s distinctive legacy and its contribution to the study of India’s history, culture, languages and material heritage.“Knowledge and scholarship have an important role in shaping public life, the economy and administration, as well as India’s cultural and civilisational outlook,” he said.The convocation saw 164 degrees awarded to students from various disciplines, while 12 scholars received PhDs in Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology, Linguistics, and Sanskrit and Lexicography. The university also presented academic awards and prizes to meritorious students.Three eminent scholars were conferred honorary Doctor of Letters (DLitt) degrees: former Jawaharlal Nehru University pro-vice-chancellor and linguist Kapil Kapoor; former head of the Sanskrit and Prakrit languages department at Savitribai Phule Pune University and Sanskrit scholar Saroja Bhate; and former Archaeological Survey of India regional director and archaeologist K K Muhammed.Deccan College chancellor Bhushan Patwardhan, who presided over the ceremony, congratulated the graduating students and recalled the contributions of generations of scholars, teachers, students and supporters to the institution.“The institution, founded in 1821, is among India’s oldest centres of modern learning and has built a distinctive academic legacy through its work in the humanities and human sciences. We plan to further strengthen its academic role through new programmes and collaborations,” Patwardhan said.“These programmes and collaborations include Bharat-Vidya, a proposed five-year integrated programme in transdisciplinary studies centred on Bharatiya knowledge systems, and the Alliance of Bharatiya Academia (ABHA), envisaged as a voluntary alliance of universities, with Deccan College as the anchor institution,” he added.The institution also plans to establish a Centre of Excellence in AI and Humanities in collaboration with Persistent Systems founder Anand Deshpande. The proposed centre will focus on the human, ethical, linguistic and cultural questions emerging from artificial intelligence and other new technologies.Acting vice-chancellor Prasad Joshi delivered the welcome address. The convocation brought together graduating students, research scholars, faculty members, parents and guests.