Ahmedabad: Anant National University recently hosted the 7th
Convocation, conferring degrees on 299 students from the Bachelor of Design,
Bachelor of Architecture, Master of Design, Anant Fellowship in Sustainability
and Built Environment, MSc in Sustainability and Built Environment and Anant
Fellowship in Climate Action. Padma Shri awardee and Chief Scientist and
Co-founder of Zoho Corporation, Dr Sridhar Vembu, was the Chief Guest. Mr
Ajay Piramal, President, Anant National University, Dr Sanjeev Vidyarthi,
Provost, Anant National University, and the members of the board were
present during the convocation.
Addressing Anant graduands
during his convocation address, Dr Vembu said, “Coming to Anant National
University has truly been a joy. The creativity and purpose-driven designs by
Anant students blew my mind. I saw remarkable work, the kind of innovation our
nation urgently needs. We often celebrate the achievements of our past, yet
rarely do we pause to honour what we are building in the present. We must think
beyond our own lifetimes and create for the future, and Anant is clearly
teaching its students to do exactly that. Good design elevates the soul and
spirit, and I have seen that spirit alive across this campus. Keep dreaming,
stay young, stay relevant. When you suspend your ego and stop trying to make a
statement, you often end up making your most powerful one. Focus on the problem,
and extraordinary work will follow.”
Dr Sridhar Vembu co-founded
Zoho Corporation in 1996 and served as the company’s CEO from 2000 to 2024. In
2025, he assumed the role of Chief Scientist to focus on deep-tech R&D,
particularly in AI development. Zoho Corporation has emerged as the largest
software product company in India while pursuing a unique set of choices that
span hiring, training, product strategy, location and customer satisfaction,
all driven by a holistic philosophy that puts contentment and humility as key
virtues.
Speaking on the occasion,
Mr Ajay Piramal, President, Anant National University, said, “Design
gives us the tools to reimagine industries, rebuild communities and renew our
environment. It is how we transition from ‘Make in India’ as an aspiration to
‘Design for India’ as a philosophy, one rooted in creativity, craftsmanship and
care. At Anant National University, we see ourselves as a part of this national
mission. We are not just teaching design, we are helping young people apply it
to life, to society and to the challenges of our time. We are helping them turn
creativity into careers that make a difference, careers that build, repair and
renew the world around us.”
Congratulating the
graduands, Dr Sanjeev Vidyarthi, Provost, Anant National University, shared, “As
you enter this new chapter of your life, remember that there couldn’t have been
a better time to begin this journey. India stands in a moment of remarkable
opportunity. We are growing, innovating and moving with purpose toward becoming
Viksit Bharat within just a few decades. And you will be the builders of that
India. An India that is sustainable, inclusive and globally recognised. An
India where design thinking shapes governance, industry and everyday life for
all citizens.”
The ceremony also
recognised exceptional students across different categories spanning all
programmes, including Academic Excellence, Outstanding Academic Performance,
Best Innovation, Best Graduation Project, Best Thesis, Best Live-Action Project
and Best Student. For the Convocation Ceremony, the university campus
transformed into a dynamic exhibition
space, with galleries,
auditoriums and studios displaying student projects, celebrating their journey
of innovation and dedication.
In the past, convocations
at Anant National University have been graced by Padma Bhushan
and Padma Shri awardee Mrs Sudha Murty, Padma Vibhushan Shri B V
Doshi, Padma Bhushan Shri N Chandrasekaran and Hon’ble Governor of Tamil Nadu
Shri R N Ravi.