CHENNAI: “The country is yet to come out of the colonial mindset,” said Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, while addressing the gathering at the 11th convocation of Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences on Thursday.
He encouraged young minds to reject the western influence and embrace “our culture”.
“India’s GDP before the invaders came and looted was 27 per cent of the world’s GDP,” he told the gathering filled with students and teachers.
Venkaiah echoed the words of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and told the students to “reform, perform and transform” the country, emphasising the importance of performing to reform and transform the country.
Stating that “untouchability is not in the Vedas”, he told students to grow past their differences to ensure a better country in the coming years.
While conceding that technological advances are important and useful, he said “Google can never replace Guru”.
Venkaiah, who began his speech in Tamil by acknowledging the dignitaries in the local tongue, said all students must learn their mother tongue till high school. However, he said learning Hindi, “which should not be forced”, would help students reach out to the entire country.
Minister for Higher Education K P Anbalagan was also present. ISRO chairman K Sivan and three others were awarded honorary doctorates. Sivan was awarded an honorary doctorate in science for his contribution to space science research.
Dental Council of India president Dibyendu Mazumdar, distinguished defence scientist D Satheesh Reddy and KCP Group of Companies director Indira Dutt were also awarded honorary doctorates for their contribution in their respective fields.