CHENNAI: “India is a superpower and you are the new face of India,” said Ambassador of the United States Evan Samuel Dobelle, former Assistant Secretary in the United States Federal Government and Higher Education Administrator, on Sunday.
Addressing a special convocation of SRM University, he said that for an extra boost of inspiration to students, “Now you need to take the lead – for the US, Europe, Asia and South America.”
The special convocation ceremony was held a day after over 12,000 students graduated, in honour of former Supreme Court judge and ex-Chairman of Law Commission AR Lakshmanan and Olympic medallist Saina Nehwal, who were conferred with Honorary Degree of Doctor of Literature (Honoris Causa).
So it was quite poignant that shortly after their personal success stories were shared, Dobelle took the stage talking of a country that accommodates dreams for all, irrespective of background. This quickly segued into education, economics, technology and more. “You have a society that over the next few years will surpass a literacy rate of over 90 per cent. You will be one of the three largest economies in the world along with China and the United States. You will be a world power economically,” he said.