NIT Warangal Celebrates Academic Excellence at 23rd Convocation
The National Institute of Technology (NIT) Warangal hosted its 23rd convocation ceremony, marking a significant milestone for 1,913 students who received their degrees. The event featured distinguished guests from industry and defense sectors who shared valuable insights with the graduating class.
Industry Leader Stresses Values and Innovation
Anand Ramamoorthy, Vice President and Managing Director of Micron India, delivered the convocation address, emphasizing that true success extends beyond academic achievements. He defined genuine intelligence as being rooted in kindness, humility, and fairness rather than mere technical prowess.
Ramamoorthy encouraged graduates to cultivate curiosity and practice what he termed "quiet networking" - building genuine connections without overt ambition. He specifically advised against constant comparisons with peers and instead urged students to view artificial intelligence as a launchpad for innovation rather than a threat.
The Micron India head shared his organization's guiding principle known as the 3F Principle: Fair, Fearless, and Fun. He concluded with powerful advice for the new graduates: "Stay agile, stay kind, and trust that clarity comes with experience."
DRDO Chairman Calls for Talent in Defense Research
The ceremony honored Dr. Samir V Kamat, Secretary of the Department of Defence R&D and Chairman of DRDO, with a Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) degree. In his acceptance speech, Dr. Kamat expressed gratitude to NIT Warangal for the recognition and outlined DRDO's vision for national self-reliance in defense technology.
"The organization envisions self-reliance for the nation," Dr. Kamat stated while making a direct appeal to the graduating students. He encouraged them to consider DRDO as a potential career destination, emphasizing that young engineers could make significant contributions to nation-building through defense research.
Outstanding Graduates and Their Achievements
The convocation recognized exceptional academic performance across various disciplines. Palacharla Sri Satya Naveen emerged as the overall BTech topper, while Nikhil Bharat received the best PhD thesis award.
Among the medal recipients, Rohan Gupta, who topped the MSc category in Organic Chemistry, shared his research focus on "photochemical C-3 formylation of indole using methanol." He described his process as green, economical, and supporting sustainable development. Gupta expressed his passion for teaching, stating "I want to build my career in teaching because I genuinely enjoy it."
Groundbreaking Research by PhD Scholars
The convocation highlighted several innovative research projects by doctoral candidates that address real-world challenges:
Nikhil Bharat, originally from Madhubani, Bihar, received a gold medal for his PhD in Mechanical Engineering. His work focused on developing lightweight, high-strength aluminium nanocomposites reinforced with TiO₂ and SiC nanoparticles. These advanced materials have significant applications in aerospace and high-performance engineering systems. Currently a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Girona in Spain, Bharat is working on cryogenic hydrogen-tank testing for next-generation hydrogen-powered aircraft.
Rayappa David Amar Raj from Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, earned his PhD in Electrical Engineering with specialization in AI-driven solar power monitoring. His research developed a comprehensive drone-based inspection system that uses lightweight deep-learning models to detect and classify faults in solar photovoltaic panels in real time. This innovation enables fast, automated inspection of floating, rooftop, and utility-scale solar farms, reducing maintenance costs and improving energy production.
Gugulothu Ramulu, who rose from a humble rural background in Telangana, completed his PhD research addressing two critical challenges: safe disposal of biomedical waste ash and the need for sustainable road-construction materials. His work demonstrated how biomedical waste incinerated ash can be used in pavement base layers as a partial replacement for conventional materials, offering an environmentally friendly construction solution.
Convocation Statistics and Future Impact
The institution awarded a total of 1,913 degrees, including 953 BTech and 142 PhDs, reflecting the institute's commitment to producing high-quality engineering talent. The research presented by graduates demonstrates NIT Warangal's focus on addressing contemporary global challenges through innovation and sustainable solutions.
The convocation ceremony not only celebrated academic achievements but also set the stage for these young engineers to contribute significantly to technological advancement, national development, and global sustainability initiatives.
