Shashi Tharoor Stresses Critical Thinking as Cornerstone of Democracy at St Xavier's Convocation
Congress Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor delivered a powerful address to graduating students at the convocation ceremony of St Xavier's University in Kolkata on Saturday, emphasizing that critical thinking and respectful engagement with opposing viewpoints are not merely academic exercises but fundamental necessities for sustaining India's plural democracy.
A Vibrant Yet Complex India Demands Balanced Citizens
Speaking at the Biswa Bangla Convention Centre, Tharoor told the assembled graduates: "The India you inherit is vibrant, ambitious and dynamic. It is also complex, contested, divided, and occasionally turbulent." He argued that such an environment demands from citizens not just competence but judgment, not only ambition but balance, and not merely conviction but civility.
"In such an environment, the habits cultivated through your education here become invaluable: the capacity to think critically, to weigh evidence, and to engage respectfully with opposing viewpoints," Tharoor stated. "These are not academic luxuries; they are democratic necessities because a society as plural as ours cannot be sustained by uniformity of opinion."
Honorary Doctorate and Personal Connection
The university conferred upon Tharoor the degree of DLitt, Honoris Causa, in recognition of his exemplary contributions to public service and government. This marked his first honorary doctorate awarded within India.
"This was my first honorary doctorate in India, and it resonates all the more with me since I am a Xaverian," said the parliamentarian, who studied at St Xavier's Collegiate School in Kolkata during his formative years.
Convocation Ceremony Details and University Vision
The convocation saw 1,052 postgraduate and undergraduate students along with 25 PhD scholars receive their degrees. Seventeen outstanding students were awarded gold medals for academic excellence.
Vice-Chancellor Father John Felix Raj presented the annual report and highlighted the university's achievements while outlining future plans. "We are working towards our 'Vision 2030' by expanding both our campus and courses," he announced. "We are contemplating introducing an MBA programme in healthcare and hospital management."
Literature's Role in Understanding Human Complexity
Reflecting on the honorary doctorate in literature, Tharoor described it as particularly meaningful because literature "deepens understanding of the human condition" and complements rather than competes with other fields of knowledge like science, commerce, and law.
He elaborated: "It reminds us that behind every policy statistic there lies a human life, a lived experience; behind every technological breakthrough, a human aspiration; and behind every institutional debate is a discussion about values."
"It teaches us to see complexity where others may seek simplification and empathy where others may settle for abstraction," Tharoor continued. "In societies as diverse and argumentative as our own, such habits of mind are indispensable. They strengthen the qualities upon which any democracy depends: the ability to listen, to question, to dissent, and above all, to understand complexity."
Distinguished Gathering
The ceremony was graced by Reverend Doctor Arturo Sosa, SJ, Superior General based in Rome, Italy, who served as the chief guest for this significant academic occasion.
