Thapar Institute Concludes Three-Day Convocation 2026, Celebrating Academic Achievements and Alumni Legacy

Celebrating Alumni and Academic Excellence 

A notable highlight was the presence of distinguished alumnus Vinod Kumar Luthra from the Mechanical Engineering Class of 1966, who returned to the Institute after 60 years. An engineer, inventor, entrepreneur and philanthropist, Luthra reflected on the role TIET played in shaping his career and life. 

“I graduated in 1966, and coming back after 60 years to receive this honour is special. The Institute gave me a foundation that has stayed with me throughout my life. Education is a lifelong responsibility, and the journey does not end with a degree,” he said. 

The convocation also recognised outstanding academic performance through institutional and program-specific honours, including the President Medal, Governor Medal, S. Ranbir Singh Memorial Medal, Prof. V. Rajaraman Computer Science/Engineering Award and S. Ram S. Sidhu Memorial Medal.

Addressing the graduating students, Prof. Padmakumar Nair, Vice-Chancellor, TIET, said, “Your market value is not your human value, and your professional success is not the ultimate measure of a meaningful life. A career is not merely a ladder to climb, it is a structure we design, build, revise and sometimes partially dismantle. That is the architecture of ambition. The only full-time job in the world is to be human.” 

Dr. Rajeev Ranjan Vederah, Chancellor, TIET, encouraged graduates to continue learning beyond their degrees, saying, “Life is a marathon, not a 100-metre race. Don’t worry about who is ahead of you at 100 metres; who finishes the marathon is the winner. Your degree tells the world what you have learned so far; it should never become a boundary around what you are willing to learn next. Do not become so occupied with making a great life that you forget to have a good one.” 

The three-day celebration brought together academic achievement and alumni experiences, reaffirming the enduring connection between Thapar Institute and its graduates as they embark on new professional and personal journeys. 

About Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology 

Established in 1956, Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology (TIET), Patiala, is a deemed-to-be university offering undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programs across engineering, technology, sciences, liberal arts and management. The Institute combines academic learning, research and industry engagement to prepare students for evolving professional and societal needs. 

For more information, visit https://www.thapar.edu/. 

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