BLURB
Sitharaman urged Gen Z and Gen Alpha students to lead responsibly, stay humble, embrace collaboration and prioritise national interests.
CHENNAI
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday urged students to embrace humility, responsibility and leadership while keeping the nation’s interests at the centre of their professional journeys.
Addressing students at MGR University in Chennai, Sitharaman cited renowned scholar Sir Isaac Newton as an example of humility. She said Newton acknowledged the contributions and assistance of other scholars in helping him achieve success and make important discoveries.
“A brilliant scholar like Newton acknowledged that he required the assistance of various other scholars to achieve his success,” Sitharaman said, highlighting how the scholar recognised the role of collaboration in his achievements.
The finance minister stressed that students should develop humility alongside academic and professional excellence. She said recognising the contributions of others was an important quality that could help young people grow personally and professionally.
Sitharaman also called on graduating students to take up leadership responsibilities and put the country first as they enter their professional careers. She emphasised that the security and strength of the nation were essential for providing a stable future for its citizens.
She further encouraged the students to remain humble while pursuing excellence and adapting to rapid technological changes. Her message focused on combining ambition with responsibility, collaboration and a strong commitment to the nation.
Addressing the younger generations, including Gen Z and Gen Alpha, Sitharaman underlined the importance of developing leadership qualities while remaining grounded. She urged students to recognise that success is often built through collective efforts and support from others.
The minister’s address highlighted humility, responsibility and national interest as key values for young people preparing to navigate changing academic, professional and technological environments.