like explainability while leveraging AI for
healthcare.
As you graduate, I recommend that you
look at these technology and industry shifts
as opportunities to build your career. I was
part of the shift to digital computing and was
fortunate to build my career in the IT industry.
I have witnessed the power of technology
shifts and entrepreneurship first-hand. The
time I entered the Indian IT industry in the late
1970s, it was a hot bed of entrepreneurial
activity. The 1970s and early 1980s witnessed
India’s first wave of IT entrepreneurship.
This was an era where smaller and more
powerful computers driven by advances
in fabricating microprocessor chips were
powering computers. Computers were
not only becoming powerful but were also
becoming affordable. Independent software
products and software services vendors were
making a mark to make computers useful
for a myriad of applications like inventory
control in supermarkets, controlling a steel
plant, running a stock exchange, airline
reservation, etc.
India was also getting on to the IT bandwagon.
HCL, Wipro Information Technology, Infosys,
NIIT, Mastek, Softek and other IT start-ups
were established in this time. HCL and Wipro
focused on providing hardware solutions for
the Indian market. NIIT focused on software
training for the Indian market. Mastek was
focused on providing software services for
the Indian market. Softek was focused on
software products for the Indian market. And
Infosys was focused on providing software
services to the international markets. These
companies became the magnet for India’s
best young talent then.
Similarly, the companies that are at the
forefront of leveraging today’s technologies
are becoming sought-after employers now.
These companies grow fast and will give you
tremendous career-growth opportunities.
Some of you will have entrepreneurial plans
and start a business, taking advantage of
current technology-driven shifts.
Whether you aim to become a corporate
professional or an entrepreneur, there are
some things that do not change. These are
fundamental traits of dedication, discipline,
passion,
leadership,
communication,
networking and empathy.
I am sure your stint in MAHE would have
sharpened these traits in all of you. These
are similar to the Manipal values of integrity,
transparency, quality, teamwork, execution
with passion, and humane touch. Apart
from aiming to be a successful corporate
professional or entrepreneur, I urge all of you
to consider taking part in nation building.
In fact, this region of Karnataka – Manipal,
Udupi and Tonse – has a special place in
nation building from the 1920s. This is where
Tonse Madhav Anant Pai was born and he
went on to put this region on India’s economic
and social map. TMA Pai was the first to start
a private, self-financing medical college
offering MBBS in India. He established the
Kasturba Medical College, Manipal in 1953
and Manipal Institute of Technology in 1957,
which was followed by a string of other
educational institutions including Kasturba
Medical College, Mangalore, Manipal
College of Dental Sciences, Manipal College
of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Manipal Pre-
University College. He, along with his brother
Upendra Pai, also established Syndicate Bank
originally in Udupi, Karnataka. The story of
how the bank was started is inspiring and I
want each one of you to read this story.
Let us now look at the macro Indian context.
The most important economic question for
India is - how can we successfully shift from
consumption led economic growth model
that defined much of the 20th century to a
new economic growth model fit for the 21st
century. India is at the transformational cusp.
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