'I am not Baba Bageshwar, but...': PM Modi's light-hearted remark draws laughter at IIT Delhi
New Delhi, Aug 8
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday drew laughter and applause when he mentioned Baba Bageshwar while congratulating the students during the Convocation Ceremony of the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi.
Baba Bageshwar, widely known as Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, is the head priest of the Bageshwar Dham Temple located in Madhya Pradesh's Chhatarpur district. He draws large crowds for his spiritual discourses and "divine courts" (divya darbar).
Addressing the gathering, PM Modi said, "All of you are gathered here today, but there must be something going on in your hearts. Now, I am not Baba Bageshwar, but there must be something going on. Some must be thinking of their future, some about their salaries, some must be preparing for a new start in a new city, some must be thinking of start-ups... Everyone has a different path and dreams, but one feeling must be mutual -- recalling the first day in IIT Delhi and today. You must be feeling satisfied by your journey from orientation to convocation... You all should cherish this moment."
A total of 3,000-plus students, including 587 PhD scholars, were conferred their degrees during the ceremony. He congratulated the students, wishing them all the best for their futures, adding that they aren't just taking degrees but taking forward a dream of doing something for the country.
He expressed his joy in attending the convocation ceremony and said, "The way your families are feeling proud today, I am also proud of you all. You are not just taking a degree, but taking forward the dream of doing something for the country."
The Prime Minister also presented IIT Delhi's prestigious academic honours to meritorious students in recognition of their outstanding performance. The awards include the President's Gold Medal, Director's Gold Medal, Shankar Dayal Sharma Gold Medal and Perfect Ten Gold Medal.
On a lighter note, PM Modi said, "If some daughters were meritorious students, then it would have been much better. Sorry, not just some but many."
"Whenever life gives you a reason to look back, then this campus life, your friends, teachers and support staff -- the ones who have become your families and home -- you will remember all this and be thankful for everyone," he added.
PM Modi also virtually inaugurated 'Param Pragya' -- an AI-powered high-performance supercomputing facility at the institute's Sonipat campus.
The facility is expected to strengthen the institute's capabilities in Artificial Intelligence, data science, advanced computing and interdisciplinary research.
— IANS
Reader Comments
The bit about "not just some daughters but many" was a bit unnecessary. I wish he would focus more on merit and less on gender optics. That said, the overall message about carrying forward the dream for the country was genuinely inspiring. IIT Delhi grads are truly lucky to have this experience.
As someone who attended an IIT, I can relate to the nostalgia he mentioned. The journey from the first nervous day to the proud convocation day is truly special. Good to see PM taking time to motivate these bright minds. And Param Pragya supercomputer — India is really pushing AI forward. 🇮🇳
Impressive speech mixing humor with substance. The Baba Bageshwar remark is a smart way to resonate with the spiritual side of Indian culture while keeping it light-hearted. Convocation speeches are usually boring, but this one seems genuinely engaging for the students.
The Param Pragya supercomputer inauguration is the real news here! PM Modi mentioning AI and high-performance computing shows where India is headed. The light jokes are fine, but let's not forget the substance — installing cutting-edge infrastructure at IIT Delhi is a big deal for research and innovation. 👨💻
Nice rapport with the students. It's refreshing to see a world leader who can crack jokes and still deliver an uplifting message. The gold medal distribution and personal touch — especially thanking the staff and families — makes this more than just a ceremonial address. Good vibes all around!
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.