There's mass genocide happening in Palestine, IIT Madras student says in his convocation speech
Dhananjay Balakrishnan was speaking after receiving Governor's Prize
Chennai: In a speech that has sparked discussion across India and beyond, Dhananjay Balakrishnan, a student from IIT Madras, used his convocation ceremony to speak about the ongoing crisis in Palestine. Balakrishnan, who won the prestigious Governor’s Prize for his exceptional performance in his dual degree program, spoke passionately about what he called a "mass genocide" happening in Palestine.
During the convocation at IIT Madras, Balakrishnan said he felt it was his duty to speak out for Palestine. He said, "This is a call for action against the mass genocide going on in Palestine. People are dying, and there is no end in sight." His speech has been widely shared on social media, drawing attention to the issue.
Balakrishnan pointed out that STEM fields—science, technology, engineering, and mathematics—have often been used to serve the interests of powerful countries like Israel. He said, "STEM as a field in itself has historically been used to advance the ulterior motives of imperial powers such as Israel."
His speech came at a time when global protests against Israel's actions in Palestine are on the rise. Recently, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari shared a video on social media showing a Palestinian flag being waved in Murshidabad, calling for action against what he termed "anti-national elements."
Even Adhikari, known for labeling critics of the government as anti-national, might hesitate to use such a term for Balakrishnan, a top student at IIT Madras. Balakrishnan, who is from Kochi, Kerala, is completing his BTech in Mechanical Engineering and MTech in Data Science. He told the audience that "inaction is complicity," emphasizing the importance of taking action against injustice.
Balakrishnan received his award from Nobel laureate Brian K. Kobilka, recognizing his achievements in both academics and extracurricular activities. In his brief yet impactful speech, he challenged his peers to think about the ethical implications of their work. He said, "Many of these prestigious companies are directly or indirectly implicated in the war against Palestine by providing the state of Israel with technology. Technology that is used to kill."
Balakrishnan's words echo a growing trend of student activism worldwide. In countries like the United States and the United Kingdom, students have been protesting against Israel's military actions. More than 2,000 students in the U.S. have been arrested for taking part in pro-Palestine protests. Similar demonstrations have occurred in Canada, Australia, and European universities like Oxford and Cambridge.
South Africa became the first country to take Israel to the International Court of Justice, accusing it of committing genocide in Gaza. This global response has been supported by many Indian celebrities, including Priyanka Chopra and Alia Bhatt, who shared messages on social media showing solidarity with Palestinians after an Israeli airstrike in Rafah caused significant casualties.
Balakrishnan concluded his speech by calling for reflection and action. "As engineers graduating into the real world, it is our job to be aware of the consequences of the work we do and also to interrogate our own position in this complex system of power imbalances," he said. He urged his classmates to consider how they could help those who are oppressed by caste, class, and creed. "I believe this would be our first step to curb the never-ending cycle of suffering," he said. "…we owe it to them [the magnanimous people of India] to lift every single person out of their misery. Inaction is complicity. I hope you and I and all of us can take action to make the right decisions, however hard they might be."
Balakrishnan's speech has started a significant conversation, highlighting the role of young intellectuals in addressing global issues. According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, more than 38,000 Palestinians have died since Israel began a military offensive last October in response to Hamas attacks. The IIT Madras convocation thus became a key moment for raising awareness about the humanitarian crisis in Palestine, with Balakrishnan's call for action and empathy resonating with many people around the world.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Bihar CM Nitish Kumar takes oath as Rajya Sabha member
New Delhi (PTI): Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday took oath as a member of Rajya Sabha, marking the end of his two-decade rule in the eastern state and paving the way for a new chief minister.
The oath was administered by Rajya Sabha Chairman C P Radhakrishnan in his chamber at a brief ceremony. The Chairman later welcomed him as a member of the Upper House and also on his return in Parliament.
Kumar took the oath in Hindi in the presence of Union Minister J P Nadda, who is also leader of the house, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Panchayati Raj Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Ram Nath Thakur and Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal.
Bihar deputy chief minister Samrat Chaudhary was also present at the oath-taking.
JDU leader and party's working president Sanjay Kumar Jha, Congress chief whip in Rajya Sabha Jairam Ramesh, besides BJP MP and former union minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy and BJP chief whip in Lok Sabha Sanjay Jaiswal, were among those present during the oath-taking.
"Vice President of India and Chairman, Rajya Sabha, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan, administered the oath to Shri Nitish Kumar as an elected Member of Rajya Sabha, from Bihar, at Parliament House today," the Vice President's office said on X, while sharing pictures of the oath-taking.
After the oath-taking, Kumar came out of the new Parliament building and spoke about the time he was a member of the Lok Sabha and sat in the old Parliament building.
As Kumar assumes the Rajya Sabha role, it marks the end of his long two-decade rule in Bihar. Kumar will soon resign as chief minister and the NDA is likely to elect a new chief minister of Bihar on April 14.
He has already resigned as a member of the State Legislative Council on March 30 after he was elected to Rajya Sabha.
The JD(U) supremo was elected to the Upper House of Parliament on March 16, and he had to quit as an MLC in the 14-day period after his election.
