The Impressive TimesDeoghar, October 10: Vice-President of India C. P. Radhakrishnan on Saturday addressed the second convocation of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Deoghar, in Jharkhand, congratulating graduating doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals and urging them to place competence, compassion and character at the centre of their professional lives.
Describing the convocation as a celebration of the aspirations of the Santhal Pargana region, the Vice-President said AIIMS Deoghar symbolised expanding opportunities in medical education and healthcare for tribal and rural communities.
He called upon graduates to extend their knowledge beyond institutional boundaries and serve villages, underserved communities and remote parts of the country. Referring to the legacies of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, Sidho-Kanhu and Tilka Manjhi, he emphasised that medical knowledge achieves its highest purpose when used to serve society.
Radhakrishnan appreciated AIIMS Deoghar’s contribution to strengthening regional healthcare through community outreach programmes covering malaria elimination, lymphatic filariasis surveillance, anaemia, hearing health and school health.
He noted that a medical institution’s responsibilities extend beyond its campus and urged healthcare professionals to remain connected to the communities they are expected to serve.
The Vice-President said a medical degree was not merely an academic achievement but also an obligation to care for vulnerable and underserved people with integrity, empathy and dedication. He also commended nursing professionals for their essential role in delivering compassionate patient care.
Highlighting the expansion of India’s medical education infrastructure, Radhakrishnan said the number of medical colleges in the country had increased from 387 before 2014 to 846.
He said institutions such as AIIMS Deoghar reflected the commitment to balanced and inclusive development. Access to quality healthcare and higher education across states, districts and villages, he added, would be essential to achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.
The Vice-President emphasised that strengthening healthcare infrastructure in rural and tribal regions would help ensure that the benefits of development reached communities across the country.
Radhakrishnan noted that women accounted for 132 of the 173 graduating students at the convocation.
He described the participation as a reflection of India’s progress from women’s empowerment towards women-led development, highlighting the role of education in enabling women to realise their potential and contribute to society.
Addressing the graduating students, the Vice-President encouraged them to embrace emerging technologies responsibly and ensure that innovations in artificial intelligence, telemedicine and digital diagnostics benefit people in remote areas as well as urban centres.
He also urged young medical professionals to promote a “No to Drugs” message among young people and uphold ethical standards in their professional and personal conduct.
Radhakrishnan expressed confidence that AIIMS Deoghar would continue to develop as a centre of clinical excellence, scientific research and compassionate healthcare for Jharkhand and the wider eastern region.
He concluded by urging graduates to make competence, compassion and character their guiding principles and contribute meaningfully to the development of the nation.
The convocation was attended by Jharkhand Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar; Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Prataprao Jadhav; Jharkhand Health Minister Dr. Irfan Ansari; Lok Sabha MP Dr. Nishikant Dubey; Rajya Sabha MP Pradip Kumar Varma; Deoghar MLA Suresh Paswan; AIIMS Deoghar President Professor M. V. Padma Srivastava; and Executive Director and CEO Professor Nitin M. Gangane, along with faculty members, graduating students and their families.
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