AIIMS convocation: Prez urges young doctors to lead with compassion, integrity
The Statesman | 31 July 2025
In her address to young doctors, President Droupadi Murmu today asked them to uphold the highest ideals of service and lead the nation’s healthcare transformation with humility, dedication, and lifelong learning.
Speaking at the first convocation ceremony of AIIMS Kalyani, the President reminded the graduating doctors that their duty extends far beyond prescriptions and procedures — it includes being role models for healthy living, advocates for the underserved, and torchbearers of medical excellence.
“Doctors have played an important role in the development of the nation,” the President said, noting that India’s average life expectancy — once a mere 32 years at the time of Independence — has more than doubled to about 70 years. “This is a testament to the tireless work of generations of healthcare professionals, and the graduating batch of AIIMS Kalyani must now carry that legacy forward.”
Applauding the country’s strides in disease eradication and vaccination, she cited the elimination of trachoma last year as an example of India’s growing global stature in public health. But she was quick to remind the audience that new-age challenges such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and obesity demand a deeper, more preventive approach — one in which the doctor’s personal example holds transformative power.
“You must adopt a lifestyle that can inspire others,” she urged. “Most health problems today are rooted in diet and lifestyle. Apart from medicines, your advice on healthy living can have a far-reaching impact.”
As the first MBBS batch of AIIMS Kalyani received their degrees, the President called them the “senior-most alumni and the makers of this institute’s future.” She urged them to nurture its identity and reputation with dignity and service. “This is not merely a graduation ceremony. It is the founding moment of a tradition that will define AIIMS Kalyani for decades to come,” she said.
Ms Murmu also invoked the legacy of Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy — the visionary behind the planned city of Kalyani — who, even as chief minister, continued to treat the poor without charging fees. “Let us take a pledge to make AIIMS Kalyani an institute of national pride,” she said, addressing students, teachers, and administrators alike.
Encouraging students to remain abreast of the rapid changes in medical science, she emphasised the need for continuous research and self-improvement. “Medical science evolves daily. As doctors, you must remain lifelong learners.”
The convocation marked a historic milestone for the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Kalyani, as 48 MBBS students from the first batch admitted in 2019 formally graduated alongside 9 scholars of the Post-Doctoral Certificate Course (PDCC).
Dr Kalarab Mukherjee was honoured with the Best Outgoing Student Medal, while three other meritorious students received academic awards in recognition of their excellence.
The convocation ceremony was graced by several eminent dignitaries including Dr C V Ananda Bose, Governor; Prataprao Jadhav, Union minister of state for health and family welfare; Chandrima Bhattacharya, minister of state for health, West Bengal; and Shantanu Thakur, Union minister of state for ports, shipping and waterways.