Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar Criticizes Coaching Culture and Calls for Technological Patriotism at IIIT Kota Convocation

Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar delivered a thought-provoking address at the 4th Convocation Ceremony of the Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Kota, urging a transformative approach in education and technological leadership. In his speech, he strongly criticized the current state of coaching institutes and emphasized the growing significance of digital self-reliance and patriotic innovation.

“Coaching centres have now become ‘poaching centres’. These are dark holes that suppress talent under rigid frameworks,” the Vice President remarked. He expressed concern that uncontrolled expansion of coaching institutes is becoming a serious crisis for India’s youth. “We cannot allow our education system to be tainted and corrupted in this way.”

Highlighting the shift in global power dynamics, Mr. Dhankhar warned, “Threats to sovereignty no longer come from armies, but from dependence on foreign digital infrastructure. Militaries have now transformed into algorithms, and the battlefield of the 21st century lies in code, cloud, and cyber.”

He declared that technological leadership is now the new frontier of patriotism, stating, “We are entering a new era of nationalism. Our sovereignty will be safeguarded through technological supremacy.”

He criticized India’s continued dependence on imported defense technologies, cautioning that such reliance could paralyze the nation in critical moments. “Countries that supply us can also halt us.”

Referring to India’s ancient education system, Mr. Dhankhar called for a return to values-based, skill-oriented learning. “The Gurukul system is part of our constitutional imagery. Coaching centres should repurpose their infrastructure into skill development centres,” he urged, asking civil society and lawmakers to rally behind educational reform.

He lamented the obsession with perfect and standardized scores, which he said has “crushed curiosity—an innate part of intelligence.” “Seats are limited, but coaching centres are everywhere. They mold minds into a uniform shape, damaging independent thought and creating long-term psychological issues.”

Encouraging students to rise above marks, he emphasized:

“Your marksheets will not define you—your knowledge and ability to think critically will.”

Addressing inclusivity in technology, the Vice President stated:

“A smart app that doesn’t work in rural India is not smart. An AI model that doesn’t understand regional languages is incomplete. A digital tool that excludes the disabled is unjust.”

He called upon India’s youth to become custodians of local solutions with global reach. “We need Indian systems for India—and to globalize them.”

Stressing the urgency of digital self-reliance, he added, “We must become the authors of our digital destiny. Our coders, data scientists, blockchain innovators, and AI engineers are the true nation-builders. India can no longer remain a borrower of technology.”

Mr. Dhankhar decried the assembly-line model of education, labeling it dangerous and contrary to the National Education Policy (NEP). He criticized the lavish spending on advertisements by coaching centres:

“These ads, funded by students who take loans or struggle to afford fees, may seem appealing, but they sting the soul of our civilization.”

Concluding his address, he harshly criticized the rote learning culture, saying it reduces vibrant minds into storage devices of temporary information, producing “intellectual zombies” instead of creative thinkers.

Governor Haribhau Bagde Inspires Youth with Call for Inner Illumination

Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagde also addressed the students, highlighting that convocation is not the end of education, but the beginning of a new journey. Citing Mahatma Buddha’s words “Appa Deepo Bhava” (Be a light unto yourself), he encouraged students to illuminate the world with their intellect and values.

He praised Kota as both an industrial and educational hub, and referenced icons like Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, M. Visvesvaraya, Sundar Pichai, Satya Nadella, and Verghese Kurien, who made significant contributions to science, technology, and social development. He urged the youth to become job creators rather than job seekers, utilizing government support schemes for innovation and entrepreneurship.

Convocation Highlights

• Total Degrees Awarded: 189
  • 123 B.Tech in Computer Science and Engineering (CSE)
  • 62 B.Tech in Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE)
  • 4 M.Tech in CSE (specializing in AI and Data Engineering)
• Gold Medalists:
  • Ankur Agrawal (CSE)
  • Dhruv Gupta (ECE)

Dignitaries Present

The event was attended by Education Minister Madan Dilawar, Energy Minister Heeralal Nagar, BoG Chairman Lt. Gen. (Retd.) A.K. Bhatt, IIIT Director Prof. N.P. Padhi, MLAs Sandeep Sharma and Kalpana Devi, District Collector Piyush Samariya, City SP Dr. Amrita Duhan, IAS Trainee Aradhana Chauhan, along with faculty, students, and distinguished guests.