President Droupadi Murmu declared a bold new era for India, spotlighting the nation's transition from women empowerment to women-led development during her speech at Ravenshaw University’s 13th annual convocation in Cuttack. The event showcased the remarkable achievements of female students, who outshone their male peers in 21 of the university’s 27 departments this year.

“This isn’t just progress; it’s a revolution,” Murmu proclaimed, noting that over the past five years, female students have consistently dominated academics at Ravenshaw. At the postgraduate level, women topped the charts at more than three times the rate of their male counterparts. “This is proof that India is charging toward a future driven by women,” she added.

Urging graduates to seize the moment, the President encouraged them to become trailblazing entrepreneurs rather than job seekers. “The world is yours to shape—start your own ventures and lead the way,” she inspired.

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Ravenshaw University, a historic institution founded in 1868, was lauded for its legacy of intellectual rigor and social activism. “Now a hub of research, innovation, and inclusivity, Ravenshaw continues to set the standard for academic excellence,” Murmu said.

The ceremony also honored four luminaries with honorary degrees: Atomic Energy Secretary Ajit Kumar Mohanty, conservationist Sabarmatee, Odisha’s braille press pioneer Bijay Kumar Rath, and Cuttack MP Bhartruhari Mahtab. The university awarded 4,839 bachelor’s degrees, 2,935 master’s degrees, 19 MPhil degrees, and 158 doctorates, with 176 students receiving gold medals.

Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj joined the celebration, marking a proud moment for Odisha and India’s bold, women-led future.

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