IFHE Hyderabad’s 16th convocation confers degrees on over 4,000 graduates

The ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education (IFHE), Hyderabad, held its 16th convocation, conferring degrees on over 4,000 students across management, law, science and technology, economics and social sciences streams on Saturday (October 31).

Delivering the convocation address, HCL co-founder Ajai Chowdhry urged graduates to dream beyond their current circumstances and emphasised that “aspiration must be greater than resources.”

Citing HCL’s beginnings in 1975 with six young engineers, he highlighted how ambition and resourcefulness could drive innovation. Stressing the transformative pace of technological advancement, particularly in artificial intelligence, he encouraged students to embrace it as a cognitive amplifier and commit to continuous learning. He further reminded them that their degrees were proof of their ability to learn, not limits to their potential.

Former RBI Governor and Chancellor, IFHE, C. Rangarajan called the graduates the “incoming leaders of change”.

Referring to unilateral tariff impositions by the United States and the U.S.–Iran conflict, which disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, he observed: “The two pillars of the international trading system have been knocked down”—the international consensus on tariff rates and the free movement of goods through sea routes. “We unfortunately are entering an era of ‘Might is right’,” he remarked, calling for India to recalibrate its development strategy to address emerging geopolitical and economic uncertainties.

He also called for prioritising domestic production in strategically important sectors while maintaining global competitiveness. Cautioning against indiscriminate import substitution, he stressed that “Make in India should be for the ‘Rest of the World’.” He further underscored the need for structural reforms, greater investment in physical and social infrastructure, and a stronger focus on knowledge and innovation to enhance India’s global competitiveness. Citing global innovation rankings, he noted that South Korea and China ranked fourth and tenth, respectively, while India stood at 38th.

At the ceremony, degrees honoris causa were conferred on Mr. Chowdhry and Chairman of AIG Hospitals, Dr. D. Nageshwar Reddy.

The N.J. Yasaswy Award for Best Student in MBA went to Tandra Sai Akesh, while Yagnamurthy Kalyan Kumar won the Gold Medal for Academic Excellence. Shrishti received the Silver Medal.