Vice President of India CP Radhakrishnan urged Nagaland University graduates to reject drugs and lead with character at the 8th convocation in Lumami.
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LUMAMI — Vice President of India CP Radhakrishnan on Friday called on young graduates of Nagaland University to lead lives guided by character, resilience and purpose, while firmly rejecting drugs and embracing entrepreneurship as pathways to progress.
Addressing the 8th convocation of Nagaland University at the I Ihoshe Kinimi Hall in Lumami, Zunheboto district, the vice president said that the true success of a university lies not merely in the knowledge it preserves but in the leaders it nurtures for the future.
Commending the university’s contribution to higher education in the region, Radhakrishnan highlighted its expansion from the main campus in Lumami to additional campuses in Kohima and Medziphema, which has widened access to quality higher education for students across Nagaland.
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He also acknowledged the institution’s achievements in various fields, including the establishment of a cancer research laboratory, efforts to preserve and document indigenous Naga languages and customary laws, and other academic initiatives.
Describing convocation as a transition rather than an end, the vice president urged the graduating students to remember the sacrifices of their parents, the guidance of their teachers and the support of their friends.
“Now that you step beyond the guidance of your teachers into the wider world, let resilience be your anchor and character your compass,” he told the graduates.
Radhakrishnan encouraged the youth of Nagaland to explore opportunities in sectors where the state has strong potential, including organic products, bamboo-based innovations, forest industries, cultural eco-tourism, handlooms, handicrafts and digital marketplaces.
He also advised students to use social media responsibly, describing it as a tool that should empower and inform rather than dominate lives.
Highlighting national initiatives such as Digital India, Startup India and Make in India, the vice president said that these programmes have created a vibrant ecosystem for innovation and entrepreneurship across the country.
He reiterated the central government’s focus on accelerating development in the Northeast, citing major investments in infrastructure and welfare programmes in recent years.
Referring to the Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North East Region (PM-DevINE) launched in the Union Budget 2022–23, he said that the scheme provides dedicated funding for infrastructure, social development and livelihood projects in the region.
The vice president added that the Union Budget 2026–27 has allocated more than INR 6,800 crore for the development of the Northeast, which he said would create greater opportunities for young people in states such as Nagaland.
Radhakrishnan also referred to the tripartite agreement signed in February 2026 between the Centre, the Nagaland government and the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO), expressing hope that the pact would help resolve long-standing issues in Eastern Nagaland and contribute to the state’s overall progress.
Earlier in the day, the vice president laid the foundation stone of the HEFA Phase-II building at Nagaland University, Lumami.
The project will include new academic department buildings for Anthropology, Journalism and Mass Communication, and Law, along with a Central Instrumentation Centre, research scholars’ hostels, staff quarters and transit accommodation.
Among those present at the convocation were Chief Rector of Nagaland University Ajay Kumar Bhalla, Deputy Chief Minister TR Zeliang, Rajya Sabha MP S Phangnon Konyak, Rural Development Minister Metsubo Jamir, PWD (Housing) and Mechanical Engineering Minister Bashangmongba Chang, Secretary to the Vice President Amit Khare, Chancellor Dr. Samudra Gupta Kashyap, and Registrar Dr. Abemo.
