Mysore/Mysuru: Delivering the UoM Convocation Address, former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman Dr. S. Somanath said that while material resources are finite, the human mind has no limits. Decisions may be driven by data, he observed, but meaningful action must be guided by conscience. He called for building bridges across disciplines, communities and nations, and for leaving every place better than one found it.

Addressing scholars and researchers, Dr. Somanath urged dedication, presence and openness. He encouraged them to publish and collaborate across borders while remaining rooted in their origins, stressing that the world needs not only scientific excellence but also moral responsibility.

To humanists, artists and communicators, he highlighted the need to preserve collective imagination, bring clarity amid growing noise and tell stories that unite rather than divide.

Describing teachers and public servants as custodians of the republic, he said every student carries national values and every law impacts citizens’ lives. Their role, he noted, is to nurture accountability and sustain public trust. Graduates, he added, must be resilient, as innovation often emerges from adversity.

Cautioning against measuring success solely in terms of profit, Dr. Somanath called for a pursuit anchored in dignity and truth. Universities, he said, must become transformative research spaces where ideas move beyond paper into real-world applications through hands-on learning. He suggested that Mysuru should evolve into a hub for startups and creative experimentation, blending technology with ethics and empathy.

Emphasising that knowledge exists for human benefit, he said material progress and inner growth are complementary, not competing forces. From ancient wisdom to modern medicine, India’s intellectual tradition, he noted, has consistently sought to enrich human life.