A Great Speech by the Chief Guest on Republic Day 2026 At ARMIET College

A Great Speech by the Chief Guest, Mr.Amit Ray, on Republic Day 2026 At ARMIET College Campus 

Thank you for the lovely introduction. I probably don’t know whether I deserve it or not. However, when I look at you all, I realise that you are probably half my age and half my experience. If I have 40 years of experience, you are still around 20.

I must tell you, I passed out of college in 1979, so that gives away my age. I have not studied formally after that. But when I look at you, I feel very happy because tomorrow, some of you will become somebody in life—whether in the field of engineering, marketing, or even politics.

You can become leaders. Today, you may feel confused and think, “What is he saying? How will I become a politician?” But remember, every politician—even the President and the Prime Minister—was once a student like you. These are very formative years of your life.

I would ask you to take yourself very casually and learn as much as you can. The whole world is becoming very consumer-centric. That means any technology or innovation must have an application that helps people. I’m not going to talk about any specific technology, but your engineering or marketing education should focus highly on understanding the consumer.

First, put yourself in the consumer’s place. Don’t do things only to pass an exam or score marks. Of course, marks are important, but try to enjoy the learning process. You never know—some of you may be passionate about music and may want to become musicians. Today, you are studying, but life opens up when you start applying what you learn in the real world.

Please be aware that India is a country that gives you unbelievable options. We may be less structured than the West, but because of that, you can jump from one field to another. Today, if you look globally, many leaders in technology and other fields are Indians. This diversity gives you a huge opportunity to learn and grow.

As mentioned earlier, branding is very important. When I first came here around the year 2000—I don’t remember the exact year—there was almost nothing here, just one small building under construction. There was no Google to guide us. Today, when I walked in, the first thing that came to my mind was branding. That’s how the human mind works.

You should open your mind beyond your studies. Yes, you must pass out and score good marks, but always keep a passion inside you. Ask yourself, “What is it that I really want to do?”

Most successful people have a strong sense of understanding others. Whether it is Amazon, Uber, or any major technology company, they all depend on understanding people’s needs. Whether you are doing scientific research or marketing, always think about how it will help someone.

You are living in a rapidly growing world. Around the year 1800, the world population was about 1 billion. Today, it is around 8.3 billion. In just over 200 years, the world has become extremely competitive—not just because of population growth, but because of education and technological revolutions.

You are born in a generation where something new happens every day. Some of us grew up without television. When television came, it was black and white. For entertainment, we had to buy movie tickets well in advance, or the show would be houseful. You are living in a generation full of surprises, and your opportunities are far greater.

I don’t want to bore you further, but please keep your mind open. This is a country of opportunities. We may not be a fully industrialised nation, but we are a strong service-oriented nation, and our services are valued across the world.

Be proud to be an Indian and focus on yourself—not just on the course or studies you are pursuing.