“Passion comes later, give yourself some time. Once you immerse yourself religiously in something that is valuable to you, however hard and prosaic it may appear at the onset; stick to it, persist, persevere and your work will itself infuse passion in you one day,” said Nobel Laureate Abhijit Banerjee while delivering the keynote address during the first convention of Sir Syed Global Scholar Award (SSGSA) Committee at Boston, USA on 19 December, 2020. The virtual gathering marked attendance from over 25 countries.
Dr. Banerjee, while appreciating the educational vision of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, underlined the need to take risks and aim high but to enjoy one’s pursuits, thereby highlighting the role of self-motivation for success. He emphasised the importance of supporting the academic dreams of students.
“Once you think you have done well enough financially, you must try to look beyond economics and learn to identify the things in life which carry weight and can influence your own life and the world around you positively,” said Banerjee.
The Nobel Laureate talked about the illusion of scale that is treated as the hallmark of success. Success to him is not about scale at all initially, rather about zeal, interest, passion, service and perseverance. Once these elements are present, success is inevitable.
Earlier, the convention was kicked off by Mr. Wasikul Islam, Dr. Saif Sheikh and Dr. Rehan Baqri, members of SSGSA Executive Committee, with an ode to Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and an overview of SSGSA and achievements of its scholars.
Another keynote speaker, award-winning actress and activist, Ms. Swara Bhaskar passionately advocated the need for education to be the guiding light in allowing us to discover our inner humanity. She also stressed the importance of students to live with hope, and not fear, as a guiding force.
Dr. Tariq Mansoor, Vice Chancellor of AMU, spoke of the illustrious history of the university and the contributions of freedom fighters and scholars in building an institution that believed in the education and empowerment of men and women in achieving their highest abilities. Focusing on the growth of the university in fostering the development of those who will lead in the future, he touched upon the need to give back and importance of alumni networks.
Exemplifying this passion to give back to the alma mater, was the next speaker Dr. Frank Islam , an AMU alumnus, successful entrepreneur and philanthropist who recently established the Frank and Debbie Islam Management Complex at AMU to support the next generation of leaders. Dr. Islam pledged support to SSGSA, believing in the need to support students that will ultimately not just give back to their alma mater but also strive to drive positive change in the world.
The programme was conducted by philanthropist and civic leader, and member of the SSGSA Executive Committee Mr. Syed Ali Rizvi.