Guwahati: Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday urged IIM-Guwahati students to measure leadership by integrity, humanity, compassion and commitment to public good.Pradhan was addressing IIM-Guwahati’s first MBA batch, which marked a milestone for higher education in Assam.His address came amid the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) movement’s demand for his resignation over alleged examination irregularities.Pradhan said Indian institutions were gaining global recognition for quality and asked students to use education responsibly. He urged them to empower themselves “to lead with purpose, make ethical decisions and create positive impact on society”.He encouraged students to adopt an entrepreneurial mindset, create jobs, add value to society and contribute to the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. “At the same time, remember that true leadership is not measured only by professional success. It is measured by integrity, humanity, compassion and commitment to the public good,” Pradhan said.“Encourage yourself to dream big, think boldly, embrace innovation and never hesitate to solve real-world problems,” he added, expressing hope that students would become job creators rather than job seekers.Pradhan said IIM-Guwahati could emerge not only as a premier institute in India but also as a preferred destination for students from Asean nations and the Global South.CM Himanta Biswa Sarma inaugurated the MBA batch 2026-28 at the institute’s transit campus at Tech City, Bongora, in Kamrup district. He described the occasion as a landmark for Assam and the Northeast.During his visit to Palasbari constituency, where the permanent campus will come up, Sarma also inaugurated the Digital Design and 3D Printing Centre of Excellence at Tech City. He also performed bhoomi pujan and laid the foundation stone for the proposed integrated administrative complex of the Palasbari co-district commissioner’s office at Mirza, to be built at an estimated cost of Rs 20 crore.“Today marks the fulfilment of a long-cherished aspiration of the people of Assam and the North Eastern Region. With the commencement of its MBA programme, IIM-Guwahati has become a proud member of the prestigious family of the Indian Institutes of Management, opening new avenues of opportunity for our younger generation,” Sarma said.The transit campus, built at nearly Rs 39 crore, has lecture halls, administrative offices, a library, faculty and staff quarters, and three hostel blocks.The inaugural batch has 52 students from 18 states. The institute has begun under the mentorship of IIM-Ahmedabad and will later shift to its 574-bigha permanent campus at Morabhita and Dighalkuchi villages under Palasbari revenue circle. It is expected to be completed within three years.Education minister Ranoj Pegu, Palasbari MLA Himangshu Sekhar Baishya, IIM-Ahmedabad director Prof Bharat Bhasker and senior officials attended the event.
