New York: Sam Pitroda, advisor to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, has been conferred with an honorary degree by New York University's Polytechnic Institute, considered among America's most prestigious and oldest private schools specialising in engineering and technology.
Pitroda gave the commencement address to the graduating class of about 1000 students at Polytechnic Institute of New York University (NYU-Poly) on Friday.
He received a Doctor of Engineering, honoris causa, and joined a distinguished list of past honorary degree recipients including US Secretary of Energy Steven Chu.
Sharing his personal experience, Pitroda urged the class of 2012 to recognize technology as the key to social change and inclusive growth and not as a means for economic prosperity.
Addressing the graduate and undergraduate students as well as faculty members, Pitroda touched upon the issue of how connectivity can be used to address the challenges of the 21st century.
"India has been growing at a rate of 8-9 per cent and everywhere, I see technology as the key driver. To me, technology is a great social leveler. Technology is the key in the 21st century.
"The challenge of today is inclusive growth, access and equity. We need affordable, scalable, and sustainable solutions...My advice to you is that hard work and discipline is the key to your success. There is no shortcut," he said.
NYU-Poly had lauded "wireless pioneer" Pitroda's achievements in addressing the infrastructure and technology challenges in India, particularly his efforts in making telecom accessible to the country's 1.2 billion people.
Founded in 1854, NYU-Poly specialises in engineering, applied sciences, technology and research.
It offers programmes at sites throughout the region and around the globe in Israel and China.
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