Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, organised its second convocation ceremony on Monday.

“I have been profoundly touched during my visits to KISS and I get a feeling that the voice of the tribal community of India is here,” said Gyetrul Jigme Rinpoche, master of Tibetan Buddhism and spiritual director of the Ripa International Center, in his convocation address.

Congratulating the graduates, Rinpoche urged them to carry a sense of gratitude for the rest of their lives as so many people have contributed to their success.

“From ecology to economy, real life is challenging and one can succeed only by accepting diversity. Warm-heartedness is the key to solving most of the problems the world is facing today." he told a packed auditorium.

The real meaning of education is to help others, he said, while advising students to contribute to the overall good of humanity.

The university conferred Honoris Causa Degrees of D.Litt. upon four personalities of international repute — Rajiv Kumar, chancellor of Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, Pune; Pavan Sukhdev, UNEP goodwill ambassador, founder and CEO of GIST Advisory Switzerland SA; Ricky G. Kej, renowned music composer and two-time Grammy Award winner; and Erik Solheim, president of Green Belt and Road Institute.

“What KISS does and what KISS focuses on, make this recognition very special," said Rajiv Kumar in his acceptance speech. It is essential to focus on human capital, natural capital and social capital, along with GDP, which merely conveys a notion of produced capital, remarked Pavan Sukhdev, while commending the role of KISS in developing human capital.

Thanking KISS for the recognition, Ricky G. Kej said the planet is facing a serious environmental crisis and the only way to make a difference is to change ourselves. “The world is facing a triple crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution”, said Solheim, adding that institutions like KISS have an important role to play in averting the crisis.

KISS founder Achyuta Samanta congratulated the degree recipients and said it was a matter of pride for the institute. Satya S. Tripathi, chancellor of KISS Deemed to be University also spoke on the occasion.

“The manner with which the entire KISS community rose to the challenge posed by the pandemic testifies to its resilience and ability to cope with the worst of challenges in the most creative of ways,” said Tripathi, who is the former assistant secretary-general of the United Nations.

Prof. Deepak Kumar Behera, vice-chancellor of the university, and Prashanta Ku. Routray, registrar, also spoke on the occasion.