Manipal: The 26th convocation of Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) began at KMC Greens here on Friday with H. Sudarshan Ballal, Chairman, Manipal Health Enterprises Private Limited, Bengaluru, advising graduating students to keep their eyes on the stars but feet firmly on the ground.

“Be what you are and not necessarily what others want you to be; stay focused – in spite of the numerous distractions you have in this world which may lead you astray. Push yourself hard each day because no one else will do it for you,” he said.

Stating that the future generation needed to tackle several issues that were plaguing the country, he said: “Face the new world ahead of you, work hard, because without hard work, nothing grows but weeds.”

Urging graduating students to give back to society, he said: “One great idea is to give quality education to the youngsters, who will be our future. It would be a great idea to set up an endowment at the university to help the less privileged.”

“Delivering the convocation address at my alma mater is indeed a great honour and privilege for me,” Dr. Ballal said.

The six students who received Dr. T.M.A Pai gold medals today were: undergraduates: Sahana Pai, MCOPS, Manipal; Aasadur Rahaman Midday, MCODS, Mangaluru; Urgyen Dolma, MCON, Manipal, and Ann Mathew, FOA. Manipal; postgraduates: Mascarenhas Jeswil Evrald, SOIS, Manipal, and Akhilaja Pratyusha, SOLS, Manipal. As many as 1,387 students received their degrees on the first day.