Pune: Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, addressing the 20th convocation ceremony at Symbiosis International (deemed university), highlighted the significance of listening to others in breaking societal echo chambers.
Chandrachud, the chief guest at the Lavale campus event, stressed that society’s problem lies in not listening enough. He expressed that yielding space to others is liberating and allows for a broader understanding of the world. The CJI urged humility, courage, and integrity as essential companions in life, emphasizing that strength is not demonstrated through anger or disrespect.
Reflecting on his own experience, Chandrachud shared an example of a death penalty case where attentive listening led to a surprising revelation. He encouraged the audience to recognize the value of careful listening and humility in accepting when others are right.
The convocation saw the awarding of degrees to students from various faculties, with 86 PhD scholars and 8,579 students eligible for degrees or diplomas. The ceremony also honored outstanding foreign student Yassin Adam Abdalla Mohamed and conferred a DLitt degree on legal scholar Upendra Baxi.