PUNE: Students should not focus solely on obtaining a degree but should identify the field they are passionate about and connect it with a profession. Excellence comes naturally when passion and profession are brought together, senior IT expert Dr Deepak Shikarpur said.He was speaking as the chief guest at ‘Deeksharambh 2026’, an orientation programme organised by Alard University, Pune, for newly admitted students.The programme was held under the guidance of Dr L. R. Yadav, Founder-President and Chancellor of Alard University, Pune.Dr Milind Kaulgikar, General Manager, Vodafone Shared Services India; Ashish Banka, Vice-President, Algoworks; Shyamsundar Madevar, Chief Manager, Sakal Maharashtra and Goa; Dr Sohan Chitalange, Vice-Chancellor, Alard University; Chandrashekhar Jaju, Registrar of the university; and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.Recalling his experiences in the IT sector, Dr Shikarpur cited the career of singer Shankar Mahadevan. Mahadevan, who completed his engineering education in 1987, chose music instead of pursuing a career in IT and went on to achieve success in the field. This, he said, demonstrated the importance of identifying one’s own interests and abilities rather than being guided by societal expectations. Referring to “P plus P equals E” as the guiding principle of Shankar Mahadevan’s career, he presented the formula, “Passion plus Profession equals Excellence.” Citing the examples of Lata Mangeshkar and Sachin Tendulkar, he also underlined the importance of sustained efforts in a field one is passionate about.Dr Milind Kaulgikar said that with artificial intelligence, machine learning and data technologies evolving rapidly, students should continuously learn new technologies while remaining practical and creative. Instead of spending excessive time on mobile phones and reels, they should think about the creativity behind such content, he said. Opportunities and challenges in the data sector are increasing, and students should focus on their strengths rather than their shortcomings and develop expertise in their chosen areas, he added.Ashish Banka said the determination to become financially independent was instilled in him by lessons from his grandmother during his childhood. He stressed the importance of staying happy in life, making consistent efforts without getting trapped in comparison and competition, seeking guidance from the right mentors and respecting parents. Do not be afraid of failure, every failure provides an opportunity to rediscover yourself and learn, he said.After quitting a government job in 2011 and entering the HR sector, he appeared for 48 interviews over four consecutive months. He eventually secured his first job in Kolkata with a salary of Rs 7,000. Through hard work, he later worked with global companies associated with Qatar Airways, Reliance, Tata and OpenAI. He delivered an inspirational message that success cannot be achieved without hard work.Dr Sohan Chitalange said the university functions on five pillars — “Attitude, Leadership, Alertness, Readiness and Dedication”. Every student should give importance to research, he said, adding that research is the next step towards progress, while networking is the key to true success. Discipline, relentless hard work, active participation and foresight are essential qualities for achieving success in life. By making these qualities an integral part of their lives, every student can successfully move towards their goals, he said. The programme was compered by Prabhanjan Nalawade. Prof Dr Manisha Bhende delivered the introductory remarks, while Prof Ganesh Shitole proposed the vote of thanks.Students should dream big, but dreams must be accompanied by action. A degree is only the beginning of a career, while communication skills, technical skills and knowledge of foreign languages will be important for future career prospects, Dr Shikarpur said.
