At the Combined Convocation Ceremony of Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University (DSNLU) for the 8th to 12th graduating batches, Supreme Court Judge Justice Suryakant delivered an inspiring address that blended wisdom, personal anecdotes, and life lessons for the young graduates.
Justice Suryakant congratulated the students for completing a demanding course of study, noting that law school was not only a test of intellect but also of resilience. He said the years at DSNLU were not just about case law and projects but also about friendships, festivals, and experiences that would remain lifelong memories. “Today, as you don your caps and hold your degrees, savour the magnitude of what you have achieved. The world opens its doors to you,” he remarked.
Urging the graduates to embrace uncertainty, he cautioned them against feeling pressured to fix their careers too early. “Very few professionals discover their calling overnight. Your passions will evolve, and that is not a sign of confusion but of growth,” he said.
Sharing his own journey—from practice in the District Courts of Hisar to the Supreme Court—Justice Suryakant recalled how unexpected detours and even moments of doubt shaped his path. He spoke of clearing the written exam for Judicial Services but giving up the opportunity on the advice of a High Court judge, and later pursuing a Master’s in Law even while serving as a High Court judge. “It was these uncertain moments that proved to be stepping stones,” he reflected.
“The privilege of a legal education is not just the power to change the world, but also the power to change yourself,” he added, encouraging graduates to stay open to reinvention, risk, and growth.
Moving beyond professional life, Justice Suryakant highlighted the importance of nurturing personal relationships. Drawing on Formula 1 racing, he likened family and close friends to a “pit crew” that sustains a racer through obstacles. “No champion crosses the finish line alone,” he said, reminding the graduates that happiness at home directly shapes strength and fulfilment in the courtroom.
Quoting F1 champion Lewis Hamilton, he said, “We win and lose together,” urging the young lawyers to invest time and care in bonds of love, loyalty, and kindness.
In conclusion, Justice Suryakant told the graduates that not every step would be planned and not every detour welcome, but fulfilment lay in walking paths that stretched the mind and opened the heart. “Dare to be different. Dare to be kind. Dare to find happiness, both inside and outside your professional life,” he said, wishing them a future filled with ambition balanced by compassion.