Dhanbad (Jharkhand), March 21 Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi met with students of IIT (ISM)-Dhanbad on Saturday, urging them to combine knowledge with empathy as he spoke about the importance of "compassion quotient" in society.
"Compassion is not merely sympathy or empathy, but a powerful and action-oriented force capable of transforming society," said the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize winner while delivering a centenary lecture at the institute.
Advocating for "compassionate AI", he called for embedding ethical responsibility in technological advancement to ensure inclusive and humane progress.
Satyarthi emphasised that true compassion stems from a deep sense of responsibility towards others' suffering, leading to conscious and meaningful action.
Speaking about "Compassion Quotient", he urged individuals to cultivate awareness, emotional connectedness, and accountability.
Highlighting contemporary challenges, the Nobel laureate cautioned against growing indifference in modern society and stressed that compassion must guide all domains, including technology, governance, business, and the judiciary.
He also encouraged students to become change-makers, blending knowledge with empathy.
The institute's director, Sukumar Mishra, presided over the programme. IIT (ISM)-Dhanbad spokesperson Rajni Singh said this was the first visit of a Nobel laureate to the campus.
The centenary lecture series, established through an endowment by alumnus Mihir Sinha (1966 Batch, Petroleum Engineering) in memory of his parents, aims to promote meaningful interdisciplinary dialogue at the intersection of science, technology, and the humanities.