Karachi: The Class of 2025 at Habib University celebrated their graduation with a convocation ceremony on June 1st, marked by a stirring address from President Wasif Rizvi. In his speech, Rizvi urged the graduating students to confront global challenges with clarity and dignity, drawing on the philosophical cornerstone of the university, Yohsin.

“You now carry the burden of seeing what others are trained to ignore. The burden of truth in an age of noise,” President Rizvi told the graduates, highlighting their responsibility to maintain moral clarity amidst widespread confusion.

The event began and ended with Tashakkur, a tradition of expressing gratitude. Students first acknowledged their parents and caregivers during their virtual orientation in 2021, and four years later, they stood to honor their faculty and benefactors who supported their education.

Addressing global issues such as violence in Gaza and the legacy of colonialism, Rizvi’s speech was not one of despair but of dignity. He emphasized the importance of Yohsin, a concept rooted in inner beauty and conscious action, as a guiding principle for the graduates.

He urged, “Do not let your education become a credential. Let it be a lamp,” encouraging the graduates to use their education as a guiding light in their future endeavors.

Rizvi invoked sacred texts to frame the graduates’ journey as a trust and a dignifying weight, urging them to face challenges with love and remembrance.

As the graduates step into the world, Rizvi’s words serve as a reminder of their role not just as degree holders but as individuals embodying Yohsin, tasked with rejecting the violence of the world.