Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan

(Honourable Vice President of India)

Shri Chandrapuram Ponnusami (C. P.) Radhakrishnan is the Hon’ble Vice President of India and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. He assumed office on 12th September 2025 after being elected as the 15th Vice President of India, bringing with him decades of rich experience in public life, governance, and organisational leadership.

Born on 4th May 1957 in Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu, Shri Radhakrishnan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Before entering active politics, he established himself as a successful garment exporter, demonstrating entrepreneurial acumen, managerial capability, and a strong work ethic - qualities that later shaped his public service journey.

His political engagement began in the early 1970s through active involvement with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). In 1974, he became a member of the State Executive Committee of the Bharatiya Janasangh. His rise in public life was marked by steady responsibility and impact. In 1996, he was appointed Secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Tamil Nadu, and subsequently elected twice to the Lok Sabha from Coimbatore in 1998 and 1999.

During his tenure as a Member of Parliament, Shri Radhakrishnan served as Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Textiles and was a member of key committees on Public Sector Undertakings and Finance. He has also led significant mass outreach initiatives, including a 19,000 km, 93-day ‘Ratha Yatra’ promoting national priorities such as river interlinking, national integration, uniform civil code, and social reform.

His administrative leadership includes serving as Chairman of the Coir Board, where he played a pivotal role in boosting India’s coir exports, and as All India In-Charge of the BJP for Kerala from 2020 to 2022. On 18th February 2023, he was appointed Governor of Jharkhand, later holding additional responsibilities as Governor of Telangana, Lt. Governor of Puducherry, and Governor of Maharashtra, where he actively promoted education, tribal welfare, and inclusive development.

A sportsperson in his youth, Shri Radhakrishnan was a college champion in table tennis and a long-distance runner, and continues to be an avid follower of sports. A widely travelled global citizen, he brings a broad perspective on governance and public policy.

As Vice President of India and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan exemplifies constitutional values, parliamentary dignity, and democratic leadership, inspiring the nation through his vision of unity, integrity, and inclusive progress.

Mary Elizabeth Truss

Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

The RT Hon Elizabeth Truss, is a distinguished British political leader and public figure. Born on July 26, 1975, in Oxford, England, Ms. Truss is an alumna of Merton College, Oxford, where she studied Politics, Philosophy, and Economics. Before entering public life, she built a strong professional foundation in the private sector, serving as a commercial manager at Shell and later as Economics Director at Cable & Wireless, while also qualifying as a management accountant.

Elected as Member of Parliament for South West Norfolk in 2010, Ms. Truss went on to serve in six major Cabinet roles over the course of her career. Her responsibilities spanned key portfolios including Education and Childcare; Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Justice; the Treasury; International Trade—where she led the United Kingdom’s post-Brexit trade initiatives—and Women and Equalities.

In September 2021, she was appointed Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, becoming only the second woman to hold the office, and played a significant role in shaping the UK’s foreign policy during a period of global uncertainty.

Her public service journey culminated in September 2022, when she became Leader of the Conservative Party and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, marking a historic moment in British politics. Though brief, her tenure was characterised by bold economic thinking and robust national debate.

Ms. Truss is widely recognised for her commitment to free-market principles, international trade, and a global vision for Britain. Her presence at the Convocation adds immense value and inspiration, reflecting leadership, resilience, and public service at the highest level.