India, 16th September 2025: Renowned mathematician and Super 30 founder Anand Kumar addressed students at Marwadi University on the 58th National Engineers’ Day as part of the Human Library Series, inspiring them with a powerful message on learning for knowledge, building resilience under pressure, and embracing technology responsibly
Opening his talk, Kumar urged students to view Engineers’ Day as an opportunity to ‘recommit to knowledge, not just credentials.’ He cautioned against reducing education to mere marketing or short-term outcomes, emphasizing that strong content and clear concepts must always come before scale. ‘Everyone talks about growth and promotion, but few focus on strengthening the content,’ he said. ‘Study for knowledge and to innovate — jobs and money will follow when you truly understand your subject
Drawing on three decades of teaching, Kumar shared powerful stories of students whose persistence transformed their lives. He spoke about Abhishek Raj, who once studied under a streetlight while working odd jobs, went on to qualify for IIT Kharagpur, and now holds a senior position in the United States. He also highlighted the journey of Shashi Narayan, who overcame personal loss to top a global science scholarship competition in France, pursue Computer Science at IIT Kharagpur, and now works as a scientist in London. ‘Hard work has no substitute,’ Kumar reminded the students. ‘When faced with difficulties, don’t change your path change your effort.’
Kumar urged students to measure success by the problems they solve and the value they create, rather than the immediate salary packages they receive. He framed AI as both an opportunity and a test, emphasizing the need for continuous upskilling and global awareness. He encouraged students to study how subjects are taught around the world and to focus on what unique contributions they can make. Reflecting on his own early struggles and the inception of Super 30, Kumar shared how curiosity about global learning trends and early adoption of new tools shaped his own journey
In closing, Kumar urged students to nurture four qualities for meaningful success: an unrelenting thirst for goals, positive thinking through setbacks, hard work to build true strength, and patience to endure the journey. He praised the audience’s focus, reminding them that listening is the first step to creating anything worthwhile, and left them with a powerful message — knowledge, character, and contribution must go hand in hand, especially on a day that celebrates engineers’ role in shaping society.