Satyarthi calls for ‘Compassion Quotient’ in society at IIT (ISM)

Delivering a centenary lecture at the Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad, Satyarthi said compassion should go beyond empathy and translate into responsible, action-oriented engagement with societal challenges.

“Compassion is not merely sympathy or empathy, but a force that drives conscious action,” he said, urging individuals to cultivate awareness, emotional connectedness and accountability in addressing the suffering of others.

Cautioning against growing indifference in contemporary society, he emphasised that compassion must guide decision-making across sectors, including business, judiciary and governance. He also advocated the idea of “compassionate AI”, underlining the need to embed ethical responsibility in technological advancement to ensure inclusive and humane progress.

Encouraging students to become change-makers, Satyarthi said knowledge must be complemented with empathy to create meaningful social impact.

The lecture marked the launch of the Abanish Chandra and Binapani Sinha Memorial Lecture Series, instituted through an endowment by alumnus Mihir Sinha. The initiative aims to promote interdisciplinary dialogue at the intersection of science, technology and the humanities, according to institute officials.

Presiding over the programme, IIT (ISM) Director Sukumar Mishra described the occasion as significant for the institute and highlighted the role of technology in advancing societal welfare.

The event witnessed participation from faculty members, students and staff at the Penman Auditorium.