CHANDIGARH, Mar 14:
Asking youths to engage with “beautiful, complex and sometimes noisy democracy”, President Pranab Mukherjee today said universities should become part of Narendra Modi Government’s flagship programmes and must adopt at least five villages to develop them as model villages.
Speaking at the 64th convocation of Panjab University, Mukherjee said the Central Government has launched–Swachh Bharat Mission, aimed at a Clean India by 2019; Digital India programme to usher in a digitally-empowered knowledge society and Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) to create model villages through their holistic development.
“Our academic institutions must take active part in these initiatives. They should adopt at least five villages and leverage all academic and other resources to offer solutions to their problems and develop them as model villages,” he said in his speech.
The President said “India is a shining example of democratic polity and pluralistic society. Democracy not only gives rights but also entails responsibilities. Educated youth must play a vital role in building a resurgent new India. Your education has given you an opportunity to make a difference. This is the time to engage with our beautiful, complex, and sometimes noisy democracy.”
During the function, noted agriculture scientist and Padma Bhushan recipient M S Swaminathan, Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi and renowned mathematician Manjul Bhargava were conferred honorary degrees (Honoris Causa) for their contribution in their fields.
While Swaminathan was given for his expertise in the field of agriculture, Satyarthi was conferred for his contribution to peace promotion and stopping of child abuse. Bhargava was conferred the degree for his contribution to the field of Algebra in mathematics.
Ahead of the President’s speech, the University also presented the first Sahitya Ratan to noted poet-lyricist Gulzar for his outstanding contribution in the field of art.
Well known opthalmologist Dr Amod Gupta was presented with the first Vigyan ratan at the function. The awards were given by Punjab Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki.
Addressing the students, the President said they must comprehend the hopes and expectations that their near and dear ones, the society and the nation at large have from them.
Mukherjee said that “to build a country of our dreams, competent and committed individuals are necessary and our universities must produce men and women of character and integrity.”
“A country’s ascent is determined to a large extent by human capital. As such, education plays a decisive role in shaping the destiny of nations. At the apex of the education system is the university. Indian universities have potential to be the leading institutions in the world,” he said.
Mukherjee said a scientific temper, which takes one’s imagination beyond the realm of grades and classroom, is essential in our students.
The President said “our institutions must fire the power of imagination of their students and teachers must encourage to think beyond books, question concepts and accept a proposition only after investigation.
“Students must have a grand vision which they can, through research and inquiry, translate into reality,” he said.
The President said universities need to make higher education more effective which needs to regularly update the curricula, an inter-disciplinary approach and evaluation mechanism reformed.
“Rising costs of higher education and changing profile of education seekers, aided by technology, has led to Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). Due to its advantage of speed, scale and efficiency, it is fast catching up as the preferred mode of learning. Blended MOOCs – online instruction supplemented by periodic classroom interaction – also have the potential to gain ground,” he said.
The President said Choice-Based Credit System has been introduced that will provide students mobility across the higher educational system. (PTI)
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