Srinagar: President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday said finding ancient, organically grown knowledge is the duty of the academia in the country.
In her address at the 20th convocation of the Kashmir University, the president noted that the new National Education Policy (NEP-2020) focuses on the Indian system of knowledge.
“The new education policy has focused on the Indian system of knowledge. The work done by an expert, Suyya, about 1,200 years ago, to save the city of Srinagar from the flood of Jhelum can be termed as hydraulic engineering. There are many such examples in ancient India. Finding this organically grown knowledge is the duty of academia today,” she said.
Murmu, who is on her first visit to the Union Territory after becoming president, started her speech with the phrase “Yee mouj Kasheer” (O Mother Kashmir!), drawing applause from the audience. She also said that the Kashmir University is blessed by the Hazratbal shrine.
The university is located near the shrine which houses a relic of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH).
The president expressed happiness over women students constituting 55 percent of the university’s roll. “It is heartening to know that 55 percent of students enrolled in the Kashmir University are girls while they make up 65 percent of the gold medallists and prize winners. I noticed that out of the 21 students who were felicitated here, 17 were girls,” Murmu said.
During the convocation ceremony, 21 students were given gold medals by the president.
“Educated girls are the face and future of our society. Our women and girls are proving their mettle and after the Women Reservation Bill 2023, they are ready to play a larger role in the leadership of the nation in the future,” the president said.
She said this bill will be a revolutionary step towards women-led development. “It is my belief that women will push forward development,” the president said.
Murmu also highlighted that India’s presidency of the G20 has been praised all over the world.
Borrowing a Kashmiri phrase by revered Sufi saint Sheikh Noor-Ud-Din-Wali — “ann poshe teli yeli wann poshi” — that means food will last as long as the forests last, she said that sustainable development is a part of Kashmir’s heritage.
It has been rightly said that if there is heaven on earth, it is here, she said, adding that it is the responsibility of the youth to save that. She also urged the Kashmir University to be alert in preserving the Himalayan ecosystem. She was happy to note that work related to glaciology, biodiversity conservation and the Himalayan Ice-Core Laboratory is at different stages, an official press release informed.
Referring to the Kashmir University’s emblem, she noted that it has three words of the ‘Upanishads’ and a part of a Quranic verse.
“Both talk about going from darkness to light. There is a message and prayer in this. Our nation’s progress will be proportionate to the efforts made by the youth towards peace, prosperity and knowledge. The nation whose youth adopt the path of development and discipline, that society and nation progress on the path of development and prosperity,” she added.
President Murmu said the alumni of the Kashmir University had made the institution proud by serving the nation well.
“The list of such alumni is very long and it is not possible to take all the names. Recently, Ghulam Nabi Azad was awarded the Padma Bhushan while Professor Chaman Lal Sapru and Professor A N Pandita were awarded the Padma Shri. I am happy to know that three NSS (National Service Scheme) volunteer students of this university took part in the Republic Day parade. I praise all three. I gave the President’s award to one of them – Kifayatullah Malik on September 29,” she said.
Such young people deserve all the praise and accolades for lending a helping hand to others through social service, the president said.
“I would like to see the youth of Kashmir actively participate in social service while pursuing their academics. By doing this, you can bring change in the country and become a role model for the nation,” she said.
Speaking on the occasion, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed gratitude to the President Murmu for gracing the convocation ceremony. He also extended felicitations to the graduating students and wished them success in future endeavours.
“Convocation is a very important day in the academic calendar as well as in students’ lives. It is a stepping stone on the path of progress, both academic and professional with infinite opportunities to contribute to build a strong and ‘Viksit Bharat’,” the LG said.
The LG congratulated the girl-students.“It is heartening to know that out of total students conferred with gold medals today, more than 66 percent are our daughters. Accomplishment of our daughters, their self-confidence, courage and the ability to create new records in education and various other fields is a matter of great pride for the entire Union Territory. It is a reflection of a brighter future for the nation and a step towards women-led development,” he said.
The LG encouraged the youth to look for new opportunities, take up new challenges and contribute to nation building.
“Learning should be lifelong. It will help in critical and analytical thinking in professional careers and enable the youth to steadily contribute to the ongoing social transformation of our fastest growing economy. In the coming decades, knowledge will be the main driver of economic growth,” the LG said.
He impressed upon the higher educational institutions to strive to create a strong ecosystem for advanced research, innovation, new invention and suitably respond to the needs of society and industries.
“We need to have a robust mechanism to serve the local communities and bring change in the life of the last man in the queue,” he said.
The LG also commended the University of Kashmir for living up to its motto of “Tamso Ma Jyotirgamaya” (From Darkness to Light) and making significant contributions to the nation’s knowledge economy.
Prof. Nilofer Khan, Vice Chancellor Kashmir University presented the university report and highlighted the achievements of the varsity in diverse fields.
Justice N. Kotiswar Singh, Chief Justice, High Court of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh; Junaid Azim Mattu, Mayor, SMC; Aftab Malik, chairman, DDC Srinagar; Vice-Chancellors of various universities; heads of educational institutions; senior officers; faculty members and students attended the convocation ceremony.
President Murmu pays tribute at martyrs’ memorial
Srinagar: President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday paid tribute to the fallen soldiers at the Army headquarters after arriving on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.
The president landed at the airport in Srinagar where she was received by Lt Governor Manoj Sinha. She was also accorded a guard of honour on her first visit to the Union Territory, the officials said.
The president then travelled to Badamibagh Cantonment, the headquarters of the Army’s 15 Corps — also known as the Chinar Corps — where she paid tribute to the fallen soldiers at the martyrs’ memorial.
Later in the day the president attended the convocation ceremony of Kashmir University.
Following Murmu’s arrival, Sinha said in a post on X, “Extended a warm welcome to Hon’ble President Smt Droupadi Murmu ji on her arrival at Srinagar airport.”
