The Hindu : National : “We must divest hatred from minds of misguided youth”

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“We must divest hatred from minds of misguided youth”

Atiq Khan

— Photo: Subir Roy

Governor and Chancellor of Lucknow University T.V. Rajeshwar conferring the honorary doctorate to the President Pratibha Patil at a convocation in Lucknow on Tuesday.

LUCKNOW: Stating that terrorism and communal hatred hampered development, President Pratibha Patil called upon the people to cooperate in fighting terrorism.

“We have to divest hatred from the minds of some of our misguided youth and bring them to the path of peace, amity and communal harmony,” the President said.

The President paid tributes to the slain Delhi police inspector, Mohan Chand Sharma, and noted the contributions and sacrifices of the security and police personnel.

Delivering the convocation address at the University of Lucknow here on Tuesday, Ms. Patil, who was conferred with the degree of Doctor of Letters ( Honoris Causa), said a mature society was based on respect for all, peaceful co-existence and a caring approach towards the under-privileged sections of society. The President laid stress on freeing society from prejudices, discrimination against women and social evils by changing mindsets.

She said notwithstanding the fact that India was a country of diverse regions, with people speaking different languages, and following different religions, customs and traditions, all of them came together under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi during the freedom movement.

The President said the universities played a vital role in inculcating the spirit of nationalism during the freedom movement and in post-independent India, they had contributed significantly to the country’s development.

Ms. Patil said India was in a phase of transformation as one of the fastest growing economies of the world having made advances in electronics, computer technology and communication. The business process outsourcing had opened up job opportunities for the educated youth.

Stating that demand for skilled professionals underlined the importance of higher education, the President said the universities should instil in their students an ability to think critically and analytically. Since education constituted an essential mechanism for combating social exclusion, universities must adopt a system for changing and amplifying the curriculum to include new fields of knowledge and to respond to the nation’s needs. The universities have to reach out and connect India physically, technologically and emotionally, for which a constant interface between students and communities was an absolute must. The President said the country needs more innovative and dynamic teachers with a multi-disciplinary approach.

In his address, the Governor-Chancellor, T.V. Rajeswar bemoaned the slow pace of universalisation of education, especially with reference to the girl child. Violence against women, restriction on women’s mobility and traditional role divisions of work continued to restrict women’s choices in education and career, the Governor said.

The Vice-Chancellor of Lucknow University, A.S. Brar, said a proposal had been sent to the Planning Commission for converting the university into a Centre of Excellence, considering its sound academic record.

Fellow of the Indian National Science Academy and an alumnus of LU, R.P. Rastogi was conferred with an honorary Doctorate of Science, while Chandrashekhar Rath, a renowned artiste, was conferred with a Doctor of Literature degree. Twenty-eight students were awarded medals with a law graduate, Babita Singh, winning six gold medals.

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