“Poverty, illiteracy, health care, and unemployment are the major challenges before the country and the biggest hurdle that prevents us from overcoming these challenges is the lack of probity in public life ,” said Justice S. Nagamuthu, Judge, Madras High Court, at the annual convocation of Bharathidasan University here on Monday.
Young graduates must be aware of the system under which they are living . They must know about the constitution, their rights and responsibilities, and these should be taught at schools or at least at the university level as a compulsory subject, Mr. Nagamuthu said.
Referring to the latest incidents of students indulging in violence, the judge said that there was some inadequacy in the curriculum. The educationists should put their heads together to evolve a system where morals, ethics, non-violence, truth, brotherhood, honesty, integrity and uprightness become part of the curriculum.
Emphasising that the aim of university education should not be reduced as a means to produce degrees and to qualify for employment, he said that the aim should be to channelize the youth in the right direction so as to establish an orderly society. He said that the country no longer can afford to borrow knowledge from the west. India needs more and more scientists, economists, lyricists, chemists, and experts in all fields.
Knowledge alone is wealth and as such youngsters should espouse creativity. Preparedness coupled with self-confidence is what is required of the youngsters to achieve laurels. It is the duty of the universities to create self-confidence in the minds of the students to help them realise their potential, Justice Nagamathu said.
Of the 68,320 candidates, 432 received their convocation certificates from the Governor and Chancellor, K. Rosaiah. Among them was M. Karunakaran, District Collector, Tirunelveli, who received his Ph.D. in economics from the University.
G. Jayachandran, convenor, Syndicate Committee, presented the annual report . Faculty members have received grants to the tune of Rs.16.59 crore from various funding agencies for undertaking research programmes, he said.
