Governor P. Sathasivam has urged universities to create platforms that facilitated dialogue and exchange of ideas between defence personnel and students. The interaction is bound to quicken the transition of the youth into future leaders and equip them with social responsibility.
He was speaking while inaugurating the 20th Kargil Vijay Diwas celebrations organised by the Southern Air Command at the University of Kerala on Tuesday.
Inspiring students
Mr. Sathasivam also called upon the armed forces to facilitate study tours for students to major military training centres such as the National Defence Academy, Air Force Academy, and the Indian Naval Academy in Kannur. “Such visits and interactions will certainly be inspiring experiences for our students,” he said.
He asked the university to adopt a proactive approach towards requests made by defence personnel for enrolment in courses. For this, he suggested a level of flexibility in the admission process, choice of subjects, and timing of courses. He lauded the University of Kerala for enabling two Army officers from the State, including one who had played an active role in the Kargil operation, to pursue their Master’s degree.
Unusual example
Paying rich tributes to martyrs who died during Operation Vijay, the Governor said the country’s response to the situation at Kargil was a clear reflection of its avowed policy of reacting strongly to violations of peace and cross-border terrorism, even while believing in mutual respect and friendly cooperation with others, especially with neighbouring countries. The Kargil war was an unusual example of high altitude warfare in mountainous terrains with targets between 6,000 to 18,000 foot above seal level.
While Operation Safed Sagar demonstrated the precision of the Indian Air Force, the Indian Navy, as part of Operation Talwar, had played a crucial role by creating a blockage of Pakistani ports to cut off supply routes, besides undertaking aggressive patrols in the Arabian Sea, posing a threat to Pakistan’s sea trade.
The victory in Kargil was also an evidence of the synergy inbuilt in the character of the armed forces.
