Srinagar, October 19 (Vijay Kumar) –The Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, NN Vohra, on Monday urged the youth to think of the problems of the state and the country too. “Jammu and Kashmir has certain problems, some of them historical, which are hopefully on way of resolution. Likewise the country and its neighborhood are facing some problems. So I would advice the youth to contribute to solving these problems,” he said while making an appeal to the youth to help eliminate corruption from the state.
Addressing the “special award ceremony” of the 17th Annual Convocation at the University of Kashmir, Vohra said, “The youth of today don’t have the only responsibility of finding a suitable job for themselves, but in my expectation, they must contribute to the socio-economic development of the state in whatever little way they can.”
Vohra, who is the KU chancellor, urged the youth to contribute to the socio-economic development of the state. “There is a resentment and unhappiness all around because of the corruption. I appeal the youth not to allow any dishonest practice as the same erodes our values,” Vohra, who was the chief guest, said.
He said the people must protect, preserve and strengthen the secular ethos of the state. “We have the historical glorious tradition of 70 years which we must protect,” he added.
Asserting that the youth faced numerous challenges in the present world, the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, said the varsity must gear up to meet the challenges. “It is not easy to live in this world. The challenges are numerous both in terms of finding a suitable place and to sustain in this competitive world,” Omar, who is the varsity pro-chancellor, said.
He said the varsity must march ahead in meeting the challenges it faced, particularly in the wake of establishment of two central universities in Jammu and Kashmir. “The Kashmir University is more precious to us. And it must meet the challenges it faces in the wake of establishment of two new institutions. So there is need to hold a debate between the academics and between the institution and the government regarding these challenges and how to address them,” Omar, who was the guest of honour, said.
He asked the academics to examine whether time had come to make education more merit-based.
In his welcome address, the KU vice-chancellor, Prof Riyaz Punjabi, gave a detailed account of the varsity’s achievements and contribution. “In a bid to strengthen higher education arena, we have launched some new courses like Masters in Pharmaceutical Sciences, B Tech in Electronics and Communication/Computer Engineering, and integrated BBA/MBA course,” he said, while hailing the initiatives of the Governor and Chief Minister in augmenting infrastructure in the varsity and also allotting more land to it.
He said the varsity was in the process of computerizing different college libraries and connecting them with the university library. “I also want to inform that we are in the process of going for e-governance of examination and registration sections,” he said, adding he was committed to make the varsity a hub of knowledge and research.
Prof Punjabi said the Educational Multimedia Research Centre has sent five modules of e-content in Botany to the Ministry of Human Resource for its approval. “The modules would serve as lectures to hundreds and thousands of students in different institutions of the country,” he said.
The governor and chief minister later gave away the medals and certificates of merit to the students and scholars. The medals awarded during the ceremony included: Lion’s Club RR Sahai Gold Medal in Economics/Education (1); Dr Mohammad Yasin Ghazipuri Gold Medal in History (5); Dr Zakir Hussain Gold Medal, Best Graduate of the Year (2); JK Bank Gold Medal in Commerce (2); Prof AA Wani, Gold Medal in Law (3); Prof Rais Ahmad Gold Medal in Physics (4); Sher-i-Kashmir Gold Medal in Kashmiri (2); First Class First Position Holders, Graduation and Post Graduation Courses (173); Ghani-Kashmiri Gold Medal in Persian (3); Prof Jagan Nath Azad Gold Medal, M.Phil Ph D through Iqbal Institute (3).
The KU registrar, Prof S Fayyaz Ahmad, conducted the proceedings of the function. The Minister for Higher Education and KU’s Controller of Examination also shared the dais.
The ceremony was attended by several Minsters, Parliament Members, senior government and KU officials besides members of the civil society. The Director, Prof M. A. Qureshi IQAC KU, presented the vote of thanks.