SPEECH OF HON’BLE GOVERNOR PUNJAB AND ADMINISTRATOR, UT CHANDIGARH, SHRI BANWARILAL PUROHIT ON THE OCCASION OF CONVOCATION OF GURU NANAK DEV UNIVERSITY AT AMRITSAR ON NOVEMBER 25, 2022.

I am pleased to be here amidst all of you to address this Convocation Ceremony.

I am happy to preside over the function of this University- a university with a glorious past, a very impressive present and a bright future . It is a university that has earned for itself a pride of place in the higher education landscape of the country. Thanks to the visionary leadership of successive Vice Chancellors and faculty members, the University has shaped the lives of many young men and women who have gone on to make a mark in various fields and have done the State and the Country proud.

At the outset, I would like to congratulate all graduating students on reaching a milestone of great significance in their lives and careers. Indeed, it isyour diligence complemented by the strongsupport of your parents and the dedication of your gurus that has paved the way for this achievement.

Higher education system in India has undergone rapid expansion after Independence. Currently, India's higher education system is the largest in the world enrolling over 70 million students while in less than two decades, India has managed to create additional capacity for over 40 million students.

India aspires to be a global leader, attain a high global position in academic excellence, and become an education destination for the world.

If this dream is to be achieved, in the wake of the National Education Policy 2020, we must ensure that we impart quality education to our students and make them excellent citizens who would stand on their own in the global scene.

Education of a good quality must become accessible to all, beaffordable and should lead to a positive transformation in an individual's outlook, societal cohesion and inclusive national development.

We must harness this power of education, and unleash the creative energies of young heads, hands and hearts . The new India we are dreaming of will be built on soaring aspirations and acquisition of new competencies. It will be built on the knowledge, skills and attitudes we impart in our classrooms and the innovation we foster in our workshops and laboratories. That is where the future of our nation lies and is being shaped every day.

Education is both, a means and an end . As a source of power to transform human lives and society, education is a means. As a culminating process for acquiring knowledge, it is an end. Education delivers light from darkness and strengthens human capacity to decipher good from bad. It is the beacon of progress and prosperity.

Ladies & Gentlemen,

Education should transform the way we look at the planet we live on and how we interact with the people who live with us on it. This University is in a sacred land where Gurus showed that our lives should be illumined by five Virtues, "Satt" or honest truthful behaviour, " Santokh" or contentment, "Daya" or compassion, “Nimrata” or humility and “Pyaar” or love, love of humanity, love of divinity. I hope these principles will continue to inspire us to be better human beings.

University is at the top of the formal education pyramid. It is, therefore, incumbent upon universities to guide the direction of progress of the society . Ancient India had a tradition of world-class learning, represented by renowned universities at Nalanda, Takshashila, Vikramashila, Valabhi, Odantapuri and Somapura . These seats of learning dominated the world education system for eighteen hundred years beginning sixth century BC. This system started declining from twelfth century AD. Indian higher education is yet to regain that frontline position .

How do we transform our universities into great learning centres? At first, there is a need to link education with research and innovation in a seamless manner . Education disseminates Knowledge whileResearch creates New Knowledge. Innovation converts that Knowledge into Wealth and Social Good.

Promoting inter-disciplinary research and research at under graduate level, boosting collaborative research and joint research papers, and encouraging bright students to enter the research field are some of the steps required in this direction. Emphasis is being laid on research at the Guru Nanak Dev University.

Particular focus is required for nurturing innovative ideas. As Dr. R.A. Mashelkar, a known scientist said “I” in India must stand for innovation . New knowledge cannot be created without innovative thinking, and the process has to begin from a very young age.

Recently a lot of dynamism has been seen in the startup business throughout the country. India has taken big strides in creating a start-up ecosystem with the launch of the ‘Start up India’ programme in 2016. Creating start-up centres in the universities will also have a positive impact on the culture of research, innovation and enterprise in the State. The important catchword for today’s youth is ‘start-up’.

The universities must teach their members to contemplate, to go beyond the apparent in learning for examination purposes , and to obtain the aptitude and custom to question.

It is a matter of pride that Guru Nanak Dev University has arisen as a noteworthy centre to impart theoretical education, hands-on training and entrepreneurial expansion skills to the youth, women and relegated sections of society. Engaging with the best of business and professional education institutions both national and international, GNDU has forged alliances and partnerships with exclusive educational, industry and business organisations to gain insight into the needs of establishments.

I am glad to note that Guru Nanak Dev University is growing vertically in its rankings and performance . For its untiring efforts it has been conferred with the status of “University with Potential for Excellence” by UGC and accredited with “A++” grade by NAAC. It has also attained 44th Rank in NIRF ranking-2022.

The faculty of the university has also built a niche for itself in their respective research areas and the H-index has increased to 127 in 2022 from 64 in 2017.It is noteworthy that in addition to starting 8 new departments, Guru Nanak Dev University is the first university in Punjab and neighbouring states of North India to conduct the B.Ed. Special Education (Multiple Disabilities) course , approved by Rehabilitation Council of India, Ministry of Education, New Delhi.

It is a matter of pride that Guru Nanak Dev University is multidisciplinary university also offering Open Distance Learning (ODL) Courses. Being the only Category-I university in the state of Punjab, GNDU is expanding to provide quality Online Courses in almost all domains of knowledge. The University Grants Commission has given approval to elite universities in the country which includes Guru Nanak Dev University, to run Online Degree Programmes . The classic example of Centre of Excellence established in GNDU, funded by the Government of India, is MYAS-GNDU Department of Sports Sciences and Medicine. It has become the highest ranked centre in North Asia and is being replicated in India and abroad.

The achievements of the University in the fields of cultural activities and sports are also noteworthy. Winning the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy (the highest Sports Award for a university in the country) for a record number of 23 times speaks volumes about the achievements of this university in the field of Sports . It is a proud moment to acknowledge that the GNDU has been allotted Academies of Fencing and Archery and two Centres for Handball and Hockey under “Khelo India” Scheme . Moreover, the Government of India has allotted 4 Centres of Excellence in Sports that is Athletics, Fencing, Cycling & Swimming to GNDU and has sanctioned a grant of more than 15 Crores for the same.

Guru Nanak Dev University is a clean and green campus which has rain water harvesting channels, organic manure production through vermi-composting, sound proof generators , and above all, it is the first university in North India to have achieved zero discharge with installation of waste water treatment plant of 2.5 million litres/day capacity using low cost technology . The university has also been recognized for its efforts to reduce the carbon footprint and has been ranked 2nd amongst the cleanest higher educational institutions in the country in the category of Government Universities by the MHRD.

Our Universities are the torchbearers of socio-economic development. The relevance of their teaching must extend beyond the classrooms, to the society and the nation. At the same time, they must, through their own example, usher in socio-economic change. The Government initiatives aimed at faster economic development, namely Swachh Bharat, Digital India and Make in India, have the potential to lift India to the state of an advanced nation . Their successful implementation calls for participation by a wide section of the society. Our education, training, research and innovation must contribute to these national objectives.

Our education model must not only develop the mind but also create positive mind sets . Expanding a student’s ability must go hand in hand with building his attitude. A creative mind set combined with a positive attitude can help unearth solutions to problems afflicting the society like malnutrition, affordable healthcare, efficient energy use etc.

The objective of education is not merely the acquisition of knowledge and the production of competent manpower. At a macro level, education leads to nation building. At the micro level, it must result in character building in students . I am reminded of a Sanskrit Subhashit from the Chanakya Niti Shastra, I quote:

न चौर हार्यम न च राज हार्यम।
न भ्रात्रभाज्यम न च भारकारी।।
व्यये कृते वर्धते एव नत्यिं।
विद्या धनं सर्वे धनं प्रधानम्।।

“Na Chor haryam, na raaj haryam, na bhrata bhajyam na cha bharakaari;

Vyaye krate vardhate eva nityam, vidhya dhanam sarva dhan pradhanam” (unquote)

(Knowledge is something that a thief cannot steal and aking cannot take away from you. Itcannot be divided amongst brothers. It is not too heavy to carry. The more you offer it to others, the more it increases. Knowledge is the supreme form of wealth ).

Therefore, I would like to mention before all the new graduates that getting a degree should not be the end of your quest for learning or new knowledge. Learning must be a journey that you need to associate with throughout your lifetime.

The Universities must also create an environment of continuous professional development for teachers; While the faculty members must focus on ground-breaking research and getting their research papers published in reputed international journals.

Dear faculty members and students,

We should move away from mediocrity and not be satisfied with what we have achieved . I wish you to work towards future improvements so that in the course of the next decade, Guru Nanak Dev University ranks in the top Universities across the globe.

Dear Students,

Today you are completing a very important phase of life. Now you are entering a world which is very fast paced and is a very strict master . Till now you used to learn firstthen to give examination, but nowyou will be tested first then get knowledge about where the mistake happened.

But, at the same time this world is full of potential for quick and consistent learners. With your degrees, you have a dual responsibility. You have to live up to your own as well as your parents expectations and also fulfil your duties towards the society and the country with full dedication, honesty and diligence.

Remember that those people who bring glory to their family, their society, their country and are helpful in their progress and contribute to their prestige, they are Not Some Special kind of peopleor some privileged persons, they are like any one of you. Likewise, many of you will write history for your parents, teachers, and your country one day.

I once again congratulate all the students who have received degrees today. I am confident that all the new graduates will use the knowledge and skills they have acquired in this institution for the benefit of our society and our country as a whole.

My best wishes to all of you, my heartfelt blessings. May you all prosper, be happy and be healthy.

Thank you,

Jai Hind.