SPEECH OF HON’BLE GOVERNOR PUNJAB AND ADMINISTRATOR, UT CHANDIGARH SHRI BANWARILAL PUROHIT ON THE OCCASION OF CONVOCATION ADDRESS OF 64TH ANNUAL CONVOCATION GOVERNMENT COLLEGE OF EDUCATION ON APRIL 12, 2023

Convocation day is an important day in the calendar of any educational institution. On this day the institution delivers on its promise.
This is also a red letter day in the life of young men and women who have been nurtured in the lap of the Institution, since this day marks their transition from being students to professionals.
 आपके  Case  में तो ये और भी  phenomenal change है  since कल तक आप  students थे और teachers से पढ़ते थे जबकि आज आप  Qualified Teachers बन गये हैं, जो अन्य  students को पढ़ाएंगे! पढ़ने से पढ़ाने के सफर पर कदम बढ़ाया है आपने!  
Young Friends, 
As you march ahead you must put your education, training and core competence to best use.
Learning and understanding are the essence of life. The guru or teacher who deepens our understanding of life is given a uniquely important place in Indian culture.
We, in India, are inheritors of a sacred tradition in which our gurus, saints and seers have selflessly nurtured our minds and shaped our intellect. 
Imparting knowledge, has, down the ages, been a very methodical, painstaking and sacred transaction in an atmosphere of trust and reverence.
It is ingrained in us to believe that while our parents give us life, it is our "gurus” that shape our character and aspirations.
The scriptures say, Acharya Devo Bhava, i.e., “Teacher is God”. Another most popular sloka says,
“Guru is Brahma, Guru is Vishnu and Guru is Maheshwara”
This clearly shows that the teacher has a major role in the life of students.
Mahatma Gandhi said and I quote, “I have always felt that the true text book for the pupil is his teacher”(unquote).
The compassion, understanding and motivation of a teacher determines the future of every child. Every gesture, every action, every thought of the teacher silently hones the personality of the child!
My Dear young teachers,
You are the backbone of the education system. The future of the Nation depends upon you. Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, the former President of India said, “If the people remember me as a good teacher that will be a great honour for me”.  Accept your profession from your heart. We are proud of it. It is you who have to mould the youth of the country into the productive professionals and good human beings.
Ever, since we attained independence, we, in India, have done very well in the fields of science, technology, innovation and economic development. 
Yet, we find that despite our accomplishments, we cannot claim to have evolved into a truly developed society. 
Development is not only about factories, dams and roads. Development, to my mind, is about people, their values and their faithfulness to their spiritual and cultural heritage. 
As we move forward, it is a holistic education that should play a definitive role in shaping our values. Here, I see a pivotal role for the teachers in re-setting the moral compass. The teachers have to help our youth imbibe the essential civilizational values of :
love for motherland
performance of duty 
compassion for all 
tolerance for pluralism 
respect for women 
honesty in life 
self-restraint in conduct and 
responsibility in action and discipline.
There was a time when we had renowned seats of learning like Takshashila, Nalanda, Vikramashila, Valabhi, Somapura and Odantapuri. They attracted scholars from far and wide. The powerful minds who taught at such universities created an exalted position for our ancient education system. We have to regain our leadership position. We look towards teachers to guide the way.
Your profession is prestigious, with ample scope for development- development of inner self to become a true guide, mentor and most importantly a good human being. The society now looks up to you for guidance and awareness.  
The growth of a country lies in the hands of all its young teachers. Teachers play a vital role in society and are the opinion makers. Be Proud to be a Teacher, BE PROUD TO BE A NATION BUILDER! 
  Each of you must resolve to do something tangible and strive for excellence for the development of our nation.
 Strive for excellence not only in teaching but also in learning to further the mission of education of this country.
Be guided by the primary aim to make our children self-confident, self-reliant and responsible Indians.
Today, in the age of social media, we are prone to let our mental life become invaded by legions of half truths, prejudices, and propaganda. To save man from the morass of propaganda is one of the chief aims of education. 
Education must enable one to sift and weigh evidence, to discern the true from the false, the real from the unreal and the facts from the fiction.
Your moral responsibility, therefore, is to teach students to believe intensively and to think critically.
But, education which stops with efficiency may prove the greatest menace to society. The most dangerous criminal may be the man gifted with reason but with no morals. We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character-that is the goal of true education. The complete education gives one not only power of concentration, but worthy objectives upon which to concentrate.
Without character-building the future of the civil society will be plagued by insecurities and violence. Utmost care should be taken for building character among youth. 
There are ten core qualities which I call the ten Cs of a good personality: 
1. Conscience 
2. Character 
3. Courage 
4. Control 
5. Commitment 
6. Contentment 
7. Compassion 
8. Consideration
9. Correction 
and 10. Confidence, which must be instilled into students.
If we reflect on the challenges of managing human resources in an era of borderless human society, sustainability depends heavily on creation and management of knowledge. 
Information is becoming obsolete so fast that it has virtually become synonymous with ‘change.’ In addition, in an interdependent world, the increased global flow of information made possible by new information technologies, creates demand for higher level cognitive skills and for continuous learning. 
But, do not forget you have the major responsibility of making this society A KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY AND NOT AN INFORMATION SOCIETY. 
Coming out of ideological context and facing the real teaching scenario, you may find a million excuses for why "these kids" can't learn. You'll hear how "these kids are nothing but trouble," or "these kids come from tough backgrounds," or "these kids don't want to learn." The more people talk about them as "these kids," the easier it is for "these kids" to become somebody else's problem. 
But, dear friends, children succeed because somewhere along the way teacher instills in them the belief that they can. That they're able to. That they're worth it. 
It’s time for us to rededicate ourselves to let our kids explore the best in them. It's time to instill the belief in every child that he can succeed - and we as teachers and parents should make good on the promise to never let them down. 
In an integrated way it can be said, that any enlightened human being can be created by a teacher by providing him two unique characteristics. One building capacities among the students to inquire, to innovate and to be creative. Second is the development of moral value system. 
The noble life practiced by the teacher indeed becomes a beacon light to the students. Albert Einstein paid tribute to his teacher saying: “The ideals shown by my teacher which have lighted my way, time after time, have given new course to face life cheerfully have been kindness, beauty and truth”. 
This is the mission of a teacher. It will be God’s gift to the student, to have great teachers who can give both the learning modules as well as the way of enlightened life.
Nikos Kazant-zakis, the Greek writer and philosopher, had said and I quote: "True teachers are those who use themselves as bridges over which they invite their students to cross; then, having facilitated their crossing, joyfully collapse, encouraging them to create their own” (unquote).
My Young Friends,
Convocation is an occasion for looking back and looking forward. In fact, while each one of you may recall your memories associated with this college but what is perhaps more important is to look ahead. 
Remember, the world of today has enormous opportunities. Prosperity is waiting to knock at your doors, if you have talent and sincerity. 
Let discipline be your watchword; let dedication be your friend and let devotion to the Almighty be your guide.
Congratulations to all of you on your successful completion of this academic programme. 
I reiterate that this is only the beginning of the most important part of your lives: the part in which you are expected to contribute to the society. 
From now on you possess a very valuable thing, professional degree of a teacher. We have great expectations from you to succeed in this great pursuit. 
I wish all of you the very best in life and a wonderful future full of achievements.
   Thank you,
   Jai Hind.