Udhagamandalam (Tamil Nadu), Apr 25 (UNI) The terror attack on innocent tourists at Pahalgam in
J and K was a grim reminder that 'Terrorism is a global menace", Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar observed on Friday.
Condemning the Pahalgam terror attack on innocent tourists that claimed 26 lives in strongest terms, Mr Dhankar said this incident in J andK reminds that Terrorism is a global menace.
Speaking as the Chief Guest at the inaugural session of the Conference of Vice-Chancellors of
State, Central and Private Universities of Tamil Nadu at the Ooty Raj Bhavan convened by
Governor R N Ravi, the Vice-President said that Bharat is the World’s most peace-loving Nation
and Terrorism is a Global Menace, Needs to be addressed in Unison".
Expressing deep sorrow over the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Mr Dhankar said “Today
I join the Nation in expressing profound grief and outrage at the heinous terrorist attack in
Pahalgam that claimed innocent lives."
"It is a grim reminder that terrorism is a global menace to be addressed by humanity in unison.
Bharat is the world's most peace-loving nation and our civilisational ethos reflects Vasudhaiva
Kutumbakam”, he said.
He said the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in his third term,
is our greatest assurance that the nation's rise cannot be handicapped by any situation
internal or external.
"But we all have to bear in mind that national interest is supreme. This was echoed by
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar while imparting his final address to the Constituent Assembly. We
therefore have to take a resolve to always keep nation first, national interests cannot
be intertwined with partisan interest, it has to be uppermost", Mr Dhankar said.
"This cannot be subservient to any interest political, personal or for a group”, he said.
Touching upon the transformative National Education Policy, the Vice-President said
NEP is not a Government Policy; It is a Policy for the Nation.
“After three decades, taking into consideration inputs from the widest spectrum of
stakeholders, there was the evolution of the National Education Policy. This policy
aligns with our civilization ethos. It encourages multidisciplinary learning."
It gives priority to Indian languages. It envisions education as the development of the
person, not just employability, he said, adding, the most significant aspect of the NEP
is that it allows students to learn in their mother tongue.
"It has got us out of the colonial regime. Even medicine and engineering in local
languages, which could not be entertained at one point of time, even in dreams, It
is getting shape on the ground”, he said.
Calling upon institutions to study and adopt the policy in full spirit, he urged, “I beseech
you all and the faculty and directors wherever they are to please do a thorough study
of National Education Policy to realise its real intent and purpose so that we reap the
harvest of it.
"From this platform, I wish to indicate National Education Policy is a government
policy. It is a policy for the nation. And therefore I appeal, it is time for us all to adopt
it, understand it, execute it, and to reap the fruits”, he stressed.
Emphasising that the future of Indian higher education lies in moving beyond traditional
silos, he said “We are well past the era of standalone institutions. It can't be just IIMs, IITs
etc. Standalone era for institutions is already behind us. There is now need of convergence
for various verticals to give institutions cutting edge and Multi-disciplinary approach across
academic pursuits is the only answer."
He told the VCs to share their faculty talent virtually, technologically and otherwise also.
That will have two-fold purpose. While giving it, you will be receiving also. The winds of
innovation and change must have free passage in educational institutions.
Evolve a mechanism. There must be tolerance for varying ideas. Intolerance to a thought
defines democracy the wrong way. The nectar of university is that a solo voice that has
an opinion different than that of the majority is heard with deference by engaging in dialogue
and discourse, not by being judgmental.”
Highlighting Tamil Nadu’s historical role in India’s academic evolution, the Vice-President
said, “Tamil Nadu is a land of vibrant learning centers, those learning centers must be our
North Star now."
Tamil Nadu has been home to such widely accoladed learning centers like Kanchipuram
and Ennayiram. Ennayiram attracted thousands of students from all over Bharat. I see in
these conferences emergence of crucibles of ideation that will rekindle the spirit of
Kanchipuram and bring back glory of Ennayiram.
"We must take pride that it was in Tamil Nadu, Madras University was established in 1857.
Modern education was exemplified in this land”, he pointed out.
He concluded with a stirring reflection on India’s rich linguistic heritage, especially Tamil’s
historic recognition, saying, “Our languages, their richness and depth are our pride and
legacy. This aspect amplifies the fullness and uniqueness of our culture."
"Go to any country, and you will not find what we have here. Our treasure is unfathomable.
Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi, Bangla, and other languages are a goldmine of
literature and knowledge" , he noted.
These have national and global footprints. Educational institutions have to nurture with deep
focus this treasure.”
He said that “What a pride for Tamil Nadu and the entire country. The Tamil had the distinction
of being the first language to be accorded the prestige of being a classical language. This well-deserved recognition was imparted in 2004, which means things started changing in regimes.
"Today, there are 11 languages that are classical languages and Classical languages are those
that have rich culture, knowledge, literature, depth. Let me just indicate the 11 languages because
I had the occasion, as Chairman, Rajya Sabha, to declare to the Rajya Sabha that Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali were recently given the status of classical languages, but earlier
we had, as I said Tamil, Sanskrit, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, and Odia."
"Go all over the world, we are matchless. We have to realise our power, our potential. We
should not be carried away by insignificant aspects”, he said.
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