Former Union Minister and MP Murli Manohar Joshi stressed on efforts to protect and preserve the Himalayas with the possibility of China taking advantage of any gap in it looming large. He was addressing the first convocation of the Doon University here on Friday. He said that Himalayas are vital for the climate and water availability for the whole of South East Asia. Lauding the decision of the Doon University to open a centre on the Himalayan studies, the veteran leader and scholar said that both the Centre and the State Government should ensure that the proposed centre meets the purpose it is meant for.
Expressing apprehension over the model of growth-oriented economics, he said that as per the recent studies, such model of economics leads to concentration of capital in a few hands and besides, it wreaks havoc on the environment.
Joshi also expressed concern over the rising pollution of the Ganga. Laying emphasis on learning Sanskrit, he said that the Uttarakhand Government should ensure that the students study Sanskrit and some research is held on the Sanskrit literature.
In her convocation address, the Governor Baby Rani Maurya said that the universities have great responsibility to promote research work as per the needs of the society and to assist in the formulation of policy for overall development. She added that the universities are not a mere degree-giving institutions but they play a vital role in the overall development of the society and the nation. She said that role of parents is paramount in shaping the future of the students.
Maurya said that there is a direct relation between the growth of the State and the number of the educated youths living in it. The higher the number of educated youth the more the progress of the State in social, economic and cultural domains, she said.
The Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat expressed confidence that Doon University would soon find a place among the best universities of the country. He on the occasion announced a special grant of Rs 5 crore for the university.
Stressing on the need of good teachers, Rawat said that the good teachers can compensate the absence of library or laboratory. “But nothing can compensate a good teacher,” he said.
The Minister of State for higher education Dhan Singh Rawat said that the State Government is committed to ensuring all-round development of Doon University.
He said that the university has received a grant of Rs 20 crore from RUSA for two consecutive years. The Minister further said that convocations would be held regularly in all the universities of the State from now on. He claimed that the State Government is strictly implementing the education calendar in the State according to which minimum 180 days of studies are compulsory in a year.
Famous folk singer Narendra Singh Negi who was bestowed with D.Lit during the convocation said that it amounted to honouring the local languages of Uttarakhand.
Honours bestowed
The Governor Baby Rani Maurya as the chancellor of the university conferred honorary doctoral degrees to the former Union Minister Murli Manohar Joshi and the celebrated folk singer Narendra Singh Negi. While Joshi was conferred with Doctor of Science (D.Sc) Negi was honoured with Doctor of Literature (D.Lit).
In course of the ceremony, degrees were awarded to 617 post-graduates and 380 graduates besides Ph.Ds to five students who passed out from the university since 2011 to 2016. This aside, the Governor gave away gold medals to 44 students who excelled in different fields.
Din all the way
Despite the Doon University administration having gone all-out to make the first convocation a grand success, some students marred the seriousness of the programme as they were heard talking in high volume. The same continued during the time Murli Manohar Joshi was speaking, something which left the university administration embarrassed.
Some university officers tried to make the students to keep quiet, but they remained adamant on keeping the din on.