Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu was in Chandigarh on Friday to address the 69th convocation
function of the Panjab University and said that good quality education must be affordable and
accessible to all and stressed that education is the most powerful catalyst to speed up a country's
development.
''Education of good quality must become accessible to all, be affordable, and should lead to a
positive transformation in an individual's outlook, societal cohesion, and inclusive national
development,'' the vice president said.
''There has to be cohesion in the society. This should be taught to students from the beginning
itself,'' he added, asserting, ''We must always harness the power of education and unleash the
creative energies of young minds.'' Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit, Haryana Governor
Bandaru Dattatreya, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, and his Haryana counterpart
Manohar Lal Khattar were present on the occasion.
Naidu said education is truly the most powerful catalyst that can change the pace of a country's
development. ''If you want fast-paced development, you need to educate the country,'' he
said. Naidu noted that 65 percent of the country's population was below 35 years and 50 percent
below 25 years.
''If we empower, educate, enlighten, and encourage them, they will excel in their lives and make
the country excel in the world,'' he said. Universities must be at the forefront of the knowledge
revolution through path-breaking innovations and cutting-edge research, Naidu said.
''The ultimate aim of the research is to make peoples' lives better, to make their lives happier.
That should be the objective for taking up any research,'' he said. Naidu further said that there
should be closer interaction between universities and governments so that robust policies can be
formulated.
India was once known as 'Viswaguru', he said, adding: ''Students from across the globe used to
come and study here. Because of the colonial rule, we lost our momentum, and we are taught in
an educational system which is more influenced by colonial rule.'' ''Our contribution, civilization,
traditions, and culture have not been given adequate importance in our education,'' Naidu
stated. He said the new education policy would take into consideration the need for really
making the education system Indian.
''The new education policy has to be understood in its proper spirit, and it should be implemented
in letter and spirit. This is the duty of one and all,'' the vice president added. Naidu also
emphasized that peace is a prerequisite for progress, and appealed to all the universities in the
country to ensure peace is maintained.
''Educational institutions are knowledge-givers, education is not only for a degree, but education
is also for enlightenment, education is for empowerment,'' he said, asking the universities not to
divert their attention to other issues.