By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: The true value of education extends beyond classrooms and formal degrees, it reflects in students’ actions and future endeavours that will help to build the nation and steer it towards progress, said Dr. Justice Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi of Orissa High court here on Saturday.
Delivering the 51st convocation address at Utkal University, Justice Sarangi said teachers are responsible to mould the character of students. Teachers have a great mission to ignite young minds. A teacher is a friend, philosopher, counsellor, mentor who supports to mould the tender buds, imparting values and turning them to be responsible citizen. The contribution of teachers in the life of a student is immense. A teacher takes the opportunity to educate the child with great responsibility, coaxes and helps them to identify their interest to become successful person with good character, he said.
Education is the most direct path for building a democratic culture. Education should allow for consensus building with room for dissent, should present reality and with all its problems and should foster critical thinking, the judge said and asked students to follow 3Ds – discipline, dedication and devotion – principle of success in life. He also beseeched the students that apart from the little joys and sorrows you take away from here there is a huge responsibility on each one of you to pay back to the society and country which have contributed to your education and success so far.
Attending the convocation ceremony as chief speaker, Minister of Higher Education Dr. Arun Kumar Sahoo congratulated all the awardees and urged them to introspect about the values and principles that they stand for. He urged the graduates to try to give back to your family, society and country which have nurtured you during the most significant phase of your life.
He also emphasized on research in various disciplines and mentoring for students in colleges and universities. Under the Odisha University Research and Innovation Incentivization Plan (OURIIP), the Odisha State Higher Education Council (OSHEC) has been providing seed money to researchers of various colleges and universities across the state.
Around Rs.2 crore is being spent for the purpose per annum, he informed.Similarly, a proposal to set up a smart classroom in each department of the university has been submitted to thestate government for approval.Vice-chancellor Prof. Sabita Acharya, who presided over the event, highlighted academic achievements of the university and said the institution’s future will always be based on inclusion, diversity and innovation. Registrar Avaya Kumar Nayak was present on dias and proposed vote of thanks. On the occasion, 189 scholars received their Doctorate Degrees and 98 students were awarded Gold Medals acrossvarious disciplines and 7 students received cash award.
