By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR:Education is not just about degrees, it is a means to remove inequalities in society and give a voice to the underprivileged. From strengthening democracy to laying the foundation of a new economy; Union Education Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan has urged the students of JNU to take the lead in every field.
Shri Pradhan today attended the 9th convocation of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in New Delhi and felicitated the degree-winning students and wished them a bright future. The event, which was graced by the presence of the Hon’ble Vice President of India, Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan, highlighted the academic excellence of JNU and its role in nation building. He said that ‘Critical Thinking’ is the soul of JNU. The university has maintained a strong academic autonomy and a tradition of academic disciplinary teaching over the years.
Addressing the graduating students, he said that a degree from JNU is not just a personal achievement, but a great responsibility towards the society. Some of you may strengthen democracy by reaching Parliament and the Legislative Assembly, some may perform the duty of national service in the office of the Prime Minister, and some may strengthen India’s global role as strategic experts and ambassadors. Similarly, some students may lay the foundation of ‘start-ups’ and ‘unicorns’ through innovation and entrepreneurship, and some may become writers, journalists and intellectual exponents of the society, giving direction to the ideological debate of the nation. He expressed the hope that the students of JNU will play a significant role in realizing the vision of the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi of ‘Developed India-2047’.
Speaking about the rich heritage of the university, he cited examples of leadership from alumni and eminent personalities like Nirmala Sitharaman, Dr. S. Jaishankar, Late D.P. Tripathi, Sitaram Yechury, Prakash Karat and John Brittas. Finally, he praised the culture of JNU where ideas are exchanged and later contribute to national policy formulation.
