By Our Correspondent
NEW DELHI/ BHUBANESWAR: The President , Smt Droupadi Murmu, graced the 52nd convocation and closing ceremony of centenary year celebrations of Punjab Engineering College (PEC) in Chandigarh on Sunday.
Speaking on the occasion, the President said that established in Lahore in the year 1921, PEC has emerged as a leading institute for research and contributed to the global technological change. It is a premier institute of the country as well as a harbinger of technical education in this region. The National Education Policy – 2020 states that a good educational institution is one in which every student is welcomed and cared for and where an inspiring environment with good infrastructure and appropriate resources exists. She was happy to note that PEC has all these qualities. She expressed confidence that this college will continue to strive towards excellence.
The President was happy to note that PEC has provided many luminaries to the country in the fields of technology, industry, civil services, education and research which include: former Chairman of ISRO and father of experimental fluid dynamics research in India, Prof. Satish Dhawan; eminent educationist and founder-Director of IIT, Delhi, Prof. R.N. Dogra; an expert in Missiles Technology and Strategic Systems, Dr. Satish Kumar. She said that Kalpana Chawla, alumna of PEC’s Aeronautical Engineering Department, became the first woman astronaut of Indian origin who created an inspiring history of self-sacrifice for science. She was happy to note that the Kalpana Chawla Chair of Geospatial Technology is established in PEC. She said that the number of girl students should be increased in technical educational institutions to give more impetus to the progress of the country.
Addressing the graduating students, the President said that as they are entering in a world of unlimited opportunities and possibilities, she has no doubt that they are capable of converting opportunities into success and possibilities into certainties. She advised them to never forget their duties towards the motherland, whatever they choose to become in their life. She said that they are the builders of India of tomorrow. It is expected from them that they will use the knowledge acquired in this prestigious institution in the service of humanity too. She urged them to keep Mahatma Gandhi’s message of ‘Sarvodaya’ in their individual priorities. She said that it is the moral duty of every citizen, especially the youth, to put into practice the values of the ‘Father of the Nation’.Just before the convocation ceremony of PEC, the President inaugurated the newly constructed building of UT Chandigarh Secretariat.
