Governor, Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar participated as Chief Guest in 53rd foundation day function of Himachal Pradesh University (HPU), Shimla today. Urban Development Minister, Suresh Bhardwaj and Education Minister Govind Singh Thakur was also present in this occasion. While congratulating faculty members and students of the HP University on its 53rd Foundation Day, Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar in his keynote address said that the aim of education should be to make a cultured and refined human being. Therefore, we get this flow of knowledge by reading good books other than textbooks, which helps in overall development, he added. He said that today we need to think differently. “Our education should take us towards entrepreneurship and universities need to work positively in this direction”, he added and said our learning should be as per the present demand of the society and the curriculum should be fixed accordingly. He said that there was a time when the syllabus was decided according to the requirements of the industries but today what the society needs was important.
He said that the education which was limited only to getting a job needs to be considered today. Arlekar said that this journey of 53 years means a lot. There was a need to analyze the achievements and shortcomings of this journey, he added. Emphasizing on the need for improvement in grading from the university, he said that today a student definitely takes information about its grading before joining any institute, so we all should try to improve the grading together. The Governor also laid the foundation of the Manikaran Girls Hostel to be constructed at a cost of Rs 8.11 Crore funded by Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India under Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana. The hostel will be constructed in an area of 4410 square meters. He inaugurated the painting workshop on the theme “My University” put up by Departmental Interdisciplinary Studies on the occasion of University Foundation Day. The Governor released ‘Himshikhar’, ‘Navonmeshi’, and other university magazines, books, brochures published by the University and the teaching and non teaching faculties.
The Governor also conferred “Shreshth Chatr Samman, Shreshth Karamchari Samman, Best Young Researcher Award, Best Researcher Award, Best Teacher Award on the occasion. The Governor also honoured Prof. Chander Mohan Parshera for Internal Quality Improvement of the University. Urban Development Minister Suresh Bhardwaj said that today is New India and we were moving towards being self-reliant and this was also the purpose of education. He detailed various aspects of the National Education Policy and said that the Union and State Governments have made a special budgetary provision for research in education. He said that there has been a vast expansion of education in the last few years. Throwing attention on the historical background of Himachal Pradesh University, he said that the university was established here as a conducive environment of education. On foundation day, we all should think about the direction in which we have to move in the coming years, he added. He said that the university has a glorious history and many big personalities of the country and administrators have passed from this university. He said that he also studied in this university and was the first law graduate from the university.
Education Minister Govind Singh Thakur said that it was a day to remember those who contributed to the achievements of the University. He said that we should take a pledge on this day to develop it as the best Institute in the country by making an important contribution. He said that many students who came out of this university were serving the top positions in the country. He said that India has set many records in the field of research, but we also need to move forward in the direction of vocational education. He said that the State Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur has established Sardar Patel University in Mandi to further promote research and quality education. He said that students were the future of the country who should be energetic and bright. The responsibility of this was on our teachers and the Prime Minister has elevated the importance of teachers. He said that the developed nations of the world were working in their mother tongue, so the NAP favors studies in their mother tongue. He said that this policy was helpful in making India a ‘Power of Knowledge’.
Earlier, Vice-Chancellor, HPU, Prof. S.P. Bansal welcomed and honoured the Governor, and other distinguished guests present on the occasion. He said that it was a day of self retrospection as a teacher and a student. “What we have done for our institution and the society”, he added. He said that he worked on three issues during their tenure as a Vice Chancellor including management of Higher education, re-orientation of higher education and quality of higher education. He said that education should be for the making of life. He said that the university has taken several steps including implementation of National Education Policy. Registrar Balwan Singh proposed the vote of thanks. Members of University Executive Council University Court, Founder, Director, Head of Department and non-teacher staff were also present on the occasion.
