Saturday, 10 December 2022 | PNS | DEHRADUN
Participates in the convocation ceremony of Doon University; confers degrees on 669 students, awards gold medals to 36 scholars
The President Droupadi Murmu has said that one should never forget one’s roots. She exhorted the youngsters to respect their mother tongue, motherland and mother, and said that our identity and prestige is dependent on these three things. She was delivering her address during the third convocation ceremony of Doon University here on Friday. The President said that the progress of any country depends on the quality of its human resource which in turn depends on the quality of its education. Emphasising that education is the only tool to bring about a change in the society, Murmu said that innovations should be promoted in the education sector. She opined that the National Educational Policy-2020 would be effective in making India one of the superpowers in the world. The President expressed happiness at the fact that apart from being a centre where five foreign languages are being taught, the Doon University also focuses on promotion of Uttarakhand’s Garhwali, Kumaoni and Jaunsari languages.
In his address the governor lieutenant general (retd) Gurmit Singh said that the university has inculcated the theme of convocation ‘ Rising Naari Shakti’ fully as 63 per cent of the gold medallists are girls. He said that the ‘Yes I can and I will’ has become the slogan of every girl in the State. The governor added that the commitment of ‘Yes, women can create, nurture and transform’ is getting fulfilled.
Earlier, welcoming the President, the chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami asked the students to take inspiration from the life of the President. He said that the President is simplicity personified and her conduct is a guiding light for all of us. He said that Uttarakhand is a land of religion, spirituality and culture, and is fulfilling the principle of Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam.
The Education minister Dhan Singh Rawat said that the State has become the first in the country to implement the concept of Bal Vatikas under the NEP-2020. He said that over five lakh students are studying in 35 universities and 450 colleges in the State. Eminent space scientist, K Kasturirangan said that the NEP-2020 fulfills the aspiration and dreams of 21st century youth and is an example of the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In her address the university vice chancellor Surekha Dangwal said that the completion of the degree is an important milestone for the students and their parents and all those who have contributed to their success. She said that the university started academic session with 77 students and two schools in 2009 and today it has expanded to nine schools and 3,000 students. She said that out of 36, two third of the medal winners are girls which reflects the growing representation of women and girls in the society.
In the convocation degrees were conferred to 669 students who had passed out from the university in 2021. The President felicitated 36 students with gold medals and handed over PhD degrees to 16 students on the occasion. Among the gold medallists were 24 girl students.
The President held a separate meeting with the women recipients of Padma awards on the occasion. The vice chancellors of various universities and eminent academicians were present in the ceremony.
