SPEECH BY HER EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT OF INDIA SHRIMATI PRATIBHA DEVISINGH PATIL AT THE 25th CONVOCATION OF RANCHI UNIVERSITY

Ranchi, Jharkhand, 10th December, 2010

Ladies and Gentlemen,

And Dear Students,

I am pleased to be in Ranchi, the picturesque capital of Jharkhand, and I take this opportunity to convey my warmest greetings to the people of Jharkhand. Endowed with vast mineral and natural resources, and inhabited by a diverse population including peace loving tribal groups, Jharkhand has tremendous promise and potential. I wish the State good luck and I call upon its people, its Government and various institutions located here, including Ranchi University, to make every effort for the profound development and the progress of the State.

I am told that Ranchi University is the oldest university in this part of the country, and is celebrating 50 years of its existence as a centre of higher education. I am happy to participate in the 25th Convocation of Ranchi University and to inaugurate its Basic Science Building. I convey my greetings to the Chancellor of the Universities of Jharkhand, the Vice Chancellor, members of the Syndicate, members of the Academic Council, Deans and the student on this occasion.

Convocation is an important event in the lives of students, as it is from here onwards that most students launch into the working phase, when a new period of work related learning and gaining experience begins. The time spent in University, however, is that precious preparation time when young minds get myriads of opportunities to train themselves, acquire knowledge and become assets for the country. Studies undertaken in different disciplines are the basis on which excellence can be achieved in various fields. It is here that youth can be enthused with a spirit of truth, honesty, responsibilities and also national unity and national development, so that they are eager contributors to building a strong and modern India, through a process of inclusive growth. The values imprinted in the minds of students are the foundations on which a society can be made compassionate. It is for this reason that often Universities are described as institutions for public good and public welfare, fulfilling national and social responsibilities.

Education, in every sense, is one of the fundamental factors for development. No country can achieve sustainable economic development without substantial investment in human capital. We have a national commitment for providing universal primary education and for banishing illiteracy. I call upon universities as important stakeholders in the field of education, to develop strong backward linkages in education especially with the 'Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan', and 'National Literacy Mission'. The Gross Enrolment Ratio or GER in India in higher education is very low as compared to the world average. Strenuous efforts are required to reach our goal of enhancing GER in India to 20 percent by 2020. A massive expansion in higher education is underway in the country, through setting up of new institutions including in Jharkhand. Efforts are ongoing to improve educational standards as well.

Educational institutions to be relevant, must take into account the evolving national scenario and global developments, to structure a curriculum that caters to the opportunities and challenges that are likely to be faced by students. The process of globalization along with rapid advances in science and technology, particularly Information Technology, has been defining the achievements, the pressures and the pulls of the last more than two decades. Globalization has created an inter-related and an inter-linked world, and as we have seen, the Indian economy is also getting integrated with the global economy. This throws the challenge of being globally competitive. Moreover, we are moving into an era of knowledge societies. Global markets are being driven by knowledge capital. The entire grammar of development strategy has now changed, from 'tangible' accumulation of assets to 'intangible' accumulation of knowledge. Ideas, innovations and intellectual capital will be the main determinants of higher productivity. Higher education must, therefore, develop analytical, creative and scientific capability of their students.

Nations with high quality human resources would be counted amongst the front ranking nations of the world in the knowledge era. Therefore, we have to be careful that by concentrating on quantity we do not compromise on quality. Quality faculty is important to maintain high standards of our Universities, so that world class graduates, post-graduates and Doctoral students are produced. There is also the need for the faculty to equip themselves with the required knowledge and technical skills to cater the demand of the global markets. There is also an express need to upgrade the curricula, to equip classrooms, laboratories and libraries. While inaugurating the building of the Institute of Basic Sciences, I was quite happy to see that Ranchi University has already taken steps in this direction. This willingness to take forward looking and creative approaches is necessary to meet the challenges of the 21st Century knowledge society.

I would like to emphasize mainly three qualities that students must imbibe as habits. One, it should be remembered that a successful life is largely a matter of discipline. But this discipline, in order to be of value, must be largely self-discipline. Imposed discipline often defeats its purpose. Ragging is most injurious, criminal and disgraceful practice which should be immediately stopped by the students with their junior colleagues. Institutions should be extra careful and prevent it forthwith. It brings bad name to the institution and our country. So also drug consumption by students or any one, is a curse. Drugs debilitate life. Precious lives lose their significance and are ruined. So please put a stop to it forthwith.

Second, concentration helps in focusing the mind on the tasks before you. As Swami Vivekananda said, "The more this power of concentration, the more knowledge is acquired, because this is the one and only method of acquiring knowledge." Third, time management helps you manage your tasks effectively by prioritizing tasks and completing them as per schedule. Goals are easier to achieve in this way. Moreover, you must keep some time for doing work for the welfare of society. Education without community participation is incomplete in today's world. Students must interact with local communities and understand their problems and help them resolve their problems. Periodic short-term courses for the local community on issues relevant to them can be organized by the University, where students also participate. Special efforts should be taken and tribal students should be trained and taught constructive leadership qualities. In Jharkhand, students can work voluntarily in projects relating to community education and welfare. With a large tribal population, mineral reserves and forests, development to be sustainable, should be done in a manner that a balance is retained between economic, social, cultural and environment aspects. Human capital formation, technical skills and institution building will take Jharkhand forward.

I am glad to learn that Ranchi University has a university department of Tribal and Regional Languages, which offers postgraduate courses in nine languages, namely, Mundari, Kurukh, Kurmali, Nagpuri, Santhali, Kharia, Panch Parganiya, Khorta and Ho. The recognition of these languages, some of them having no script of their own, is a great contribution for the preservation of national culture and heritage.

Sportspersons from this State have brought laurels to the nation. I was informed that the 34th National Games will take place in Jharkhand. This should encourage the youth of the State to participate in many sporting events.

I will conclude with a quotation of Mahatma Gandhi, "Education is just a means. If it is not accompanied by truthfulness, firmness, patience and other such virtues, it remains sterile." I urge the students and the academic community to uphold the values of secularism and democracy enshrined in our Constitution, and the values of harmony and tolerance of our civilization.

I end with best wishes to the management, faculty, and the students of this University.

Thank You.

Jai Hind!