Omkar Dattatray
Gyanodya express is the maiden and first of its kind endeavor and initiative of the Jammu university and it will give good exposure to the girl students as they will tour and travel to various states of India and will learn knowledge and experience and it will also strengthen the theme of unity in diversity and teach the girl students lessons of unity .The LG Manoj Sinha flagged off ”Gyanodaya Express-collage on wheels ,” the first of its kind mobile educational endeavor in Jammu and Kashmir ,from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Railway station Katra .This endeavor and initiative will aim at empowering 700 girl students from across the universities of Jammu and Kashmir .In an enriching endeavor 780 students ,mentors and administrative staff from various universities and colleges of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday visited the Rashtrapati Bhavan ,and parliament house in national capital and the visit provided them the opportunity to know and study these highest institutions of our vibrant democracy .The students from Jammu and Kashmir universities visited Ahmedabad and experienced and saw the scenic beauty of a Lake .The enthusiastic students and faculty members embraced the opportunity to learn beyond the confines of traditional classrooms .They saw Ahmedabad’s renowned Kankaria lake .The LG said,’ ‘Gyanodaya Express will travel through various states and it will be an educational pilgrimage for these girl students .The journey endeavors to dissolve the boundaries of classrooms ,streams and evolve education by providing immersive ,collaborative ,and project based learning experience .”It is so good that soon a similar Gyanodaya Express will be flagged off from Jammu Kashmir comprising male students from J&K universities and students from board .The collage on wheels is inspired by the life and experience of Mahatma Gandhi ,where he undertook epic tour of the country by train ,interacted with people from all walks of life and awakened the society ,with universal and eternal values ,truth ,non- violence and Ahimsa .Through collage on wheels ,the students will get an opportunity to get knowledge as it will be a journey of knowledge .Besides ,it will also be a lifetime opportunity to discover ,know and study diverse culture and to explore the new aspects of life and wisdom .The students will be able to collaborate on different subjects and create something new in spirit of teamwork and cooperation during the journey on wheels. The train journey will further and strengthen transdisciplinary education and give the students opportunity for experimental learning .The students will be in a position to appreciate the culture of different parts of India and will be able to share experiences with each other .The students on wheels will learn cultural and spiritual wealth of different states of the country .This novel journey through train will help in the cultural and national integration which is the essence ,theme and great wealth of India ,for which our country is famous throughout the globe .This train journey is considered as a voyage to transform present form of learning and knowledge .The students will come across the knowledge regarding Sabarmati Ashram ,Indian navy ,ISRO as they will get new ideas ,insight and hand in knowledge for new research and development .Gannodya Express -collage on wheels is aligned with visionary National Education Policy-NEP 2020 and seeks to propel a shift from job seekers to job providers and creators ,fostering a culture of idea of incubation ,innovation and skill development .Thus this new innovation and experience is in tune with the modern and present day world and it will go a long way to create new job opportunities in the country where the trained and educated students will become job creators .The Gyanodya Express will enable the students to gain a holistic understanding of the areas they visit .This will be beyond the academic pursuit .It will also serve as a catalyst for personal growth ,innovation and national unity .The fact that our country and culture is very diverse and so the young generation should know about the culture ,traditions ,customs and values of different states so that they will not only study diversity but will also be propelled to achieve national integration .The interaction and exchange of ideas,knowledge and experiences will help to know the culture and language and literature of different states and the students will be able to appreciate the unity in diversity which is the biggest wealth and asset of India for which the country is held in great reverence. The students on wheels will make the students aware about the issues ,problems ,customs as well as traditions of different states and it will give on spot and firsthand knowledge and experience to the students which will definitely broaden the knowledge and will also help in the development of the holistic ,balanced and multifaceted personalities of the students on voyage and this will be a big achievement and it will go a long way to ensure growth and progress of the country .The present voyage consists 700 girl students and it is the novel opportunity for the women empowerment and thus this programme is in tune with the country’s national priorities .The fact the Jammu and Kashmir higher education has considered it fit to give the first opportunity to girl students and the collage on wheels will help in the development of the personalities of the girl students and it will in future lead to the development of the family and the country as well because if you teach a single male student ,his knowledge will be confined to his personality ,but when you give knowledge and experience to a girls student ,you are educating the whole family and in the ultimate analysis to the whole country .The government should encourage and arrange such novel endeavors and initiatives which will go a long way in developing the young personalities which will be good for the individual students and the society as well .The UT government is required to focus on such initiatives and innovations which will in the long run transform our society and the country and as such there is urgent need to encourage such programmes for the good of the individual students and for the development of the society as well.
(The author is a columnist, social and KP activist).