JAMMU: Commissioner/ Secretary, Higher Education Department, Dr. Asgar Hassan Samoon advocated good education and good governance can bring sustainable peace in a society.
“Politics of hate and harm can end only if right kind of education is provided to the students at the initial stage,” he said. Dr. Asgar Hassan was speaking as a Chief Guest in the inaugural ceremony of the Preliminary Round of 7th Annual Inter-Collegiate (Northern Zone) Declamation Contest.
The Contest on the topic ‘Is practice of liberal values the only way to end the politics of hate and harm?’ for Silver Rolling Trophy instituted by Governor, N.N Vohra was organized by Department of Higher Education at Government College for Women, Gandhi Nagar, here.
Dr Hassan applauded the participants for their varied and diverse views.
Earlier, the programme was commenced with lighting of the traditional lamp and by invoking the blessings of Goddess Saraswati.
Dr. Renu Goswami, Director Colleges, Higher Education Department was the Guest of Honour. O.P Bhagat, Additional Secretary, Governor’s Secretariat and Prof. Surinder Gupta, Former Dean & Prof. Medicine, SKAUST, R S Pura Campus were the Observers for the event. Dr. Anil Kumar Tiwari, Assistant Professor, School of Philosophy and Culture, SMVDU Katra, Dr. J.R Panda, Former HoD Sociology, University of Jammu and Prof. Rita Munshi, Former Principal, GCW, Gandhi Nagar were the adjudicators to evaluate the performance of the participants.
Dr. Ajeet Angral Nodal Principal, GGM Science College also graced the occasion. Dr. Kiran Bakshi, Principal of the College stated that the practice of liberal value has been mistaken and the people used it as a politics of hate and harm by polarizing the religion, region, language and caste.
Dr. Anupama Gupta, Organizing Secretary presented key note address in which she discussed that this kind of contest provides vibrant and vivacious platform for exchange of ideas and emergence of new thoughts.
In all, 35 students of different Degree Colleges of Jammu Province participated and mesmerized the audience with their deliberations to reduce discontent of hate and harm in society. The dignitaries also released the Annual Academic Calendar of the College.
The five teams will be selected for the final round of Northern Zone Inter-State Declamation Contest which will be held on 25th of November, 2016. The first prize was clinched by Seerat Bajji of Govt. P.G College for Women, Gandhi Nagar, Jammu, 2nd prize was won by Parul Oberoi of GCW, Udhampur and the 3rd prize went in favour of Shabina Akhter, GDC Udhampur. Besides this the three consolation prizes were given to the students. Zahid Farooq, GDC Budhal, Bisat Tariq, GCOE, Jammu and Anuj Sharma of GCET, Jammu were given 1st, 2nd and 3rd consolation prizes respectively.
Dr. Revika Arora presented vote of thanks.