JAMMU: Underlining knowledge and its related themes – human and intellectual capital, the key ingredients and yardstick to gauge success in the present world order, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah on Monday said that the universities and higher educational institutions and young intellectual vanguard are the crucibles of change towards holistic development.
Addressing the distinguished gathering of scholars, faculty, educationists, students and others at the Jammu University Convocation here this afternoon, the Chief Minister said that human agency alongwith dynamic institutions evolve permutation and combinations that lead to a creativity where synthesis becomes vital in the scheme of things.
The Chief Minister said that the universities, to use a metaphor that all of us can easily identified with, is the hardware of the nature of development while the students and intellectuals are its software. “Both exist in a symbiotic relationship and find sustenance and nourishment from each other. No one is immune from the winds of change”, he said adding that those who do not master this change will be severely disadvantaged.
Omar Abdullah said that in the present new world order, “We must shine within to radiate outward. We must allow wide space and scope for human agency and unleash the creative potential to attain new highs”. He said that an institutional matrix complemented by a dynamic policy design and process especially in the domain of education is the prelude to the transformation that is required.
The Chief Minister said that the State has great institutions of learning and development and the people are proud inheritors and legates of glorious intellectual traditions that go back to millennia. “It is these fine traditions and legacies that we need to build upon and use as catalysts for a more vigorous transformation that keep us for ahead of the learning curve and change”, he said elaborating that this can happen once the intellectual and others hold hands together and master the change and transformation.
This, he said calls for a new outlook, a new attitude and temper. “In this scheme the young generation and young intellectual have a significant role to play which is full of responsibilities and calls for co-evolution of institutions, student community and intellectual fraternity in a direction that is salubrious and healthy”, he said and added that responsibility greatly lies on young scholars and students. He said that students equipped with knowledge and understandings have to take on the world with confidence and determination. “You are empowered individuals and upon you are also social responsibilities”, he told the passing out students adding that they have to shoulder local, national and global responsibilities.
Wishing the passing out students all success in life ahead, the Chief Minister advised them to face all challenges and difficulties with bravely and confidently.
“The degrees which have been the result of hard work, dedication and scholarly endeavours that we will give out validate your intellectual capacities, capabilities and academic credentials and integrity. This, however, is just the beginning. The more significant challenges lie ahead. Armed and equipped with knowledge, the ability to think critically and clearly, and new skill sets, you will now find yourselves centre stage in a world transformed. The challenges are immense and profound. I have no doubt in my mind that all of you will take these on with gusto, make us proud and create an even better tomorrow for yourselves and the world at large”, the Chief Minister said.
