Balidan Diwas Tribute to Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee
On the occasion of Balidan Diwas, Vice President Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar paid tribute to Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee, calling him one of India’s finest sons. He recalled Dr. Mookerjee’s iconic slogan from 1952:
The Vice President emphasized the historical injustice caused by Article 370 and Article 35A, praising PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Shri Amit Shah for restoring full constitutional rights to Jammu & Kashmir by abrogating Article 370 in 2019. He noted that the Supreme Court upheld this change on 11 December 2023.
Address at Vice Chancellors’ National Meet
Speaking at the inaugural session of the 99th Annual Meet and National Conference of Vice Chancellors organized by AIU at Gautam Buddha Nagar, UP, VP Dhankhar hailed the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 as a transformative force.
He highlighted that NEP 2020 was a product of nationwide consultation and resonates with India’s civilizational spirit. “Education is the awakening of the self — not merely skill acquisition,” he said.
Equality, Democracy & Education
Stressing education as the cornerstone of democracy, the Vice President stated, “Education brings about equality. It decimates inequities. Education gives life to democracy.”
UP’s Progress in Education & Industry
The VP congratulated the UP government for granting ‘Industry Status’ to the IT sector and praised improvements in school-level transparency and administration.
Role of Universities
He called universities “crucibles of innovation” and “sanctuaries of ideas,” urging Vice Chancellors to nurture free thinking, debate, and dialogue — “Abhivyakti, Vaad Vivaad, Anant Vaad.”
Vision for Greenfield Institutions
Encouraging the establishment of new-age institutions, he said, “Let’s go green. Greenfield institutions will ensure equitable access.” He warned against commercialization of education and advocated affordability and quality.
Lead in Emerging Domains
He urged academicians to establish uncompromising excellence in AI, climate tech, quantum science, and digital ethics. “Impossible choices define our character. Don’t take the easy route,” he said.
Source: PIB
