Prayagraj: Union education minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ on Thursday urged students to follow the mantra of ‘nation first, character must’ as they strive for professional and personal success while addressing Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology’s (MNNIT) 17th convocation, which was organised virtually due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“A strong India is essential for world peace. India has always been a vishwa guru (world leader) in the fields of science, technology and spirituality. With the principle of ‘vasudhaiva kutumbakam’ (the world is one family) and love at the centre, an India which considers the world as a family and not as a market is essential for global peace,” he said during his address as the chief guest of the event.
Talking about the National Education Policy (NEP), Pokhriyal said that the policy will result in India becoming the ‘vishwa guru Bharat’ once again.
The Union minister said that Indian values give strength to the common man. “So, students should keep them close to their heart and constantly update, upgrade and educate themselves so that they do not become outdated and remain agile and relevant in these dynamic times.”
The minister laid stress on research and development capabilities of the country and urged the students to take up research with zeal. “The soon-to-be-set-up National Research Foundation will be the catalyst for that. You have an open sky for endeavouring for success and making use of various policies such as Startup India, Skill India, Standup India and Make in India.”
He also stressed on the need to support traditional Indian industries like toy manufacturing, handloom, handicrafts and pottery which are largely in the unorganised sector. “We need to devise an action plan to reinvigorate them. When our traditional eco-friendly, cost-effective and sustainable products are given apt support in terms of technology, production and distribution, the sector would flourish rapidly,” he said.
Earlier during the convocation, MNNIT director Rajeev Tripathi welcomed the minister and other guests. He highlighted the institute’s achievements and plans to implement the provisions of the NEP, especially in imparting education in regional languages.
The convocation was presided over by chairman of MNNIT’s board of governors DP Singh, who is also a lifelong distinguished professor of Indian Institute of Technology-BHU, Varanasi.
MNNIT awarded 1,397 degrees — 861 for BTech, 304 for MTech, 83 for MCA, 39 for MBA, 18 for MSc and 92 for PhD. The students who received their degrees included 82 foreign nationals who were granted admission via the direct admission of students abroad (DASA) scheme and three students admitted via Indian Council for Cultural Relations. Of the 1,397 degree recipients, 248 were girls.
The institute awarded 30 gold medals to meritorious postgraduate students, 14 to undergraduate students and another 25 sponsored gold medals to outstanding students. Girls bagged 17 gold medals this year.
Pokhriyal also inaugurated the newly constructed rail underpass which has seamlessly integrated into the institute’s three separate campuses, thus saving a lot of time for the faculty, staff and students.