Abid Bashir
Srinagar, Oct 11: The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, Wednesday said that when youth would follow the path of “peace, prosperity and discipline”, the nation would automatically prosper and progress more.
Addressing the 20th convocation at Kashmir University, President Murmu, said that the nation would prosper more when more and more youth would follow Aman and Chayen (peace and prosperity). “When youth will follow discipline, nation will progress,” she thundered from the stage of KU convocation hall.
President Murmu started her speech with “Ye Che Mouj Kashmir” and received a huge round of applause. “I am glad to be here. I have been to various convocations and at various institutions and universities of the country but let me tell the youth this campus is more beautiful than others. Kashmir University has had the blessings of Hazratbal in the past and the same will remain,” she said.
She said that she was happy to ward a local boy Kifayatullah at Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi for taking part in the Republic Day parade in 2023 and for his social services.
“I would like to see Kashmir University Students taking part in social services too besides pursuing higher education so that a change in the society takes place,” the President said.
After distributing gold medals among 21 toppers out of 462 students, she said: “I am glad to see 55 per cent of the toppers were girls. Our girls and women are proving their mettle in every field. Today’s awardees are our tasveer and taqdeer,” she said.
Stressing on protecting the environment, natural gifts bestowed to Kashmir, she chose the Kashmiri proverb: “Ann poshe teli yele wan poshe. It is our responsibility to protect nature and this is where youth have to play their role. Kashmir University is trying its best to protect the Hiamalyan glaciers and I have learnt that a series of researches are going on many fronts,” she said.
The president congratulated J&K for implementing the National Education Policy in full and taking the lead on other States and UTs. She wished all the awardees a better future ahead.
Referring to the motto of the University of Kashmir which means ‘let us move from darkness to light’, the President said: “That the more our youth move towards the light of education and towards the light of peace, the more our country will progress.”
Speaking about sustainable development, the President said that the lessons of sustainable development are part of Kashmir’s heritage. She urged Kashmir University to be alert in preserving the Himalayan ecosystem. She was happy to note that work related to glaciology, biodiversity conservation and the Himalayan Ice-Core Laboratory is at different stages. President Murmu expressed confidence that the university would work at a fast pace in all such areas.
Top officials from the police and administration including DGP Dilbagh Singh, ADGP Vijay Kumar, Special DG (CID) RR Swain, SSP Srinagar Rakesh Bhalwal, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Vijay Kumar Bhiduri, DC Srinagar Aijaz Asad, Mayor SMC Junaid Matoo, Waqf Board chairperson Darakshan Andrabi and others were present in the KU Convocation.
