Rehan Qayoom Mir
Srinagar, Feb 26: Stating that in ‘New India’ daughters are getting equal ground and opportunities, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, on Thursday lauded the girls for their dominant performance in every field.
Addressing the 21st convocation of the University of Kashmir, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said, “Of 239 gold medals, a staggering 186 are won by our daughters and of the 164 PhDs awarded, 108 bear our daughters’ names.”
He said, “No statement could more powerfully define the New India. This tells our people: Give daughters opportunity, encouragement, and equal ground, and they don’t just join—they lead, excel, and set new standards. To today’s medalists and graduates: You are not just forging your futures—you are rewriting possibilities for every young woman next at Kashmir University.”
He urged young graduates to view education as a “powerful instrument of change” and contribute meaningfully to nation-building.
The Lieutenant Governor congratulated Vice-Chancellor Prof Nilofar Khan, faculty members and students, describing the ceremony as a symbol of generational transformation and the people’s enduring faith in modern education.
The Lieutenant Governor extended his best wishes to all graduating students for a prosperous future. He exhorted them to set a clear path for their future – ‘One purpose. One priority- Country first’.
“Always remember when you build the country, the country builds you back. Nations don’t rise only from resources. They rise from educated people and when the nation rises, so do you,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor said that the convocation at the University of Kashmir is a vivid proof of generational metamorphosis, fulfilled aspirations, and youth’s unwavering faith embodied in modern education.
“The knowledge earned in University of Kashmir isn’t merely skills but it is holistic personality growth. Education builds self-confidence, equips for meaningful lives and it molds responsible citizens, linking personal success to collective good.
Education is the most powerful instrument of change ever placed in human hands. It redirects the course of a life. It reshapes the destiny of families. And when the youth embrace it fully, it rewrites the future of a nation from the ground up,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor emphasised that the ideas in the classroom must impact the world. He called upon the Universities to aspire to move beyond their traditional role as custodians of knowledge- evolving into vibrant centers of innovation, human development, and social transformation.
“My Mantra is that Industry and Intellect should grow together. Our Universities should collaborate with Industry, innovators, research and development organisations to build Viksit Bharat and to ensure that the higher education campuses and companies co-create the Future,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
The Lieutenant Governor stated that the technology evolves at breakneck speed. He said that the digital revolution, artificial intelligence, global realignments, and demands for new skills are redefining higher education.
“Possibilities for collaboration and innovation stretch endlessly. Careers being prepared for today may morph tomorrow. Industries are reshaping. The real question isn’t whether change will come, but whether we can sync with it. I believe those youth will surge ahead who possess critical thinking, core knowledge, and a resolve to lifelong learning.
Artificial Intelligence now permeates every field-healthcare, agriculture, finance, urban planning, governance. So, the question arises: Will technology serve human welfare or just profit? I see universities’ campuses crafting that answer, where knowledge fuses with life’s values,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor outlined three key priorities for the faculty members- “First, adaptability as every curriculum’s core skill. Second, seamless integration of AI and emerging tech with human intelligence. Third, global and interdisciplinary collaboration. Modern challenges interconnect so universities must shatter subject silos and mandate cross-disciplinary teamwork.”
The Lieutenant Governor highlighted that our goal is to become a fully developed nation by 2047.
“Viksit Bharat isn’t a dream, but a resolve fuelled by hard work. It demands diligence, innovation, moral strength, and ceaseless invention-and this mission falls to our young generation,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
The Lieutenant Governor also congratulated all the medal winners and lauded the girl students for their dominant performance.
The dignitaries also released the Kashmir University’s Profile on the occasion.
Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister; Sakeena Itoo, Minister for Higher Education; Prof. Nilofer Khan, Vice Chancellor, University of Kashmir; Vice-Chancellors of various Universities; HoDs of different educational institutions, senior officials of Civil and Police administration, faculty members, students and their parents attended the convocation ceremony.
