September 25, 2018 : The Governor of Tripura Professor Kaptan Singh Solanki stressed on the need of introducing value based education where head, heart and hand act in tandem- as envisaged by Mahatma Gandhi in his ‘Nayi Talim’ for making a complete human being dedicated to the ‘nation’.
The Governor, while launching the Weeklong Swachchta Saptaha and Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th Birth Centenary Celebration, delivered a highly inspiring speech in the fully packed Maharaja Bir Bikram Auditorium of the Tripura University on Tuesday.
As he delivered the speech as Chief Guest of the function, the Governor felt that it had always been imperative to understand Mahatma Gandhi to build the country after independence.
“But, it was not forthcoming. However, after the new government came to power in 2014 the focus was on building new India in the line of Mahatma Gandhi’s ideas”, he said.
It may be mentioned here that Tripura University would start a one month long course on Mahatma Gandhi’s ideas on Education for the faculty members- which happened to be first of its kind in the country.
“This course on Mahatma Gandhi’ education ideas, I am confident, will bring about a change in the outlook and life of not only the faculty but also will in turn influence the students to a great extent”, opined the Governor.
The Governor also dwelt upon Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya’s emphasis on education which should be rooted in Indian culture and would encourage the spirit of nationalism.
“Tripura University launched Weeklong Swachchta Saptaha today which coincides also the birth day of a great man of the country Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya. The week long programme will end on October 2 –on the 150th birth centenary day of Mahatma Gandhi”, pointed out Prof Solanki, who as a Governor of Tripura also held the position of the Chief Rector of the varsity.
“It is high time that Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya’s ideas and values be inculcated amongst the people” he said.
The Governor while seeking to differentiate between ‘literacy’ and ‘education’, exhorted all to ensure imparting ‘education’, which, he said, related to knowledge and wisdom and thus in turn with the ‘Life’.
“Not only ‘caliber’ and ‘capacity’, education must also incorporate two other important components – ‘character’ and ‘conductivity’. It is imperative that ‘learning by doing’ is understood and practiced to help proceed with the nation building”, he maintained.
Prof Solanki exhorted the students to ‘perform’, and perform in such a way that it should ‘transform’ the country.
“But then, how you can transform the country? And to know as to how you can transform you have to take refuge once again in Mahatma Gandhi”, he said.
The Governor also said, the Union government was going to abolish the UGC and bring in its place the ‘National Commission for Higher Education’. The Human Resource Development Ministry would also be left with the only task of extending financial assistance to the academic institutions. This NCHE would be assigned with the tasks of entire gamut of education and syllabi of the country.
“Main thrust would be on making ‘the Man’ dedicated to the nation building”, said Prof Solanki.
“It is important to understand that there is a difference between the ‘Nation’ and the ‘State’. While the state can undergo reshaping, the Nation stands permanent and eternal”, the Governor added.
The Governor was all praise for the Tripura University. He said that he was impressed with the participation of the students, faculty, officers and other staffs of the varsity in the programme.
“I have also heard Vice Chancellor of the University Dr V L Dharurkar’s speech- it was forceful and highly motivating” the Governor added.
It was Prof Solanki’s first visit to Tripura University after assumption of gubernatorial position in the state.
Dr WG Prasanna Kumar , Chairman of Mahatma Gandhi National Commission for Rural Education in his speech also stressed on building education system in the country based on Mahatma Gandhi’s Nayi Talim.
“It is time that we give due importance to learning by working concept”, said Dr Prasanna Kumar.
Dr V L Dharurkar, Vice Chancellor of the Tripura University in his welcome address gave a brief idea about Mahatma Gandhi’s idea about education and Nayi Talim. Dr Dharurkar said, Tripura University happened to be the first in the country to kick start Swachchata Saptaha one day ahead as the entire country would launch it from tomorrow.
“Tripura University is also, perhaps, the first institution to have planned for a one month course of Mahatma Gandhi’s education for the faculty of the varsity”, he said.
Vote of thanks was delivered by Registrar of the University Sanit Deb Roy.
