Union Education Minister Pokhriyal asks RGU degree holders to help develop lives of at least 3 persons

Union Education Minister Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' on Monday asked the degree holders of Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU), the lone central varsity in Arunachal Pradesh, to help develop the lives of at least three persons.

Students should keep in mind that institutes are laboratories for developing individuals who benefit humanity in all corners of the world, he said while virtually delivering the convocation address of RGU, which secured the second position among all central universities in the country.

Congratulating the students who were awarded various degrees, Pokhriyal said that the degree that RGU confers upon you is not a mere piece of printed paper or symbolic representation of the university. 

"It is bestowing you with great responsibility that you have to bear all your life and I hope that in future you will understand its gravity and carry on your responsibility with complete dedication so that you prove worthy of the degree conferred upon you," the Union education minister said.

Founded on February 4, 1984, as Arunachal University, the institute has now blossomed into a large and shady tree from which the state expects a lot, he said adding that the success of RGU was proof of the hard work put in by the entire team of the varsity.

In the ranking released by the Union Human Resource Development Ministry in August, RGU secured the second spot among 40 central universities of the country.

Pokhriyal also exuded confidence that the institute would reach greater heights with more landmark achievements in the years to come and evolve into one of the most prestigious seats of higher learning in the country.

Addressing the function through video conference, Union Minister of State for Sports and Youth Affairs Kiren Rijiju said that the New Education Policy would give the perfect impetus in the growth of the university.

"The world is going to be very different after COVID- 19. It will be a world in which technological education and novel research will occupy significant positions and these will be empowering tools for a new self-reliant India," he said.

Rijiju, who represents Arunachal West Parliamentary Constituency in the Lok Sabha, expressed concern over encroachment on RGU's land which retarded the expansion of its campus, and urged the state government to look into the matter seriously.

In his speech, state Governor and the university's Chief Rector, Brig (Retd) Dr. B D Mishra, asked the RGU administration to stress merit-based selection and initiate start-up oriented curriculum.

I pursuance of Covid-19 protocol, only those students who would get Ph.D. and M.Phil degrees and gold medals in post-graduate and under-graduate courses from affiliated colleges of the university was invited to be present at the event.

Altogether 39 Ph.D. scholars, 66 M Phil scholars, 572 post-graduate, and 6,035 under-graduate students were awarded degrees at the convocation. 

(IMAGE CREDITS: PTI)