Bhubaneswar: The Platinum Jubilee celebration of Utkal University came to an end on Wednesday with Chancellor and Odisha Governor Ganeshi Lal calling upon students to become agents of true societal transformation.
The Governor said the foundation day is not merely a celebration, it is an occasion for students to imbibe the values and principles of the university as enshrined by its founding fathers.
“May the foundation day make the lives of the people beautiful. I pray that students become the ambassadors of social responsibility,” he said.
Former Chief Justice of India Justice Dipak Misra, an alumnus of Madhusudan Law College under Utkal University, said students should develop a strong “original” character, which combined with dignity and discipline will make them unique in their respective discipline.
“Every institution has a character. It is built by the management, staff and above all by the students as they go on to become intellectuals and the future intelligentsia,” Misra said.
He was felicitated by the Governor in a unique gesture and the maximum cheers in the crowd were reserved for him.
University Vice-Chancellor Prof S M Patnaik touched upon the issue of vacant teaching positions and expressed the hope that the posts will be filled up fast. According to him, the university has a shortage of 100 teachers.
Referring to the ‘Alumni Connect’ programme, he said the initiative has created a new wave, which will take the university to new heights.
The Governor inaugurated the ‘Rural Technology Park’ of the university on the occasion and launched a programme, which will help the university establish strong ties with foreign universities and faculties.
President Ramnath Kovind will attend a special session of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations on December 8 at the campus.
