Darkness During President Droupadi Murmu’s Convocation Address At MSCBU In Odisha

Baripada: Blackout caused by some glitch in power supply marred President Droupadi Murmu’s address during the convocation ceremony of Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University (MSCBU) in Odisha’s  Baripada on Saturday.

Shortly after the commencement of the President’s speech, the lights in the university auditorium went off.  The President delivered her speech with the help of the dim light fitted on the podium, sources said.

There was light in the hall for several minutes during Murmu’s address. However, the President was unperturbed despite blackout. She maintained her cool and patience though the hall plunged into darkness.

Sources claimed that the lights went off in the auditorium though the air conditioners and microphone were functioning. A probe was ordered the cause of the incident, while an employee of the electricity department of the university was suspended, they said.

Vice Chancellor of MSCB University Prof. Santosh Tripathy regreted the inconvenience that occurred during the convocation ceremony.

On her part, Murmu tried to encourage everyone in the hall by reciting a line of poetry. Stating that Mayurbhanj is her birthplace, the President said Sriram Chandra Bhanj Deo University has completed 25 years and carved a unique identity in the field of higher education and research in a short span of its history.

She appreciated the University for establishing the ‘Sacred Grove’ in its campus with the aim to preserve the bedrock of tribal practices and cultural traditions. She said that the ‘Sacred Grove’ is important for the conservation of environment and local biodiversity. It is also one of the best examples of community-based management of natural resources.

The President said the world is facing huge challenges of global warming and climate change. India has set an example for the world to adopt a nature-friendly lifestyle, which is called Lifestyle for the Environment or LiFE. In our tradition, it is believed that trees, plants, mountains, rivers all have life and not only humans but also all living beings are children of nature. Therefore, it is the duty of all human beings to live in harmony with nature.

She said the Similipal National Park located in this region holds a globally important place in terms of biodiversity. She expressed confidence that the students and teachers of the university would find a way to protect biodiversity through their research and innovation.

Addressing the graduating students, the President said receiving degree does not mean that education process has been completed. Education is a continuous process. She said that after getting higher education some of them would do a job, some would do business and some would also do research but thinking of giving a job is better than thinking of doing a job. She was happy to note that the University has set up an Incubation Centre and provides assistance to students, alumni and common people in setting up start-ups.

Noting that competition is an inevitable side of life, Murmu said one has to face competition in every walk of life. She said that students should always keep trying to succeed in the competition and for that they should keep acquiring higher skills and move towards greater efficiency. They can turn the impossible into possible with their will-power.

The President said competition is a natural side of life, but cooperation is the beautiful side of life. She told students that while moving forward in life, when they would look back, they would find that some people of the society are not very capable of competing with them.

She advised students to hold the hands of deprived ones and bring them forward. She said that a healthy society can be built through generosity and cooperation. She urged students to think not only of their own happiness and interest but also about the welfare of the society and country.

The President was on a three-day visit to her home district Mayurbhanj since May 4 for several programmes. On first day of her visit, she attended an event at Brahma Kumaris Centre, Hatbadra, Satapautia, where she launched ‘Addition Free Odisha’ campaign. On Friday, she went to her Rairangpur residence and spent about 20 minutes in the holiday home. Thereafter, she visited Pandit Raghunath Murmu’s village Dandbosh and later to the Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) and spent the night at Baripada.