Utkal University Convocation: Odisha Governor Advises Students To Nurture Personal Values

Bhubaneswar: Personal values and principles can provide students with a foundation for success in learning, said Prof Ganeshi Lal, Odisha Governor and Chancellor of Utkal University on Friday.

Addressing the academics, intellectuals, scholars and students on the occasion of 52nd convocation of Utkal University, the Governor advised the awardees to introspect on the values and principles that they stand for. Stressing the importance of personal values, he asked the students to reflect on what kind of person they want to be in the future.

Appealing to the students to try to give back to their family, society and country which have nurtured them during the most significant phase of their life, he said, “My advice to you would be to combine compassion with knowledge, which will help our nation march ahead on the path of progress while promoting a culture of care and fellow-feeling.”

Delivering convocation address, Justice V Gopala Gowda, former Judge of the Supreme Court and former Chief Justice of Orissa High Court, said the true value of education extends beyond classrooms and formal degrees and reflects in the imbibing of an undeterred willpower and a strong character.

“True education is like a barter system where it is imperative for students to pay back to the society and country which have contributed to their education and success so far,” he said. Quoting Swami Vivekananda’s idea of success, he asked students to take up one idea. “Make that idea your life–think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body, be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone,” he added.

Speaking on the occasion, principal secretary, Higher Education department, Bishnupada Sethi emphasised the need to reframe educational practices so that students can become global champions of sustainable development. He urged students to include key sustainable development issues like climate change, disaster risk reduction, biodiversity, poverty reduction and sustainable consumption in whatever projects they undertake in the future.

In her address, Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof Sabita Acharya said the institution’s future will always be based on inclusion, diversity and innovation. Registrar Dr Avaya Kumar Nayak presented a brief report on the university highlighting various achievements in the past one year.

Justice V Gopala Gowda, educationist and MP Dr Achyuta Samanta and Director General-Aeronautical Systems (AS), DRDO Dr Tessy Thomas were conferred with Honoris Causa at the convocation.

Total 163 scholars received their doctorate degrees, 1 DSc and 1 DLit and 99 students were awarded gold medals across various disciplines.