SHILLONG, May 26: Governor Satya Pal Malik, who is by now known for his unreserved views on several issues including politics, won huge applause from the audience present at the NEHU Foundation Day inaugural session.
Governor Malik, who is also the Visitor of the University, rued the fact that India has never given education the priority it deserves and has never invested adequate resources for it.
He also pointed at the British Government which effected a drastic budget cut after the Second World War but never reduced the budget for education. When asked the then Prime Minister said, a broken bridge can be repaired, houses can be rebuilt but a missed opportunity in education can never be retrieved. That’s how the British emerged as conquers.
Malik said that even in Parliament education is never debated. Normally the budget is debated then voted but education is tagged along with other issues and the discussion is finally guillotined. “Universities like Oxford, Cambridge and Harvard produce 80-90 Nobel laureates but Indian universities have not produced even 10. Of the 12 Indian Nobel winners, 6 are from universities outside India and only 6 are from India including Rabindranath Tagore,” Malik stated.
Speaking about the quality of education in universities, Governor Malik said some have become degree shops where one can get a PhD at Rs 5,000. “Some who are not fit to teach at the college level are not appointed Vice Chancellors because of their affinity with the ideology of the ruling dispensation,” Malik said, adding that girls’ education should be given top priority because education changes lives.
The Governor said that University education should include etiquette such as how to treat women.
On the issue of corruption, Governor Malik said that education teaches honesty and nothing is more virtuous than honesty yet when people get into the elite services (IAS/IPS etc) the first two years they walk the straight and narrow but after that they succumb to corruption after seeing their seniors.
Malik says even today he lives in a two and a half room home in his village.
Speaking of Meghalaya, Malik said it is important to empower and give hope to boys here so that they develop confidence and understand that outsiders are not enemies and if a state has to progress its needs investments from outsiders and they should not be harassed.
Later, Governor Malik went to the University canteen for tea and samosa as it reminded him of his university days.
The NEHU event was also graced by eminent educator and social activist Patricia Mukhim, the Padma Shri awardee.
The event started with the unfurling of the University flag by the Governor followed by the felicitation of the Chief Guest by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Prabha Shankar Shukla. Padma Shri Patricia Mukhim was felicitated by the Vice-Chancellor in appreciation and recognition of her outstanding work in journalism.
Earlier, Prof. Saurabh Kumar Dixit, the Registrar in-charge welcomed the Governor and the galaxy of renowned scholars, intellectuals and members of the public Chief Rector of NEHU. In his brief address, the Registrar invited the NEHU community and the society at large to join in celebration of Golden Jubilee.
The significance of 49th University Day marking 49 years of NEHU’s existence was celebrated with gaiety and introspection and promises to keep. As the VC announced preparation for Golden Jubilee celebration by this day next year, there was resounding applause and praise all around. It echoed a new spring of academic and cultural life as cultural troopers were ready with colourful sets and special performances.
Sportspersons who brought honours to the University were also felicitated. Prof Badaplin War of Khasi Department who was conferred the Padma Shri this year was also felicitated along with Benedict Hynniewta who received the Tirot Sing Award for the arts.
Among the audience were past students, many of whom are now placed in different walks of life and some of whom have continued as teachers in academia.
In his speech, Prof. Shukla, the Vice-Chancellor of NEHU, recounted NEHU’s achievement during his short span of eight months and connected it to contributions made by the entire NEHU fraternity. He mentioned about the completion of the long awaited Career Advancement promotion of teachers that generated a new enthusiasm. The recent thrust on internationalisation of higher education by the UGC and NEHU’s following of UGC’s footsteps, Prof. Shukla mentioned, created a whole set of new centres and offices such as Office of International Affairs, IPR Cell and a highly prospectful Design and Innovation Centre. Added to that is NEHU’s massive online courses (MOOCs) to be launched through well equipped studios is a new beginning to achieve goals set by UGC in the form of SWAYAM program. The Vice-Chancellor pointed at the new centre called Centre for Creativity and Internationalisation of Higher Education” housing DIC, IPR Cell, MOOCs and Office of the International Affairs represent the new synergy that has emerged in the short span of all out enthusiasm from teachers, students and researchers.
An ongoing Erasmus project with University Tartu, Estonia, AICTE Indo-US collaboration, visits by Consul Generals of Republic of Korea, Thailand, US and France opened up actionable collaborations between NEHU and such international Universities. The Vice-Chancellor chartered out NEHU’s new role in becoming the HUB of cutting edge research and collaboration with neighboring countries as well as with major countries like Japan, France, US and Australia. Work towards MoUs with Greece, Thailand, South Korea etc. are in an advanced stage. The Vice-Chancellor restated the benefits of National Education Policy (NEP) in terms of greater cross country student participation and mobility.
The event was followed by various associations NEHUTA, NEHUNSA and NEHUSU pledging to carry forward the mandate of progress and development of NEHU in its 50th year. Cultural events showcasing the heritage of North-Eastern tribes and communities were performed by the students.
The whole year will be celebrated by consolidating the areas of strength and by introspecting over weaknesses so that at the end of the 50th year NEHU gets back its lost sheen and once again builds itself and rises up to become a university that achieves international standards.
