Srinagar: President of India, Draupadi Murmu who was on a two-day visit to J&K praised Kashmir as a paradise on earth and encouraged Valley youth to protect it and chip in bringing lasting peace, development and discipline to help the country reach new levels of development.
Addressing the 20th convocation at University of Kashmir on Wednesday, she said that everyone, especially youth, should work together to protect Kashmir, which she called as a paradise on earth stating that nature has endowed Kashmir with incredible beauty while quoting the famous Persian poet Amir Khusro’s couplet, “Agar firdous baroye zameen ast, hami asto, hami asto hami ast,” which reads, “If there is paradise situated anywhere on the earth, it’s here, it’s here, it’s here.”
“Being here with you makes me feel happy. Even though I have attended several commencements at many institutions around the nation, pursuing and imparting education at a university with such a stunning campus as KU is a matter of good fortune,” the president added.
She said that Kashmir University has always been blessed with the divine mercy of the adjacent Hazratbal shrine and that the varsity would continue to be bestowed with these natural blessings in the future as well.
“KU students have always brought glory to this institution by serving the country. We have a long list of such students but naming everyone individually is not possible. Recently Ghulam Nabi Azad received Padma Bhushan award while Professors Chaman Lal Sapru and AN Pandita received Padmashree award,” she said, adding I am glad that three of the NSS voluntary students of KU participated in 2023 Republic Day celebrations and one of them Kifaytuallah Malik was awarded with NSS award at Rashtrapati Bhawan on Sep 29.
She said the Y-20 consultation organized at KU as part of India’s G20 leadership was exceptional and that the country’s leadership of G20 nations had received appreciation from all corners of the world.
“It’s an honor for all of us that 55 percent of students in Kashmir University are girls-65 percent of whom have won gold medals. I congratulate all these daughters. These promising daughters represent the picture and destiny of our country and I believe these daughters of this northern region will take women-led development in India to new heights,” she added.
She expressed optimism that the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Act’ 2023 will prove to be a groundbreaking move towards women-led development in the country.
In order to protect the Himalayan ecology, she advised Kashmir University to stay vigilant and pleased to learn several phases of study being done in relation to glaciology, biodiversity preservation, and the Himalayan Ice-Core Laboratory.
She expressed confidence in the university’s ability to move quickly in all these areas. The President said the Indian Knowledge Systems had received special attention in the National Education Policy, saying youth would find many motivating examples if they are provided accurate education about Indian Knowledge Systems.
“Hydraulic engineering may be used for the work Suyya, an expert, did approximately 1200 years ago to protect Srinagar from the Jhelum River flood. She said that every branch of knowledge and science is home to valuable gems. The academic community has a duty to figure out how to apply such naturally developed knowledge systems in the current environment,” the president added.
