The Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu today called for doing away with the colonial mindset and practices from all spheres of our lives. Emphasising the need to return to our roots, he wanted the younger generation to follow the high ethical and moral standards set by our forefathers and freedom fighters.
Addressing a gathering after inaugurating the 75th Foundation Day celebrations of Hansraj College of Delhi University today, the Vice President referred to a number of recent initiatives by Rajya Sabha to do away with colonial practices such as addressing the Chair as ‘Adhyaksh Mahodya’ instead of ‘His Excellency’, increased use of mother tongue by the Members the house and replacing the archaic term ‘I beg to say’ with ‘I rise to present’. In the same spirit, he wanted the universities’ convocation ceremonies to be Indianised in their dress and flavour. “These suggestions may appear trivial to begin with, but they will have deeper ramifications in the long term,’ he stressed.
Speaking on the platinum Jubilee, Shri Naidu said that education holds the key to national development and emphasised the need for making quality education accessible and affordable to all.
Stressing that our teachers at educational institutions have a special responsibility, he urged them to relate their teaching and curriculum with the real history of India, its culture, its tradition, its folk arts and languages, dialects, and core Indian values. Lauding the commitment of Hansraj College in transmitting the richness and grandeur of Indian culture, the Vice President expressed happiness that the values of Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati and Mahatma Hansraj shape the moral vision of the College.
Shri Naidu also praised the Hansraj College for fostering research and innovation and creating an academic environment which promotes value-based holistic learning and personal growth. “As a result, Hansraj College, has over the years, emerged as a premier centre of educational excellence, a fact that all of you can be justly proud of,” he added.
Observing that National Education Policy-2020 seeks to restructure the higher educational institutions of the country towards the changing needs of the knowledge economy, Shri Naidu expressed happiness that the Delhi University is implementing NEP-2020 from the current session in right earnest. Highlighting the need to focus on health and fitness, Shri Naidu advised the students to lead a disciplined lifestyle, practice Yoga or sports and consume a nutritious diet.
In his address, Shri Naidu reiterated the need to preserve and promote mother tongue and called for providing basic schooling in child’s mother tongue. He also wanted the students to fight against social evils such as gender discrimination, casteism and corruption, and wanted them to focus on development of agriculture and villages. The Vice President also emphasised the need to focus on one’s duties to enjoy one’s rights.
Commending the exceptional contribution by the alumni of Hansraj College to various fields such as art, science, economics, technology, media, administration and politics the Vice President said that their contribution to nation-building is a reflection of the academic rigour of the institution.
On this occasion, the Vice President unveiled the bust of Mahatma Hansraj at the college premises and also released a book titled ‘Arya Samaj Aur Mahatma Hansraj’ written by the College Principal Prf. Rama.
It may be noted that the Hansraj College which has 5000+ students was founded on 26 July, 1948, in memory of Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati and Mahatma Hansraj and the first President, Dr. Rajendra Prasad inaugurated the campus of the College.
Prof. Yogesh Singh, Vice-Chancellor Delhi University, Padmashri Dr Punam Suri, President Governing Body, Hansraj College, Prof. Rama, Principal, faculty members, students and other distinguished guests attended the event.
Following are the excerpts from the speech –
“I am delighted to be here at the 75th Foundation Day celebrations or Sthapna ka Amrit Mahotsav of the prestigious Hansraj College. What is of special significance is that the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of the Foundation Day of this great repository of knowledge coincide with the historic milestone of “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav” being celebrated across the country.
The values of Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati and Mahatma Hansraj who are renowned for their outstanding contribution to the field of Indian culture, tradition and education, shape the moral vision of Hansraj college. It is this seminal influencethat gives this institution a special place creating an academic environment which promotes value-based holistic learning and personal growth.As a result, Hansraj College, has over the years, emerged as a premier centre of educational excellence, a fact that all of you can be justly proud of.
As India celebrates “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav” highlighting the nation’s many accomplishments, we must remember that education holds the key to national development. Education is rightly seen as the most powerful catalyst that can drive a country’s development while giving it a qualitative edge. It is with this underlying objective in mind that the Government of India unveiled the farsighted document, National Education Policy-2020, which is set to transform the world of education. The NEP lays out an elaborate, layered roadmap for educational institutions in terms of charting the course of national development and seeks to restructure the higher educational institutions of the country towards the changing needs of the knowledge economy. Its emphasis on imparting education in one’s mother tongue is a landmark step which, I am sure, will prove to be a game-changer. I am happy to learn that the Delhi University is implementing NEP-2020 from this session in right earnest.
I have been informed that Hansraj College with its student strength of 5000+ is one of thelargest constituent colleges of University of Delhi. Founded on 26 July, 1948, in memory of Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati and Mahatma Hansraj, the inauguration of the campus of Hansraj College by our first President, Dr. RajendraPrasad, is an important historic moment in its long journey. The association of Hansraj College with institutions like DAV and Arya Samaj that are anchored in teachings of great spiritual and social leaders and reformers like Swami Dayanand Saraswatiand Mahatma Hansraj, is a matter of added significance when it comes to the institution’s duties and responsibilities towards the country and society.
It is important to recall the fact that the alumni of Hansraj college have made exceptional contribution to the fields of art, science, economics, technology, media, administration, law, politics, and other fields. Theircontribution to nation-building is a reflection of the academic rigour of this prestigious institution.
Our gurus, the teachers at educational institutions, have a special responsibility. I would like to urge you to relate your teaching and curriculum with the real history of India, its culture, its tradition, its folk arts and languages, dialects, and core Indian values. The commitment of the college to transmitting the richness and grandeur of Indian culture is laudable. I am told that apart from the mainlibrary of the college with modern facilities and resources, there is a separate library of rare Vedic literature and texts. I was also pleased to learn that the teaching and non-teaching staff along with students perform Yagya every month.
Dear students,
A healthy body is the abode of a healthy mind. Focus on health and fitness. Shun junk food and consume a nutritious diet. Choose any activity of your preference for physical fitness and build a disciplined lifestyle. This discipline and strength of will which you will develop, is bound to stand you in good stead for the rest of your life. I am glad to know that Hansraj College has arrangements for activities related to yoga.
Hansraj College is guided by the vision of an organization like DAV that promotes patriotic andhuman values. Looking at your history, your tradition, your journey till now, and your legacy, I am confident that the teachings of MaharishiDayanand, Mahatma Hansraj and other great sons of Bharat Mata will inspire you to give a new impetus and direction toeducation, to society and to the country as a whole.
Once again, I congratulate each one of you on this 75th Sthapna ka Amrit Mahotsav and offer my best wishes for the future.
