President Kovind on Sunday welcomed the implementation of the National Education Policy in Jammu and Kashmir, saying that education is the greatest catalyst for change and youth is the most powerful agent of social transformation. He said the NEP will prove to be a milestone in realizing India’s unprecedented demographic dividend.
The president addressed a video conference on Sunday that was attended by the lieutenant governor of Jammu and Kashmir, university rectors and other directors of colleges in Jammu and Kashmir.
Here is the full text of President Kovind’s speech:
I am pleased to address this conference on the implementation of the National Education Policy in Jammu and Kashmir, which used to be rightly called Paradise on Earth. Through this conference, we must deliberate the methods and devise the ways to restore this region to its glory, using education as a tool.
In my opinion, there couldn’t be a better way to realize your dreams than through education. The National Education Policy, approved by the Union Cabinet in July 2020, is nothing less than a revolution. In regards to Jammu and Kashmir, I have been meeting and interacting with schoolchildren from the Rashtrapati Bhavan region every year. In my own experience, I can say with conviction that Jammu and Kashmir are a reservoir of extremely intelligent, talented and innovative children. I believe that the implementation of the educational policy will produce students with “fiery minds” if I borrow the phrase from my illustrious predecessor, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. These young people would unleash hidden potential and lead India to greater heights in the future.
Dear participants,
The development of India’s growth story is based on the talent and energy of its youth. Our nation has an unprecedented demographic dividend, but it can only be realized if the young people who make up a substantial segment of the population become skilled, professionally competent, and above all, educated in the real sense.
In this sense, the National Education Policy will be a milestone. I firmly believe that education is the greatest catalyst for change and youth is the most powerful agent of social transformation. And whenever these two forces have come together, the course of history has changed.
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Dear participants,
Kalhana, the great Kashmiri scholar and poet, in his masterpiece, Rajatarangini ‟had said:” Learning, lofty homes, saffron, icy water and grapes: things that are hard to find in heaven are common here. ” It is important to note that “learning” ranked first among the five things he referred to.
Jammu and Kashmir is a land of rich and diverse cultural traditions. From Hinduism to Buddhism to Sufi Islam, all religions and beliefs have found a place in the cultural spirit of this land. This peaceful and shared coexistence is manifested in the lives of its people. We must always remember that education brings people together; it is ignorance that divides.
Jammu and Kashmir since time immemorial has been a center of literature and learning, science and spirituality. Whether it is Mahayana Buddhism or Shaiva’s monistic metaphysics, Tantric theory and practice, theory of art and aesthetics or philosophy, language, the communicative role of Sharda writing or the enrichment of Sanskrit literary styles, innovations Kashmiri creatives in almost all areas of art and Thought has been very significant. Any history of the cultural traditions of India will remain incomplete without taking them into account.
It is not surprising, therefore, that Kashmir has become a privileged place for the Pan-Indian intellectual community and also for scholars from other countries, to meet here and interact on topics related to different disciplines and fields of knowledge. The search for knowledge was reinforced by the serene surroundings of the Himalayas, making it a search for the meaning of life.
I feel that a land with such a great and brilliant past should try very hard to add new chapters of excellence and achievement to its history. I wonder why the land of such academic achievement cannot walk together with the rest of the world on the path of academic progress and excellence.
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If we want to make sure that our children and young people excel in life, we have to guarantee them an education based on values. To understand its value system, you must understand its roots, its tradition, and its rich cultural heritage. This understanding cannot be complete without taking into account your mother tongue.
In this context, I believe that the National Education Policy has done a great service. The most encouraging feature of the Policy is that it adheres to the cultural spirit of each region. The three-language formula envisaged in this policy is of immense importance and can promote multilingualism and national unity. However, there will be more flexibility in the three-language formula and no language will be imposed in any state or territory of the union.
Dear participants,
Education is the greatest enabler. It allows us to take charge of our destiny and we want the youth of Jammu and Kashmir to become masters of their destiny. The new policy, with its emphasis on vocational education, has given us a plan to make this dream come true.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for making India “Aatmnirbhar”, or self-sufficient, and this is only possible when we make our youth self-sufficient. Vocational training will play an important role in this regard.
The policy focuses on ensuring accessibility, equality, affordability, accountability and quality in education and also tends to encourage skill development, experiential learning, and logical thinking. I think this will ensure new and better pedagogical standards in the country.
We live in an era where research and innovation are the keys to success and development. Jammu and Kashmir is a land of extremely talented people. His youth has excelled in all fields. Today, when we see a new dawn in Jammu and Kashmir, we want the youth of this land to be the harbinger of change by excelling in their respective fields. The National Education Policy will help them realize their true potential and make their dreams come true.
Dear participants,
My dream is to see Jammu and Kashmir emerge as a hub of knowledge, enterprise, innovation and skills development. In the field of education and academic activities, the region has set unparalleled milestones. Many of the central ideas and concepts that have shaped the Indian mind over the centuries have emanated from this region. I hope that through this conference you will make determined efforts to make this paradise a center of knowledge, innovation and learning by implementing this policy in letter and spirit. Let us fight together to make Jammu and Kashmir a Firdaus on earth, a shining jewel in the crown of Mother India.
With these words, I wish you all the best in this endeavor. I thank the Lieutenant Governor, Shri Manoj Sinha for inviting me to share my thoughts with you.
I wish the people of Jammu and Kashmir, especially the youth, a very happy, peaceful and prosperous future.
Thank you,
Jai Hind!
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