Ramakanta Biswas

Bhubaneswar: “The aim of education is not only cognitive development, but also building character and creating holistic and well-rounded individuals equipped with key 21st century skills”, Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu said on Saturday.

Addressing the 50th convocation of Utkal University in Bhubaneswar, Naidu said education makes the life of students organised and disciplined. He called upon the youth to emerge as job creators instead of running after jobs.

“My dear students, needless to say that the day of convocation marks an important day in your lives. Yet, this milestone is the beginning of your journey,” he said.

Beginning his address in Odia, the VP said that the great land of Kalinga taught the lesson of peace to Emperor Ashoka and the kings who ruled over this land were instrumental in building cross-cultural links with South East Asia. Noting the glorious maritime traditions of Kalinga, he lauded the daring sea-faring merchants of Kalinga who established trade links with various countries including Sri Lanka, Java, Sumatra, Bali and Burma.

Drawing attention to the regular occurrence of natural disasters like cyclones, floods and droughts in the State, Naidu called for making disaster management an integral part of the education from early days. "This would prepare us better to face any such calamity in future," he opined.

On this occasion, the Vice President presented the Honoris Causa conferred by Utkal University on five eminent personalities, Shaktikanta Das, Governor, Reserve Bank of India, Girish Chandra Murmu, Comptroller and Auditor General of India, Justice Sanju Panda, Orissa High Court, Dr. Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Director, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) and Dr. Bijaya Kumar Sahoo, Advisor, Government of Odisha.

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