CUTTACK: Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia on Saturday called upon the youth to capitalise on the opportunities thrown up by fastpaced economic growth and technological advancement and take the country on the path of progress and prosperity.
Addressing students at the Fourth Convocation ceremony of Ravenshaw University here, Ahluwalia observed, "this is the best time to be young." The economic growth has clocked 9 per cent as against 3.5 per cent when he was young.
Technological advances have revolutionised the world. All information is available at the finger tip and thus opportunities are endless, he added.
However, the need of the hour is not to lose sight of the roots even while taking the flight. Despite the booming economy, inclusive growth has been lacking. The nation is growing and the growth should touch all sections of the society. The youth and the students, who are the nationbuilders, should be committed to the society, he underlined.
Speaking on the occasion, Chancellor and Governor Murlidhar Chandrakant Bhandare emphasised that education must fulfil the needs and ideals of the society. Educational institutions must catalyse the process of change and the Government must transform itself into an agency of the society from its role as an instrument of power.
He was optimistic of emergence of a potentially endowed intellectual leadership from Ravenshaw that can truly partner other appropriate forces and agencies to redfine the discourse of inclusive development with a human face.
ViceChancellor Devdas Chhotray underlined the need for infrastructure upgradation to meet the demands of the university that is recasting itself as a modern institution.
"The State Government's support has been unfailing but limited. We have to look for resources in some major alumni intervention and through the PPP mode", he said.
Reiterating the commitment to Sam Pitroda's advice on developing Ravenshaw as a knowledge city, he said it would be a city within a city for the knowledge workers, attracting global customers for research and producing "not idle knowledge but wealth for the community".
Chancellor Bhandare conferred Honorary Doctorate of Literature on Montek Singh Ahluwalia, actor and playwright Girish Karnad, writer Manoj Das, former civil servant Lalat Indu Parija and academician Prabhat Nalini Das.
Eminent lawyer and social activist Indira Jai Sing was conferred Honorary Doctorate of Law while radiologist Mukund Sadasiv Joshi and ophthalmologist Taraprasad Das were accorded Doctorate of Science on the occasion.
Gold medallists and toppers were also awarded in the convocation ceremony.