Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 31: The University of Jammu today kick-started the Viksit Bharat Yuva Connect Programme (VBYCP) with an inspiring inaugural ceremony, drawing participation from across the academic and civil society.
Justice (Retd ) Tashi Rabstan, former Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, formally inaugurated the event, in the presence of Prof Pragati Kumar, Vice Chancellor, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Prof Umesh Rai, Vice-Chancellor of JU and others.
Addressing the gathering, Justice Tashi Rabstan emphasized that meaningful engagement with young minds is critical if the vision of a developed India is to be truly realized. He spoke in detail about the critical role of legal reforms in achieving the goals of Viksit Bharat@2047. He outlined key areas like modernizing governance, promoting alternative dispute resolution, citizen-centric legislation, and the importance of digital legal systems such as litigation monitoring and faceless assessments to enhance transparency.
Prof Pragati Kumar spoke of the “psyche of the nation” as central to the Viksit Bharat mission. He pointed to a growing disconnect between students and society, not out of disinterest, but due to mounting survival pressures and career anxieties. He urged educators to bridge this gap by reorienting learning toward meaningful contribution.
Prof Umesh Rai called for a transformative ecosystem within educational institutions to promote idea generation, innovation, and startups, urging a shift from rote learning to solution-centric thinking rooted in real-world social challenges. “The path to a developed India begins in its schools, colleges, and universities, where education must be reoriented from job-seeking to job-creation, embedding skilling, creativity, and curiosity into the curriculum,” he said.
Earlier, Prof Neelu Rohmetra, Dean Research Studies, said that the event is Jammu University’s voice in the national conversation on India’s future.
Prof Prakash C. Antahal, Dean Students Welfare and Co-Convenor of VBYCP, shared a detailed overview of the four-day festival.
A cultural performance titled “Bharat Ki Baat”, brilliantly written and directed by Sumeet Sharma, Drama Instructor at JU, wonderfully glorified the Indian heritage & ethos. A multi-department exhibition was also inaugurated, showcasing contributions from eight Government departments and various university departments.
The inaugural session concluded with a formal vote of thanks by Prof Pankaj K. Srivastava, Convenor of VBYCP. Proceedings of the event were conducted by Dr Bhagwati Devi. Among others present on the occasion included, Prof Anju Bhasin, Dean Academic Affairs; Prof Sangita Gupta, Dean Planning and Development; Dr Neeraj Sharma, Registrar; Padam Shree Prof Lalit Magotra, Deans, Rectors, Directors, faculty members, officers, staff, scholars, students and prominent members from the civil society.
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