Radhakrishnan addresses 21st convocation of KU
Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Feb 26: Vice President C P Radhakrishnan today said India needs to throw out the colonial mindset to emerge as a global leader in innovations.
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“I urge you all to focus on Swadeshi innovation and solutions that are rooted in Indian knowledge, resources, and needs. We need not be worried; we need not be inferior. We are to throw out our colonial mindset first,” the VP said while addressing the 21st convocation of the University of Kashmir here.
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“My best wishes to you to share the next big innovation, the next way of sustainable development, the next chapter in India’s prize as a global leader,” Radhakrishnan added.
He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the country more vibrant and more supportive than ever before.
The Vice-President said the world is changing rapidly and youngsters need to adapt, equip themselves with new skills, and embrace innovation.
Radhakrishnan asked students to stay away from drugs and use social media in moderation. “We need to respect the sentiments of others. Success in life depends on character and discipline,” he said, adding, “Young graduates must adapt to challenges beyond academics and remain firm in their values.”
The Vice President said the prime minister gave a call for all the scientists of the country to develop a vaccine for the COVID-19 pandemic.
“How many of us believed in it? But we found the best vaccination, and it has worked very well for the entire humanity,” he added.
Radhakrishnan said that the same vaccination has been researched and developed by the most well-developed Western economies, but all of them were running behind on how to patent it so that they can sell it for a very high price.
“Yes, a unit of vaccination can be sold for USD 7,500, but how can a poor man afford that?” he added.
The Vice President said Indian innovations are widely accepted by the Western world as well. “So the whole world is open for you now, it is your initiative, it is your interest. It is your enthusiasm, and your hard work is going to put you at the top of the world,” he added.
Radhakrishnan said these initiatives also create new opportunities for the youth, like the ones graduating today.
“PM special scholarship schemes for students of Jammu and Kashmir act as a great opportunity, aspiration, and national integration by enabling students to study in institutions across the country,” he said.
The Vice President said he wanted to tell the students three lines: “Three lines I want to tell you. Mera Kashmir nahi, tumhara Kashmir nahi, Hamara Kashmir. That is what I want from all of you.”
Radhakrishnan expressed special happiness over three significant aspects of the convocation: that the Minister for Higher Education is a woman, the Vice-Chancellor of the University is a woman, and that a majority of gold medal recipients were women. He described this as a powerful reflection of women’s empowerment and progress in J&K.
He lauded the University of Kashmir, established in 1948, for its proud legacy and expanding academic footprint. He commended the University’s NAAC A++ Grade, 34th rank in the NIRF University category, over 7,700 research publications since 2019 and pioneering initiatives such as the National Himalayan Ice-Core Laboratory, which underline its growing global presence.
Referring to his tenure as Governor of Jharkhand, the Vice President recalled an interaction with students from Jammu and Kashmir who had visited the state under an exchange programme. “I had instructed officials to serve them food according to their preferences as a mark of respect,” he recalled.
“As democrats, we must respect the sentiments of all,” he said, adding that pride in one’s own traditions should not lead to disregard for others.
Highlighting development initiatives under leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the region, including the expansion of Srinagar International Airport and landmark infrastructure projects such as the Chenab Rail Bridge, Radhakrishnan said these initiatives create new opportunities and strengthen social harmony.
He expressed hope that under the leadership of the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Srinagar would emerge as the cleanest city in the country under the Swachhta Survekshan.
The Vice President said he was impressed by the changes taking place in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in infrastructure development and connectivity.
He appreciated the administration’s efforts to promote eco-tourism, preserve natural heritage and create livelihood opportunities for local communities, saying the initiatives have boosted tourism and contributed to peace and development in the Union Territory.
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