Morung Express News
December 8
DIMAPUR: Former Chief Minister and present Goa Governor SC Jamir today said that in order to facilitate proper and meaningful deliberation and discussion, the element of fear must go and quoted Rabindranath Tagore, whose poem he said epitomized the ideals of freedom which should be the aim of education. Jamir said this during his inaugural address as Chief Guest on the opening day of the 2nd Round Table Conference of Vice Chancellors of the Universities in the northeast, Jammu & Kashmir and Sikkim held at Police Headquarters, Kohima.
“The scenario in the insurgency areas are however, quite the opposite of the ideals of freedom as epitomized by Rabindranath Tagore”, Jamir pointed out and said that the effect of insurgency and violence created deep divisions within society, leading to mutual hatred between groups, tribes, communities and even States.
Education, which is an intellectual activity he said, required an environment of peace and calm. “It is apparent that one of the most essential pre-requisites for quality education is a stable law and order situation.”
He said students as well as the academic community can function optimally and successfully and produce results only when they are assured that society is guided by the rule of law.
Terming it as unfortunate that the people who fostered violence and bloodshed did not understand the severe negative impact it had on the future of our youth, Jamir said militancy practiced by them may be for political reasons or gains, but in the process, he said they were completely ruining the lives of entire generations of young men and women who wish to acquire high quality education to become successful in life.
Dwelling on the global trend, Jamir was of the opinion that other people were moving away from the narrow divisive philosophy of isolationism. “We cannot cling on to the concept of separatism any longer”, he said and appealed to the Vice Chancellors gathered, to spread this message in their community in order that all right thinking people were made aware of the threats posed by the continuing insurgency.
Earlier, speaking on the standard, quality and significance of Higher Education in the northeast region and J & K, Jamir said that while many basic amenities had grown, there was nonetheless a serious need to closely analyze the efficiency and effectiveness of these institutions as well as the potential for value addition of the Higher Education system.
“This round table gives us an opportunity to comprehensively and honestly evaluate whether the existing systems and structures are delivering the goods or whether new approaches have to be adopted”, Jamir told the gathering Vice Chancellors.
