Early Times Report
Jammu, Sept 9: "India Africa Virtual University will soon be a part of IGNOU," announced Prof. M. Aslam VC, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) during the teacher's day celebration in the Convention Centre of the University.
"This is a big challenge before us," he stated and also labeled it as, "a big opportunity and a challenge!"
"This Virtual University will be created with the initiative of Ministry of External Affairs," he added. He further deliberated upon the status of teachers today, "From 'guru' in the olden days, we have come to address them as 'sir' and 'madam'." He urged the teacher's fraternity to, "Introspect what we are and what we should be."
The event was organized by the University's Teacher's Association IGNOUTA. Prof. Rajan Harshe, former founder VC, Central University, Allahabad was the guest speaker. He spoke on the topic 'Imagining India in Indian Universities'.
Prof Harshe said that because of its plurality and complexities, there is no single definition of India as a nation. Yet, he would like the Nehruvian-Gandhi ideals of tolerance, harmony, equalities and peace as the utopia to strive for.
In this context, Indian universities had a big and responsible role to play. In India, 65% of the population is below 35 years, making India a young country. With such figures, higher education in India has to be inclusive. Universities should become vehicles of social change; they must balance quality and quantity."
"Indian universities are plagued with identity politics linked with birth, blood or territory.
The expectations from the universities are sometime unrealistic and manifold. Globalization had also thrown many challenges for the universities. There should be an interface between the market and the universities.
His message for teachers was straight and blunt, "When a dagger is thrown at you, you should catch it and not run away from it. Your whole life should revolve around students who will make tomorrow's India. Discipline, commitment to work and dedication to students would ensure that we need not emulate any model for we will ourselves be able to create one."
Prof. Poonam Bhushan, Vice President, IGNOUTA, recapitulated Prof. Harshe's speech and said that, "Globalization had redefined the aims of education and in a society that is constantly changing, the challenges for teachers are immense."
The celebration started with the welcome note of Prof. B.S. Saraswat, President, IGNOUTA and ended with a vote of thanks by Prof.C.R.K.Murthy, Secretary, IGNOUTA. |
