The Kashmir Dialogues
JAMMU, APRIL 03: Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha today addressed the ‘Bharat Shiksha Summit’ organized by the Balaji Foundation at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The event was graced by Shri Brajesh Pathak, Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, along with distinguished educationists, policymakers, and academicians.
In his keynote address, LG Sinha underscored the critical role of ethics, values, and national identity in education. He emphasized that these principles serve as guiding forces for societal welfare and nation-building. He asserted that the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 aims to transform students into living sources of knowledge rather than mere repositories of bookish information.
“Students should develop moral consciousness and imbibe life values such as compassion, peace, truth, and harmony. These physical, intellectual, and emotional experiences collectively contribute to their overall knowledge,” LG Sinha stated.
NEP 2020: A Vision for Holistic Education
Elaborating on the transformative aspects of NEP 2020, LG Sinha highlighted its focus on fostering creative imagination, ethical values, and determination to build an inclusive society.
“I want our institutions to create individuals who seamlessly blend compassion with innovation. The three ‘H’ – Head, Heart, and Heritage – will play a pivotal role in restoring the broken moral link in our education system,” he added.
He further noted that students should be skilled researchers, writers, or artists while remaining deeply connected to their roots. This perfect balance, he believes, will be transformative for students, institutions, and society at large.
Moral Values and Innovation: A Balanced Approach
The Lieutenant Governor stressed that innovation must go hand in hand with moral values. “Without groundbreaking inventions, moral values alone hold little significance. Conversely, education and skills devoid of ethics are directionless,” he remarked.
He urged teachers to integrate moral values with modern-world skills to nurture strong character and intellectual curiosity among students. He also called for transitioning from monologue-based classrooms to interactive discussions to encourage critical thinking.
J&K’s Education Reforms and Future Roadmap
During an interactive session, LG Sinha shed light on the progressive educational reforms undertaken in Jammu & Kashmir under the guidance of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
“The talent pool in J&K is now receiving better opportunities. We have introduced multidisciplinary learning, skill development initiatives, and campaigns to reintegrate dropout students into the education system. Through ‘Mission Yuva,’ we are fostering an entrepreneurial culture at the university level,” he stated.
Highlighting the region’s positive transformation, he added, “Hartals, strikes, and stone-pelting are now a thing of the past. J&K is progressing towards a brighter and more prosperous future.”
Bharat Shiksha Samman Conferred
The event also witnessed the felicitation of prominent personalities and institutions with the Bharat Shiksha Samman for their invaluable contributions to the education sector. Notable attendees included Shri Naveen Jindal, MP; Dr. Pankaj Mittal, Secretary General, Association of Indian Universities; and Ms. Rajshri Rai, Chairperson, Balaji Foundation.
The summit facilitated thought-provoking discussions on the challenges and opportunities in the education sector, paving the way for a robust and dynamic future roadmap.
M S Nazki