The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Youth urged to be cultural ambassadors

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Apr 02, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Youth urged to be cultural ambassadors

Staff Reporter

"Good education makes Indian students stand apart"

CHENNAI: Youth heading for foreign countries should become cultural ambassadors of India, State Higher Education Secretary K.S. Sripathi has said.

At the diamond jubilee celebrations of Ramakrishna Mission's Vivekananda College on Thursday, Mr. Sripathi said though the Western perception of India was relatively more realistic now than a few years ago, many misconceptions still remained. It was up to modern day youth, who went abroad for education or employment, to embody the country's cultural heritage.

Noting that the United States, the United Kingdom and now Australia were dream destinations for many of the country's youth, he said Indians were gaining respect abroad not only for their level of education but their value systems as well. Good education, coupled with a set of values, was what made Indian candidates stand apart. Mr. Sripathi said teachers must focus on inculcating a sound value system in students. It was important in this competitive world to possess courage of conviction. Such courage originated from the strength of core values. Bemoaning the fact that not much research was being done in institutions of higher learning, particularly in science, he sought to allay fears over a career among aspiring research scholars.There will be adequate job opportunities whatever the discipline of research, he said.V.V. Subramanian, principal, presented a report on the achievements of the college during the past year.

Swami Satyapriyananda, secretary, and N.S. Venkatasubramanian, faculty, participated.

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