Other States - Orissa   

Call for holistic approach to education

Correspondent

Stone laid for permanent campus of Utkal University of Culture

Photo: Ashoke Chakrabarty

ANOTHER FEATHER: Noted poet Ramakanta Rath receiving the honorary degree at the convocation of Utkal University of Culture in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday. Chancellor and Governor Rameshwar Thakur, chief guest Karan Singh and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik are also seen.

BHUBANESWAR: Ever since Karan Singh, a noted scholar on Indian culture and Rajya Sabha member, first visited Orissa 45 years ago, the "rich centre of culture" has been beckoning him time and again.

Its "unique temple architecture" has floored him and the enchanting Odissi dance has "conquered the world" with its charm.

These were some of the eloquent notes on Orissa that the Chairperson of the Indian Council of Culture Relations offered during his convocation address at Utkal University of Culture at Jayadev Bhawan here on Tuesday.

Dr. Singh, who earlier laid the foundation stone of the permanent campus of the eight-year-old university at Madanpur village along with Governor Rameshwar Thakur and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, about 19 km from here, felt that being the only one of its kind in India, the university could play a pivotal role in promotion of culture studies in the country.

Emphasising the need for a holistic approach to the Indian education system for the growth of the nation and the people, Dr. Singh advocated a confluence of six elements in education - physical, intellectual, emotional, aesthetic, social and spiritual. Much to the cheer of the audience, Dr. Singh, who wore a red gown while the rest on the dais had yellow, remarked in a lighter vein that he always preferred to carry the same gown that he wore during receipt of his Doctorate degree from Delhi University. "I prefer to earn than to borrow," he said.

Honorary degrees

Mr. Rameshwar Thakur conferred the honorary Doctorate of Literature on versatile Odissi vocalist Kasinath Pujapanda, noted poet Ramakant Rath and internationally acclaimed painter Jatin Das on the occasion. He also presented D. Litt, Ph.D and gold medals to 23 awardees on the occasion and addressed the gathering as chairperson of the convocation.

Among others who were present were Mr. Naveen Patnaik, Culture Minister Surya Narayan Patro and Vice-Chancellor Sadhu Charan Panda.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Many tubewells remain defunct
Call for holistic approach to education
IIT issue echoes in LS
High Court takes serious view of `illegal detention'
Ravenshaw student ends life
Vriksha Mitra award for North Ghumusar forest division
Production in NALCO plant hit
5 injured as owner sets houses on fire

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu