Convocation Address University of Jammu

Evolution of Prosperous, Happy, Secure and Enlightened Society

I am indeed delighted to participate in the 11th Convocation (Special) of the University of Jammu. I take this opportunity to wish the University students for their academic performance. I greet the Vice Chancellor, professors, teachers and staff for their contribution in shaping young minds to contribute to the nation in multiple fields.

The topic, I have selected for this special convocation address is: "Evolution of Prosperous, Happy, Secure and Enlightened Society". Expert teams have studied how India can be transformed into a developed nation. What are the components needed for a developed India? How to transform India into a developed nation in a time bound way? On August 15, 2002 the Prime Minister said that India has to become a developed nation by 2020. What is needed for such a mega mission?

Thinking is progress

Friends, we should note that the human mind is a unique gift. You can try to fathom the marvels of the universe. You can enter into it only if you have curiosity and thinking. I suggest to all of you, thinking should become your capital asset, no matter whatever ups and downs you come across in your life. Thinking is progress. Non-thinking is stagnation of the individual, organisation and the country. Thinking leads to action. Knowledge without action is useless and irrelevant. Knowledge with action, converts adversity into prosperity.

I would like you, dear youth, to have a mind to explore every aspect of human life. Look at the sky. We are not alone. The whole universe is friendly to us and conspires to give the best to those who dream and work, like Chandrasekhar Subramaniam discovered the black hole. Today, using the Chandrasekhar Limit we can calculate how long the sun will shine. Like, Sir C.V. Raman looked at the sea and questioned why the sea should be blue, leading to the birth of the Raman Effect. Like, Albert Einstein, armed with the complexity of the universe, asked questions about the nature of the universe. The famous equation E=mc2 arrived. When E=mc2 is in the hands of noble souls we got electricity using nuclear materials. When the same equation was in the hands of extreme political thinkers, destruction of Hiroshima took place.

When I had just joined the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) then called Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) in 1963 I met my Guru, Professor Vikhram Sarabhai at Ahmedabad to plan some rocket experiments. He was busy reviewing cosmic ray research data obtained from Gulmarg. We had a high altitude research station at Gulmarg to study cosmic ray particles coming from the Sun and the Galaxy. This place has hosted several scientific studies and has special and unique advantages for basic research in astronomy and certain geo-physical studies. It can also become a beautiful laboratory for India and the world for various forms of Arctic and Antarctic research before going to those places physically.

The Indian Astronomical Observatory, one of the finest of its kind, set up atop Mt. Saraswati, 4500 meter above Mean Sea Level in Hanle, South Eastern Ladakh is also the highest observatory in the world and serves to communicate to the world India's commitment to science and its technological capabilities. This reflecting 2-meter telescope is used to establish the universe expansion and to determine how fast and how far the galaxies are moving. Such an important scientific Centre is situated in Jammu and Kashmir. It is essential that the University of Jammu should become a partner of this scientific centre for promoting advanced research.

Whether India has to build missile technology or nuclear technology or space technology or self sufficiency in food or Information Technology products export potential are all the results of visionary thinking and working further.

Evolution of Good human being

The evolution of good human beings is indeed a big challenge for us, which will make the country secure and prosperous. I was asking myself, what would be the components of such a mission? Will it consist of an education system to generate enlightened citizens? That means a combination of learning with value systems. This process can take place during the student's education. This covers one third of the population at any point of time in our country. The second important component will be religions graduating into a spiritual movement. Third and the most vital component is poverty eradication by attaining economic prosperity resulting in high employment potential.

The nuclear establishments have reached the capability of building nuclear power stations, nuclear medicine and nuclear irradiation of agricultural seeds for growth in agricultural production. Today India has become a Nuclear Weapon State. Defence Research had led to design, development and production of Main Battle Tanks, strategic missile systems, electronic warfare systems and various armours. Also we have seen growth in the Information Technology; the country is progressing in hardware and software export business of more than 10 billion dollars even though there are low ebbs in the last few years. India yet is a developing country. What Technology can do further?

But, the world is facing a new kind of warfare, integrated situation of religious conflicts, ideological differences and economic-market warfare. We have witnessed always that war adds to wars, of course each time there will be a time gap. How do we combat these complex integrated phenomena of conventional warfare threat, cross border terrorism, insurgency and threat of nuclear attacks? In the next few minutes I would like to share my thoughts and some possible solutions.

Reasons for Terrorism

Terrorism results from various factors like difference in ideologies, religious fanaticism, discrimination, and enmity between organisations and nations. Constant deprivation leads to frustration, frustration on provocation leads to alienation. Alienation can manifest itself in two forms - passivism and activism. Activism can manifest itself in constructive or destructive modes. Constructive mode leads to development; destructive mode leads to terrorism, violence and aggression. Certain nations have been indulging in cross border terrorism. We need to collectively address these sources of disturbance by formulating visionary policies for national development with security concerns integrated and by executing those mission projects with hard work and sweat. At this juncture, I would like to recall a poem written in a full moonlit night. There was a divine echo in the full moon night from my creator. Shaken, bewildered and wondered, the echo engulfed me and my race:

"You, the human race is the best of my creation

You will live and live.

You give and give till you are united,

in human happiness and pain.

My bliss will be born in you.

Love is continuum,

That is the mission of the humanity"

Are we the practitioners of love and reverence for human life? I was in search of the truth. When I visited various religious centres and education centres and also some spiritual centres, I realised that they are all indeed islands. Islands of beautiful work. What force can bridge? Let me share with you a few of my experiences.

Message from Tawang

Very recently, when I was visiting Arunachal Pradesh. I happened to spend a day in a Tawang Budhist Monastery, which has a 400 year old history, located at an altitude of 3000 meters - a beautiful spiritual environment. There, I met a gathering of monks, students, teachers and political leaders. I saw bright young faces with an urge to learn with creativity. A unique peace was engulfing the monastery and its surroundings. It looked to me that the message was part and parcel of the students' and the teachers' community. What is that message? I was asking myself. Who can enlighten and explain the message? I sought the help of the chief of the monks at the Tawang Monastery. I asked, 'Your Holiness, can you explain the message, with your vast experience in this Monastery, the most important part of learning - particularly in the present environment of our country and the other planet". The respected Buddhist Monk told me, "India is a nation of peace. India will live as a spiritual and peaceful nation. Peace should engulf our nation. This monastery spreads: when you remove "I" and "ME" from your mind, you will eliminate ego; if you eliminate ego, hatred towards fellow human beings vanish; If the hatred goes out of our mind, violence will not spring from the human mind and society, then peace and peace and peace will blossom. I bless my nation". This divine message -how to remove violence from society was born in the Tawang Monastery. How to inject the great experience on young minds?

Divine Connectivity

Now the question we have in front of us is: What is the unique trait or characteristic that will shape the young to become enlightened citizens. I would like to recall a spiritual hymn:

"Where there is righteousness in the heart

There is a beauty in the character.

When there is beauty in the character,

there is harmony in the home.

When there is harmony in the home.

There is an order in the nation.

When there is order in the nation,

There is peace in the world".

Friends, we can see a beautiful connectivity between heart, character, nation and the world. How to inject righteousness in the human heart? This is indeed the purpose of human creation - that is divinity. The purpose of university education is to instill righteousness in the human heart. I suggest to all of you to work for making Jammu and Kashmir a prosperous, happy and peaceful state. Future generations will be grateful to you for this action.

Noble thoughts come from everywhere

On one occasion, as I was leaving for Bangalore for a lecture, I spoke to my friend and told him that I would be talking to young people and whether he had any suggestions. He did not offer any suggestions as such but offered me the following words of wisdom.

"When you speak, speak the truth; perform when you promise; discharge your trust?. Withhold your hands from striking, and from taking that which is unlawful and bad?."

"What actions are most excellence? To gladden the heart of a human being, to feed the hungry, to help the afflicted to lighten the sorrow of the sorrowful and to remove the wrongs of injured?"

"All God's creatures are His family; and he is the most beloved of God who tries to do most good to God's creatures."

He said these are the sayings of Prophet Mohammed. My friend who told me this is a great-grandson of Deekshidar of Tamil Nadu and Gnanapathigal (Vedic scholar). Such an outlook is possible only in our country where many of our enlightened citizens go beyond their own religion and appreciate other religions also. This is a state of spiritualism a nation has to cherish.

Knowledge powered PURA (Providing Urban amenities in Rural Areas)

Providing Urban amenities in Rural Areas (PURA) is an example for creating rural wealth and prosperity. The model envisages a habitat designed to improve the quality of life in rural places and makes special suggestions to remove urban congestion also. Naturally our most demanding urban problem is that of congestion removal and efficient supply of water and effective waste disposal in every locality are the paramount civic needs. There is a minimum size below which a habitat is not viable and not competitive with the existing congested city. At the same time, the existing congested city is not economical compared to a new town once a minimum size of expansion is crossed. As against a conventional city say, rectangular in shape and measuring approximately 10 kilometers by 6 kilometers, the model considers an annular ring-shaped town integrating a minimum of 8 to 10 villages of the same 60 square kilometer area. This model provides easy access to villages, saves transportation time and cuts costs substantially and is more convenient for the general public. Knowledge powered rural development is an essential need for transforming India into a knowledge power and high bandwidth rural connectivity is the minimum requirement to take education, health care and economic activities to the rural areas. Knowledge society leading to a knowledge super power can prosper and survive only in the environment of economic security and internal security. Physical connectivity by providing roads, electronic connectivity by providing a reliable communication network and knowledge connectivity by establishing professional institutions and vocational training centers will have to be done in an integrated way so that economic connectivity will emanate. Such a model of establishing a circular connectivity among the rural village complexes will accelerate the rural development process by empowerment.

The importance of connectivity

The five universities of Jammu and Kashmir should be connected to the other universities of excellence in the country through tele-education. The students of these universities should have a collaborative tele-education network for interacting with renowned scholars in various specialisations. Tele-education will provide knowledge connectivity and will facilitate the creation of a knowledge society, leading to enhanced wealth generation for national development. In order to bring a vibrant educational and research atmosphere, we need to initiate research programmes in collaboration with various scientific and research institutions in the country in the core competence area of the university. This networking will provide larger exposure to the students and the faculty of the university and enable enhanced employment and research opportunities.

Vision of the Nation

After 55 years of independence, aspirations are mounting that India should become a developed country. This is the second vision for the nation. How we can prepare ourselves for this challenge?

To become a developed India, the essential needs are (a) India has to be economically and commercially powerful, at least to be one of the four top nations in terms of size of economy. Our target should be a GDP growth of 9 percent annually and that the people below the poverty line to be reduced to near zero. (b) Near self-reliance in defence and needs of weapon, equipment with no umbilical attached to the outside world. (c) India should have a right place in world forums. Technology Vision 2020 is a pathway to realise this cherished mission.

We have identified five areas where India has core competence for an integrated action. (1) Agriculture and food processing - we have to place a target of 360 million tons of food and agricultural production. Other areas of agriculture and agro food processing would bring prosperity to rural people and speed up economic growth. (2) Reliable and quality electric power for all parts of the country. (3) Education and healthcare - we have seen, based on experience, education and healthcare are inter related. (4) Information communication technology - this is one of our core competences. We believe this area can be used to promote education in remote areas and also to create national wealth. (5) Strategic sectors - this area, fortunately, witnessed growth in nuclear technology, space technology and defence technology. Other areas like advanced sensors and materials would need a push. The nation has a plan towards 70 percent near self-reliance in a decade in defence equipment.

These five areas are closely inter-related and would lead to national, food, and economic security. A strong partnership among the research and development, academia, industry and the community as a whole with Government departments will be essential to accomplish the Vision.

Conclusion

When the child is empowered by the parents, at various phases of growth, the child transforms into a responsible citizen. When the teacher is empowered with knowledge and experience, good young human beings with value systems take shape. When the individual or a team is empowered with technology, transformation to higher potential for achievement is assured. When the leader of any institution empowers his or her people, leaders are born who can change the nation in multiple areas. When women are empowered, society with stability and peace is assured. When political leaders of the nation empower the people through visionary policies, the prosperity of the nation is certain. The medium for transformation to developed India is empowerment at various levels with power of knowledge. This empowerment should lead to a prosperous, happy, secured and enlightened India. I wish all success to the members of this campus in this great mission.

May God bless you.