Guwahati, Sep 7: Vice President C P Radhakrishnan on Monday urged research scholars to choose topics that address community problems and promote inclusive development, saying education should foster critical thinking and innovation rather than serve merely as a means of employment.
Addressing a gathering after laying the foundation stone for a Rs 110 crore infrastructure development project at Gauhati University on the final day of his two-day visit to Assam, he said that the ranking of an institute, though important, does not tell the full story.
''Scholars must conduct research that addresses the problems of communities, serve humanity and let innovation lead to inclusive development'', he said.
The true measure of a university lies in the lives it transforms, the knowledge it creates in the minds of the people and the contribution it makes to society, the vice president said.
"Universities are not just classrooms, but centres of excellence, innovation and social responsibility," he asserted.
Radhakrishnan highlighted that the majority of gold medallists in universities across the country are women.
"This is a welcome development for Nari Shakti. A silent revolution has taken place, and it will go a long way in achieving the goal of a 'Viksit Bharat'".
Pointing out that Gauhati University is the oldest in the northeast, the vice president said it has emerged as a premier institution of not only the region but the entire country.
He said that what began as a ''dream for the people of Assam has, over the decades, grown into a premier institution of higher education in the country''.
"It stands as a testimony to the power of perseverance and public aspiration, playing a pioneering role in various fields in this era of rapid technological development."
Gauhati University has produced researchers, scholars, eminent personalities, artists, educationists, among others who have enriched public life, he said.
"Education is not just a means for employment. It should lead to critical thinking, enrich ethical values, constitutional awareness, innovation and responsibility towards society. Scholars should research topics that address community problems and lead to inclusive development," Radhakrishnan said.
In an era of rapid technological change, enriching India's linguistic diversity is a national responsibility and "I appreciate the initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in declaring Assamese as a classical language," he said.
Assam has taken a transformative journey under the leadership of the chief minister, and the state is witnessing renewed momentum in infrastructure, connectivity, social and economic development, making it the fastest-growing economy in the last five years, he said.
Attracting new industries and investments alongside public infrastructure development is also strengthening the state's position as an important gateway to the entire North East and South East Asia, the VP said.
He said he must also commend Gauhati University's intellectual infrastructure; its Krishna Kanta Handique library is a treasure house of knowledge with nearly 3 lakh volumes, thousands of rare manuscripts, digital archives and important special collections.
"I am also very surprised to learn that Tamil is taught at the University and that many great books of Tamil literature are being translated into the Assamese language and vice versa. This will help us understand how close our cultures are. I will ask Tamil Nadu University to encourage Assamese literature," Radhakrishnan said.
He also appreciated the University's focus on contemporary challenges—like Himalayan studies, climate change in the Brahmaputra basin, environmental sustainability, women's studies, endangered languages, and the Indigenous Knowledge System—along with its effort to resolve local challenges while adhering to global academic standards.
The implementation of the National Education Policy 2020 by the University provides an important opportunity for higher education, he said.
He urged students to fix their goals and strive to achieve those at their own pace, as no two individuals are the same.
The vice president also appealed to them to say no to drugs. A pledge against using drugs was also taken on the occasion.
He also urged students to restrict the use of social media and be respectful to parents and teachers.
''I am not saying that social media should not be used at all, but it should be done with discipline and not rule the individual's life. Respect for parents and teachers is also very important as they do not expect anything in return but only the well-being of their wards,'' Radhakrishnan said.
About the infrastructure development project, Radhakrishnan said it would boost the university's intellectual infrastructure and give further boost to higher education.
The foundation stone laying event was attended by Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Education Minister Ranoj Pegu, University Vice Chancellor Nani Gopal Mahanta and senior officials.
The key components of the project include an academic building, a boys' hostel, a modern mess building, an international students' hostel, Krishna Kanta Handique Library-seminar hall renovation, upgrading the Birinchi Barua auditorium and construction of residential quarters for D-Grade staff.
On the occasion, Radhakrishnan also released two books -- Dr Bhupen Hazarika: 100 years of a Wandering Song, and the fifth edition of Chandrakanta Abhidan, published by the university.
The Vice President also visited the Kamakhya Temple and offered prayers to the deity for the ''continued development and progress of our nation, for the well-being, peace and prosperity of all''.
