Date:25/05/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/25/stories/2006052518820500.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Education must ensure balanced growth, says Governor Barnala

Staff Reporter

Presents Best Scientist of the Year award to D. Hanumanna

HONOURING AN INNOVATOR: Governor Surjit Singh Barnala presents `Distinguished Scientist' award to D. Hanumanna (left), Emeritus Scientist, CVRDE, Avadi during the college's seventh convocation. Jaya Educational Trust Chairman A. Kanagaraj is seen on the right. — Photo: R. Ragu

CHENNAI: Any system of education should aim at a balanced growth of the individual and insist on both knowledge and wisdom, Governor Surjit Singh Barnala said on Wednesday.

Presenting the Best Scientist of the Year award to D. Hanumanna at the convocation of Jaya Engineering College, Tirunindravur, he said the relation between the teacher and the student must be sacred. The kind of education provided to the youth was determined overwhelmingly by the kind of men and women recruited as teachers. He urged the students to keep in mind the words of President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam about making thinking one's capital asset and usher in prosperity in the country by empowering knowledge with action.

Dr. Hanumanna, Emeritus Scientist, Central Vehicle Research and Development Establishment, said that one biggest advantage India had in the world was the gift of population. "The age group below 25 is about 500 million, which no country in the world can compete. With this, India has got great potential to be a top economy in the world. But this cannot be achieved unless the quality of manpower is good," he said, listing out 10 successful qualities for students to achieve success.

Self-sufficient

P.V. Vaidyanathan, former Vice-Chancellor, Annamalai University said that in spite of the fact that the country's population had doubled in fifty years, the life expectancy had also doubled. The country was self-sufficient in food and was also exporting food grains. "Our spiritual aspect of life must never be lost sight of. We must modernise our science and technology but we need not get Westernised," he said.

A. Kanagaraj, Chairman, Jaya Educational Trust, welcomed the gathering. G.S. Kandasami, Principal, Jaya Engineering College, proposed a vote of thanks. Degrees and awards were presented to rank-holders and other students at the seventh convocation.