Draw inspiration from Ambedkar and Vajpayee, Prez urges students
Few students refuse to accept medals, raise slogans against university admn outside hostel
LUCKNOW: President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday urged students to draw inspiration from the lives of social reformer Dr BR Ambedkar and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Invoking the two Bharat Ratnas, Kovind said the hard work and struggle that these two leaders undertook was inspirational.
He was addressing the students and teachers at the 7th convocation of Lucknow’s Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University. Insisting that both Vajpayee and Ambedkar had strong Lucknow connection, Kovind said, “People of Lucknow elected Vajpayee and sent him to Parliament a number of times as their representative. People respect him for his contribution towards the country and society.”
A few topper Dalit students, who refused to take gold medal from the President, raised slogans against the university administration outside hostel.
They were unhappy with the alleged discriminatory attitude of the VC towards Dalit students.
Family members of one Shailesh Tripathi, who died in March after submitting his PhD thesis, also registered their protest. While the university had initially refused to give degree to the family member from the stage, it later allowed the bereaved mother to take the medal.
On Ambedkar, Kovinds aid the father of the Indian Constitution was known for all the hard work he did throughout his life. “When he was studying in Columbia University, he used to complete his thesis in quick time. It is because of this quality he was appointed as chairman of Constitution draft committee,” claimed the President. The President also called upon the students to turn entrepreneurs and become job creators rather than job seekers. He advised them to follow ethics and principles to attain true success in whichever walk of life they chose. The President noted with satisfaction the rapid progress the country is making, but said, “We need to do more on specific social and economic challenges as well as in the areas of science and technology.” When the country moves forward, he said, every citizen benefits and gets opportunities for personal development.
‘ENDORSE ‘PEHLE AAP’ ETIQUETTE’
President Ram Nath Kovind made a mention of Lucknow’s ‘Pehle Aap’ (After you, please) etiquette. He said while people also make fun of the ceremonious Lucknow exclusive etiquette, if imbibed, it can actually solve the behavioral issues that plague the current generation.
He said the ‘Pehle Aap’ tradition followed here, teaches us to be patient and give priority to others. “It teaches us to be sensitive rather than be impatient and aggressive,” said the President while insisting that it could actually lead to more happiness around.