‘Have some crazy unrealistic dreams’
Identify what you’re good at & dream big, UGC chairman tells students
LUCKNOW: Urging students of the University of Lucknow (LU) to have some “crazy, unrealistic dreams”, Prof Dhirendra Pal Singh, chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC), said, “Before mobile phones were invented, nobody thought people could talk to each other from far off places without wires. But somebody saw this unrealistic dream and made it possible.”
Prof Singh was speaking as the chief guest of the 61st convocation of LU organised here on Tuesday.
“No one could think that a 1,000-kg object could fly in the sky for hours. But somebody made that possible too,” he said to bring home the point.
Explaining the difference between hard work and smart work, Prof Singh said, “Some of you may feel sharper than others, while some of you may feel you are not as brilliant. But what matters is how quickly you get there. For that, persistence matters.”
“If you are more persistent than your competitors, you will achieve your goals faster than them. It is just about identifying what you are good at,” said the UGC chairman, adding that it was important for institutions of higher learning to promote an environment of research and innovation.
He also advised students to develop themselves as good speakers and listeners, and empathetic people with high moral values.
UP ON DEVELOPMENT PATH, SAYS GOVERNOR
In his address, governor Ram Naik who presided over the ceremony as the chancellor of the university, said that UP was treading the path of development.
“The UP investors’ summit was an example of that. So many MoUs were signed. These will generate lakhs of jobs in the days to come,” he said.
Lauding girl students for outperforming the boys, Naik said, “At a time when there is clamour over the women’s reservation bill, female students of the University of Lucknow and varsities across the state have set a reverse trend. They are way ahead of their male counterparts in the field of higher education.”
“At this convocation, girls have bagged 149 of 192 medals, which is 78% of the total medal tally. Likewise, the university distributed 31,607 degrees, out of which 20,286 were awarded to girls (64%),” said the governor.
He congratulated the students as the university would turn 100 in couple of years. He also wished good luck to the graduating students. Speaking on the occasion, LU vice-chancellor SP Singh said, “The varsity has given affiliation to 168 degree colleges, which speaks volumes about its reach among students. I am hopeful that with their hard work, the graduating students will take the name of the university to new heights.”