Tricolour at 207 ft in Kurukshetra

Calls for enhancing human resources for nation-building

KURUKSHETRA: President Pratibha Patil on Wednesday unfurled a national flag being touted as the tallest in the country at the famous holy Brahamsarovar area in Kurukshetra district.

Haryana Governor Jagannath Pahadia and chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda were also present at the occasion. The event was organised by the Flag Foundation of India led by Lok Sabha MP Naveen Jindal.

Mounted on a 207 feet tall pole, the flag is 90 feet in length and 60 feet wide.

The Foundation has earlier arranged such ceremonies at nine other places in the country where, too, the national flag has been mounted on 207 feet high poles. In Haryana, the flag mounted on 207 feet tall poles is already flying high at Kaithal, Ladwa, Hisar and Sonepat.

KURUKSHETRA: Finding that all 11 gold medallists at the 29th convocation of Kurukshetra University (KU) were girl students, President Pratibha Patil said the Haryana’s oldest university has set an example in academic excellence.

“It is probably for the first time that girls have led the gold medals tally,” Patil said in her address on Wednesday.

Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam and Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda were conferred with honorary Degree of Laws. The degrees were conferred by Haryana governor Jagannath Pahadia, who is also the chancellor of KU.

The President said the human resources are a key to nation building and educational institutes have a crucial role in preparing humane entrepreneurs.

Patil said the energy of youth should be tapped and their ideas should be used for the well being of society. “Universities, undoubtedly, are store houses of knowledge, but intellect can grow best in a disciplined manner. Discipline is an essential attribute of any successful organisation or an accomplished individual,” she said.

The First Lady said education should be a process that makes an individual complete in all respects. “Gandhi ji always wanted a nation with strong souls, brains and arms.”

Hooda got a special appreciation from Patil who called him an “active chief minister”.

She said hailing from a family of freedom fighters, Hooda was committed to the progress of Haryana.

Workers hoist the national flag (right) on a 207-ft pole after President Pratibha Patil, flanked by (from left) Haryana Governor Jagannath Pahadia, CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda and MP Naveen Jindal, presses the button to start the process, at Brahmasarovar...

KESHAV SINGH/HT President Pratibha Patil presenting a degree to a student at the 29th convocation of Kurukshetra University on Wednesday. Haryana governor Jagannath Pahadia is on the right. (Below) Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda (left) and Mauritius...