Address by Governor at the 13th Annual Convocation of the Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences, Pravaranagar
Address by Shri CH. Vidyasagar Rao, Governor of Maharashtra at the 13th Annual Convocation of the Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences, Pravaranagar, District Ahmednagar at 1000 hrs on Monday, 25th March 2019
Shri M Venkaiah Naidu, Hon’ble Vice President of India, Padma Vibhushan Dr Vijay Kelkar, Hon’ble Chancellor of the Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences, Dr Rajendra Vikhe Patil, Pro Chancellor and CEO, Dr Y M Jayraj, Vice Chancellor, Members of Management Council, Members of Academic Council, Deans, Principals, Members of Faculty, Staff, graduating students, ladies and gentlemen,
I am very happy to visit the Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences on the occasion of the 13th Annual Convocation of the Institute in the august presence of the Hon’ble Vice President of India.
The Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences was born out of the vision of Sahakar Maharshi Padmashri Dr Vitthalrao Vikhe Patil who founded the Pravara Medical Trust way back in the year 1972. His dream was translated into reality by his most illustrious son, late Padmabhushan Dr Balasaheb Vikhe Patil with the establishment of the Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences.
I had the proud privilege of knowing late Dr Balasaheb Vikhe Patil Ji when we were members of Parliament and Ministers in the cabinet of Prime Minister late Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Balasaheb Vikhe Patil Ji was the most humble, unassuming and accessible person gifted with vision for the development of rural India.
During the last 16 years, the Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences has emerged as one of the finest institutions offering quality education in Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, Physiotherapy, Biotechnology and other programmes.
In keeping with the vision of the founding fathers, the tertiary care hospital of the Institute is offering the best medical facilities to thousands of the poor and needy people of this region at affordable costs.
It is indeed a matter of great pride that the institution is led by renowned thinker and economist Dr Vijay Kelkar ji and Pro Chancellor Dr Rajendra Vikhe Patil.
Dear Graduating students,
The Convocation is a day of fulfillment of the dream for the students. I share the joy of all those who are receiving their degrees, diplomas and certificates of merit today.
I also convey my felicitations to the parents and teachers who have played an important role in your journey so far.
It is a matter of great pride that Indian doctors settled all over the world, have renowned themselves in patient care, teaching and research. We need to introspect why despite producing the best doctors and surgeons for the world, we are lagging behind in research. Our researchers have not won a single Nobel Prize in Science or Medicine. Indian scientists who have secured Nobel Prize in Science in the past, were attached to foreign universities.
I will call upon the Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences to strive to become an institution of global excellence by laying utmost thrust on quality research and innovation. I will also call upon the graduates to serve the people with passion, compassion and commitment.
Ladies and gentlemen,
In my capacity as Chancellor of 20 state universities including a University of Health Sciences, I often preside over Annual Convocation of Universities. I have noticed that in almost 8 out of 10 cases, the top awards and Gold Medals are bagged by girl students. In the case of University of Mumbai, 46 Gold Medals out of 52 were won by girl students at its recent Convocation.
It is really gratifying to note that there are more women in Medicine and Nursing. However, in many other professions, women are distinctly missing in leadership positions.
A survey conducted by an American think tank covering 22000 publicly-traded companies in over 91 countries, showed that companies employing 30 percent and more female executives earn more profits. So it makes a sound economic sense to employ more women as Professors, as Board Members and in all other professions.
The 21st Century will be driven by women. We will have to enable and encourage more women to take up teaching positions and leadership positions in enterprise, industry, medicine and various other professions to transform our society and our nation.
In the distant past, India has done path breaking work in field of medical science. The Sushruta Samhita is considered to be the most comprehensive Sanskrit treatise on medicine and surgery. Charaka authored the Charaka Samhita on the ancient science of Ayurveda. Time has come to build a bridge to connect our glorious past with the modern present. We should remember that we are inheritors of the wisdom of the world.
With these words, I congratulate all the graduating students of the Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences and I wish you glorious future in the service of the nation.
Thank you
Jai Hind ! Jai Maharashtra !!