Address Governor at the inauguration of the New Administrative Building and Digitized Central Library Building of the Abhinava Bharat Shikshan Sanstha

Address by Shri CH. Vidyasagar Rao, Governor of Maharashtra at the inauguration of the New Administrative Building and Digitized Central Library Building of the Abhinava Bharat Shikshan Sanstha at Nanded on Monday, 3 June 2019

Shri Balasaheb Pande, President, Abhinav Bharat Shikshan Sanstha’s Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose College of Art, Commerce and Science, Dr K M Joshi, Secretary, office bearers, Principal of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose College, teachers, staff, invitees, officers, ladies and gentlemen,

आज येथे येऊन खूप आनंद वाटला.

नांदेड शहराशी माझे जुने नाते आहे. येथील प्रत्येक रस्ता माझ्या परिचयाचा आहे.

अभिनव भारत शिक्षण संस्था जवळ जवळ पाच दशकांपासून शिक्षण क्षेत्रात चांगले काम करीत आहे. पुढील वर्षी संस्था सुवर्ण महोत्सवी वर्षात पदार्पण करीत आहे.

मी संस्थेचे अध्यक्ष बाळासाहेब पांडे, सचिव श्री जोशी तसेच सर्वांचे अभिनंदन करतो आणि शुभेच्छा देतो.

In my capacity as Chancellor of Universities, I feel happy that we have made excellent progress in increasing the percentage of enrollment in higher education. More students are in colleges and universities than ever in the past.

However, I am concerned about the declining standards of higher education. There are certainly a few colleges that value excellence and quality. However, many colleges are ignoring quality of education, may be out of commercial pressure. I personally feel that Colleges ignoring quality of education are doing great disservice to students. Such Colleges will not survive in the long run. We have to attract, invite and retain the best faculty to provide top class learning experience to students. Some of our private universities are already investing heavily in engaging foreign faculty. What we need is quality consciousness. I will appeal to all universities and colleges to strive more, to attain and maintain quality and excellence at all costs.

In my capacity as Chancellor of 20 state universities, 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.

However, women are distinctly missing in leadership positions in many areas. We have to encourage and enable women to assume leadership position in all areas including in teaching, research and administration in colleges and universities.

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.

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.

The field of higher education is witnessing path-breaking changes. Students have the option to study any subject and combination of subjects. Colleges and Universities should also provide social-connect to the students during their college years. Colleges and Universities must involve students in tree plantation, water conservation, Swachch Bharat and such other socially meaningful initiatives. Our goal should be to produce future citizens who are sensitive to the problems of society and the nation.

I congratulate the Abhinav Bharat Shikshan Sanstha and its Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose College and wish you all Godspeed in your future endeavours.

Thank you

Jai Hind ! Jai Maharashtra !!