BARIELLY: HH Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji was the Chief Guest of a beautiful Convocation Ceremony at the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Rohilkhand University, Bareilly presided by the Chancellor and Uttar Pradesh Governor Smt Anandiben Patelji and the Vice Chancellor of the University Prof Anil Shuklaji.
#TeachersDay special story of Honble Governor UP @anandibenpatel & @PujyaSwamiji inspiring #ClimateAction, connection to our roots & service of the nation during a Convocation Ceremony at Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Rohilkhand University, #Bareilly. Read more: https://t.co/WYU9btU881 pic.twitter.com/E1STl2mvMo
— Parmarth Niketan (@ParmarthNiketan) September 5, 2019
#TeachersDay special story of Honble Governor UP @anandibenpatel & @PujyaSwamiji inspiring #ClimateAction, connection to our roots & service of the nation during a Convocation Ceremony at Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Rohilkhand University, #Bareilly. Read more: https://t.co/WYU9btU881 pic.twitter.com/E1STl2mvMo
— Parmarth Niketan (@ParmarthNiketan) September 5, 2019
The program began by offering respects to the statue of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule at the heart of the University campus. Mahatma Jyotiba Phule was an Indian social activist, thinker, anti-caste social reformer and writer from Maharashtra. His work extended to many fields including eradication of untouchability and the caste system, and women’s emancipation. He and his wife Savitribai Phule were amongst the first Indians to open the first school for girls in Pune, Maharashtra and early advocates for educating and empowering women.
Thereafter the dignitaries planted Rudraksha saplings in the Gurukul Vatika and inaugurated the newly constructed girls Hostel- Manorama Mahila Chaatravas. They were also toured around the upgraded campus Museum and Digital Library.
The Convocation Ceremony began with traditional Saraswati Vandana, offering light, flowers and prayers to the Goddess of Knowledge. It included an audience of over 5,000 students, teachers and parents of the University with a select graduating class of 300 students.
During His address Pujya Swamiji shared, “We are fortunate to be born in India and have so many examples within our nation where the men and women holding the top positions of power and influence were those who started from very humble beginnings. Whether you look at Hon’ble President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovindji, Hon’ble Vice President of India Shri Venkaiah Naiduji, or Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modiji they all have worked very hard to be of great service to the nation. They have also honoured their motherland, mother tongue and their own biological mothers, staying deeply connected to their roots and their values.”
He added, “As you graduate today, be inspired by these examples and serve your nation and the world. As you say Farewell to University life and go out in the world lets us also say farewell to single use plastic and pollution. Let us pledge to be guided by the example of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule to advocate for cleanliness, truth and serve to empower and educate everyone regardless of their caste, colour, creed, gender, race, religion or region. Just as the Sun and Mother Ganga gives and gives and gives so to we must learn to serve, serve and serve with no hesitation, no expectation, no discrimination and no vacation.”
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Smt. Anandiben Patel shared, “Governor harked at the university’s existing village adoption project when she shared, “Rohilikhand Univeristy has adopted 5 villages, but this is of not much help. More then 500 colleges are affiliated to the university if each college adopts one village, 500 villages can be adopted.”
She added, “Education does not only mean getting a job. Rather, it is to remove the evils spread in the society and educate the people. Until the daughters of our country are educated, the future of this country cannot be bright.”
As the Chancellor of over 500 affiliated universities she encouraged all of their colleges to follow this lead and to each adopt at least one local village per college.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bareilly/governor-anandiben-patel-asks-affiliated-colleges-to-adopt-a-village-each-at-rohilkhand-university-convocation/articleshow/70951848.cms
Chancellor and Governor Smt. Anandiben Patel, Pujya Swamiji and the Vice Chancellor and other distinguished guests blessed the bright future of the students by giving PhD degree and gold medal. As in the past, girls outshone the boys – out of the 85 toppers 56 were girls.
Addressing the students, the Vice Chancellor also gave an inspiring address, “Education is the one that leads a person towards the society. Education is that which increases not only the heights of the brain, but also the depths of the heart.”
On this occasion, His Excellency Smt Anandiben Patel and Pujya Swamiji led the students and the audience to pledge to minimize the wastage of water, single use plastic and reduce their carbon and water footprint. Pujya Swamiji also shared about the #HariyaliYatra and encouraged everyone to plant at least one tree during this monsoon season.