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Universities and educational institutions of any nation present a reflection of its achievements, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday while addressing the valedictory ceremony of Delhi University centenary celebrations.
“The goal of Delhi University should be to make India ‘Viksit Bharat’ (developed India)”, he further said, noting that the centenary celebrations are taking place at a time when India is celebrating Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav after completing 75 years of independence.
Modi, who was the chief guest on the occasion, took a ride on the Delhi Metro to reach the venue and interacted with students en route.
Addressing students at the University’s multipurpose hall, the PM said, “India’s rich education system is the carrier of India’s prosperity”. “Continuous attacks during the period of slavery destroyed these institutions, leading to obstruction of the intellectual flow of India and bringing growth to a standstill,” he added.
Talking about the latest edition of the QS World University Ranking released late Tuesday night, Modi said in the QS ranking in 2014, there were only 12 Indian universities on the list. Today, he said, this number has reached 45.
He said the youth of today want to be trailblazers and presented the example of over one lakh startups, 40% more patent filings as compared to 2014-15, and a rise in the Global Innovation Index as proof of this thinking.
The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone of three buildings — the Faculty of Technology, Computer Centre and Academic Block — which will be built in North Campus. He also released a commemorative centenary volume, a logo book of Delhi University and its colleges, and a book named ‘Aura-100 years of University of Delhi’.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits an exhibition during the valedictory ceremony of the centenary celebrations of Delhi University, in New Delhi, Friday, June 30, 2023. (PTI Photo)
DU Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh said that the Prime Minister called for recruitment in mission mode, as a result of which DU has recruited more than 2,200 teachers after decades.
Highlighting the university’s journey and achievements, Singh, in his address, said: “In 100 years, DU went to every house in Delhi, went to every district of the country, every tehsil… And in all the countries of the world, you will find students of University of Delhi somewhere.”
Also at the event were Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan, members of the administration, students and faculty members.
The Indian Express also spoke to several alumni and students who attended the event on what the varsity means to them.
Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi, who was a former student of Hindu College and studied Law at DU, said: “I have been associated with the university since 1984. While it has changed in terms of facilities, it still maintains its benchmark when it comes to quality. I was very happy to learn that 51% of students at DU are women… During my time, women students were very limited… It’s a changed society which we all look up to.”
Former DU Vice-Chancellor Dinesh Singh has spent about three decades of his life at DU and was a student at St Stephen’s college.
He said: “DU has been an important player in India’s history. Even before independence, it made significant contributions to the freedom movement… The three founding colleges — Ramjas, Hindu and St Stephen’s — all helped in their own ways. Before Independence, Chandra Shekhar Azad took shelter in the hostel of Hindu college, Gandhi used to live in the residence of St Stephen’s.”
Also at the event were five students from each college who were chosen based on merit.
Said Anjali, a third-year student from Aditi Mahavidyala, who hails from Faridabad, “My family was surprised that I was chosen for this and everyone was very happy. I found out 10 days ago and I was very excited to be a part of this event. No specific instructions were given but there was a lot of checking to enter the venue. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
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