J.N.Misra, Chancellor, Nehru Gram Bhartiya University, India
India over the centuries has seduced many invaders by her sheer natural beauty, bountiful of its natural resources and a heterogeneous culture rich in tradition music literature arts and much more so many invaders came via the route mountains (Silk Route), seas (Spice route) conquered her but eventually became hers adapting into her ways. A melting pot, a pot pouri or an assortment of various identities.
However amidst all this intense ventures and plundering India had to pay a huge price, owing to colonization which led her to an inevitable struggle a forceful fight against a tyrannical regime which lasted for more than hundred years ultimately resorting to her eventual fate leading her to in getting independence in 1947,as in Jawaharlal Lal Nehru s words the architect of modern India at the stroke of midnight hour tryst with destiny…
One of the most striking feature of those decades that the whole world was going through an era of political turbulence there were strong agitation happening all over against colonization coupled with one of the greatest world war of the twentieth century…. amidst all this mayhem its political leaders were not only those who lead and participated in these movement but also wrote about it and this was one of the salient feature of the Modern India. Its political stalwarts not only executed the great revolutions but also wrote about it The political activism was backed up by a philanthropist approach. The making of a nation state witnessed campaigners not only witnessed leaders who participate to free their nations but also wrote about it was during the times of crisis…that great works of literature were produced be Winston Churchill which won him Nobel Prize for Literature or Charles De Gaulle, Mao Nehru Gandhi they all have produced great works of literature influenced and driven by patriotism.
Therefore the significance of education and higher learning was always enforced. Our very own leader Jawarhal lal Nehru who was born in Allahabad in 1889 ,studied at Allahabd Universiity and then went to Harrow followed by Cambridge University and there on wards he started developing a candid affinity towards science…as mentioned in Ram Chandra Guha s ‘book ‘Modern India ,in 1957 a Canadian scholar and diplomat wrote of Nehru that there is no one since Napoleon who has played both so large a role in the history of his country and also has held the sort of place which Nehru holds in the heart and mind of his countrymen.
For the people of India he is George Washinton, Abraham Linclon, Roosevelt, Eisenhower all rolled into one.
It is with this legacy that our leaders have left for us always emphasing on an immediate and an urgent need to educate our children. Holds true after the birth of a nation state, in order to realize its full potential in terms of innovative thought. Its is very important that the full development should have wide reach appeal its horizons should be stretched into the far fetched areas in the most remotest corner of a country…as literacy is a tool which always cements the foundation work of any nation. And for this purpose widespread awareness and easily accessibility is very crucial. Unlike the urban center’s, which are usually buzzing with academic prowess and are already a cultural hub ,it is these rural villages which still lack many socio economic factors which are very important to nurture the factors which help in conceptualizing in awareness of education.
And there are many manifold challenges, which unfortunately cannot be summed up and expressed due to time constraints, but for the reference over here they can be broadly put into three categories over here. They are:
A. Too many diverse societies and sub societies
India is a land of many diversities, cultures and sub cultures. There is a wide array of different themes representing class, cultures, caste, gender, tribes and languages. This sort of kaleidoscope with so many different color’s sometimes brings about clashes and conflicts which is difficult to fathom at times and sometimes it acts as a cultural hindrance for an individual to step out freely and use the opportunity given to him to its fullest
B. Gender Inequality
One of the most jaded and sad norms still persist in rural India is the repression of the women. Some outdated laws of inheritance and an outdated patriarchal ruling norms which still predominately controls many rural areas of India prevent many of women to come out of their domestic domain and reach out to schools or colleges…their independences is seen as a threat to the family system.
C. Extensive modernization leading to identity crisis
On a very similar lines of brain drain phenomena there has been a mass exodus in the name of modernization as many youths flocking to urban dwellings lured by a cosmopolitan lifestyle in the name of modernization…. decentralization, identity crisis a sort of diaspora it’s a profound dominos effect which also affect people at the rural level as well.so people going for further studies at the urban centers don’t want to come back to their rural counterparts in lieu of other temptations therefore its again very important that the higher education abilities should always be coupled with appropriate placements or some sort of vocational training resulting in a well secured job.
India has been a dynamic country its wealth and splendor attracted so many kingdoms worldwide and ever since the evolution of civilizations there ahs been traces that before we coined the term globalization it already existed quite a while back. There are evidences found in the ruins of Ancient Harappan civilization and Mesopotamian civilization which suggest there was a trade relationship .by means of mountains, Silk route or sea ,Spice route there was always an exchange of culture and trade until the imperialization took over shutting all the roots and isolating India from the map of the world.
But now that the wall is broken and we are back together as a community thanks to the advancement in communication technologies, improvement in modes of travelling world over compressing the far fetched continents in a more closer and intimate spaces its important that we all encourage and support each other s aims and objectives.
By means of this seminar which is an excellent platform bringing together so many dignitaries under one roof with a similar goal we should support and collaborate with each other and manifest it many other ways possible.
Nehru Gram Bharti University started as a degree college in 1996 which later on earned the status of University in 2008.
In view of the concerted efforts made by the deemed University, the University may further be encouraged for imparting higher education to the rural masses of the region. The University has made following achievements. It's arranging scientific collaboration with national and International Univeristies/Institute of repute as mentioned below:
- Scientific Collaboration with Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, India
- Scientific Collaboration with Italian National Agency for New Technologies (ENEA) ROME, Italy
- Scientific Collaboration between Nagoya University Japan
- Collaboration with Medical University,Astahna Kazaksatn
- Collaboration with Regional Centre Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR)
- The University had the honor of being invited by the UNESCO to its regional conference held on 25th and 26th February 2009.
- There is a Global Interaction center in the University to interact with other Universities in India and abroad so as to enable us to rise to global standards.
- It has a Placement Cell where at present approx. 1000 students are being placed each year. Our job oriented rare courses are rural based and very popular for the reason that they ensure placement without delay.
- Besides offering regular courses it also has created a niche in its subject area by offering some ‘Innovative Courses’ like Bioinformatics and ‘Master of Archaeology and Buddhism,Master of Arts in Rural Devleopment,B.Ed and M.Ed Special(Hearing Impairment),MSW(Master of Social Work)
- The Research Program of the University has focused on topics of social importance to address the issues based on innovative methods and approaches in emerging areas of education, health and environment.
Starting as a deemed college in 1996 it achieved the status of university in 2008 primarily catering to the socially deprived, economically poor, backward and physically disabled sections of the remote rural areas. Within in short span of time it gained momentum because of its easy accessibility and affordability and all inclusive approach.