Need to Break Shackles of Academic Slavery: Prof Dinesh Singh

The inaugural lecture by Padma Shri Prof Dinesh Singh, former Vice-Chancellor, University of Delhi, Hon'ble Chancellor K.R Mangalam University and Vice-Chairman, Jammu and Kashmir Higher Education Council on ‘Innovation in the Context of University Education”, Thursday has marked the beginning of Amrit Kaal Trans-disciplinary lecture series organized by University of Jammu.

In a comprehensive inaugural lecture, Padma Shri Prof Dinesh Singh emphasized upon the need to break the shackles of academic slavery in order to make this nation rise.

“I insist all the students not to run after marks, which are actually an outcome of non-creative, memorization paste and note learning procedure of exams,” said Padma Shri Prof Dinesh Singh, adding that students should not get into this process, instead focus on creativity and innovative approaches.

He said that people in India often give examples of the Harvard and Cambridge models of education, but it is surprising that these institutions do not have a concept of the topper. “I want you all to think about this, so that shackles of academic slavery could be broken and the nation can rise,” Prof Singh said and added that everyone here must concentrate on the content and not the form. The content should be innovative and creative instead of boring and irrelevant.

He said that innovation is newness. “If you already know the outcome, then it cannot be innovation. Innovation must have an element of surprise, boldness and experimentation,” he said and added that innovation calls for exploring and creativity.

Explaining innovation with local instances, Prof Dinesh said that this University campus has a close relation with the Tawi River, as it touches the boundaries of the University.

“I don’t know whether any student, scholar or teacher has ever done any analysis of the river, despite being so close to it. You all have witnessed the rise and receding of water in this river, but you never analyzed it,” he said and added that this river provided an opportunity to analyze what kind of organisms live in this river and during which season and what are the various mineral contents found in this river.

He said innovation provides an opportunity to know the history, origin, geography, data, mathematics and chemistry linked with this river. He emphasized upon the students to explore various aspects associated with this river to make the entire world aware about it.

Prof Dinesh Singh said that there is a basic problem with the system, wherein everyone is looking for an answer and direct outcome of the problem, instead of the process.  “One should try to reach the conclusion by learning various stages of the process, which shall help in strengthening creativity and innovation,” Prof Dinesh Singh said and added that to become successful in life, every student must make it a maxim that knowledge should be linked with action.

Invoking great Indian minds, Prof Dinesh Singh said that Chanakya used statistical data and his wisdom for research is still in relevance for modern big data applications, as it enables to analyze statistical data in an empirical manner.

Quoting  Rabindranath Tagore, Prof Singh also emphasized that education should not be confined to the four walls of the classroom.

He said, “Even though Ramanujan has not completed formal education, he has got the ability to think quickly to get the answers for math puzzles. He has failed many times in his exams, yet his will power and confidence has built him a great mathematician.”

Padam Shri Prof Dinesh Singh further said that he along with Hon’ble Vice Chancellor of Jammu University, Prof Umesh Singh shall soon start a flagship program Gyanodhay Express, under which the students and teachers shall be provided a learning opportunity and a platform to interact with the rest of the country during a train journey.

“This train shall pass through Agra, Delhi, Mumbai, Sabarmati Ashram and other places, wherein students and teachers shall get the chance to explore culture and tradition of that particular place,” Prof Dinesh Singh said and added that this is his conviction that the University of Jammu has the potential to become a torch bearer in bringing innovation and entrepreneurship ideas to the rest of the country.

Earlier, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, Prof Umesh Rai in his welcome address said that the previous lecture of Prof Dinesh Singh on the foundation day of the University has enthralled the audience and discussions in this regard are still common among students and faculty members.

“The range of issues that Prof Dinesh Singh generated makes it evident that he is the right person to inaugurate Trans-disciplinary lecture series,” Prof Umesh Rai said and added that he is glad that Prof Dinesh Singh acceded to the request of the University to deliver inaugural Amrit Kaal Trans-disciplinary lecture on ‘Innovation in the Context of University Education’.

He said that it is time to move beyond the blackboard method of teaching and need is to learn outside the classroom and focus on innovation and creativity.

Hon’ble Vice Chancellor also appreciated the efforts of Prof Shyam Narayan Lal-in charge Head Department of Journalism and Media Studies, Prof Prakash Antahal, Dean Students Welfare and Dr Imran Farooq-Nodal officer for Amrit Kaal for organizing such a successful event.

In the end, Prof Naresh Padha-Dean Academic Affairs extended a formal vote of thanks whereas Dr Garima Gupta-Assistant Dean Students Welfare conducted the proceedings of the event.

On the occasion, Prof Dinesh Singh was felicitated by Non-Teaching employees union led by the President-Dr Rakesh Chib and Sh Pankaj Gupta, General Secretary

Prominent among others Prof Bechan Lal-Hon’ble Vice Chancellor Cluster University of Jammu, Sh Mukesh Singh-ADGP Jammu, Prof Rajnikant-DRS, Prof Neelu Rohmetra-Director DDE, Prof Meena Sharma-Dean Planning, Prof Arvind Jasrotia-Registrar,  Dr Meenakshi Kilam-Rector Kathua Campus, Vivek Gupta-DIG Traffic, Prof Rajiv Rattan, Director, CDC, Dr Jatinder Khajuria-Registrar Cluster University Jammu, Prof Pankaj Srivastava-President JUTA and Office Bearers, Shri Sanjeev Mahajan-Controller of Examinations, Deans, faculty members, officers, Scholars, students of University and affiliated Colleges were also present on the occasion.