INAUGURAL SPEECH BY SARDAR UJJAL SINGH, GOVERNOR, PUNJAB
Inaugurating the Session, Sardar Ujjal Singh, Governor of Punjab, delivered the following address :
I deem it a privilege to have been asked to inaugurate the 32nd Session of the Central Advisory Board of Education with which I was associated as a member for nearly four years. Incidentally it happens to be the first time that the Board is meeting in this State. I accord a hearty welcome to the Chairman and the members of the Board, and hope that its deliberations will provide guidance and leadership to the country at this critical time.
2. The Board, as you know, was set up in 1921. The idea had originated in the recommendations of the Calcutta University Com- mission in 1919 and the original plan was to have a Board for for- mulating policies and providing leadership in all educational matters. The Act of 1919 had, however, changed the position as education had become a transferred subject, and, the Board was established in 1921 to provide guidance and advice on those educational matters referred to it by the Central or the State Governments. It is a pity that this Board had to be abolished in 1923 on account of financial diffculties even though it had done useful work Its need, however, continued to be felt and, it was reconstituted in 1935.
3. It is being increasingly realised that education has a key role in a welfare State and for socioeconomic progress. The Govern- ment of India have been fully alive to this fact and, therefore, it has been their earnest endeavour to put education on a sound basis. The University Education Commission was set up under the distinguished Chairmanship of our Philosopher President Dr. Radhakrishnan, and it made recommendations of far reaching importance. Later, a Secondary Education Commission was set up under, the Chairmanship of Dr. Mudaliar and it also submitted a useful report. Last year the Government of India set up the National Education Commission to survey education at all levels and to make recommendations for the reorganisation of the entire pattern to suit the changed needs and aspirations of the country. This Commission is busy with its work and I think I am voicing the hopes and feelings of people all over the country in saying that it will be making very important and far- reaching recommendations.
4. The country, as you are well aware, is faced with a grave crisis. It is a matter of pride for me to say, that our people have not only resisted the Pakistani aggression successfully' but have also, created a new history. Our army has made a name by its brave exploits. Acts of individual heroism have become almost a legend. The performance of the people of Punjab, including that of the National Cadet Corps in defence effort, has been magnificent. Pakis- tan had been constantly carrying on air raids to bombard the civilian population but all this failed to disrupt the normal life of the people.
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5. It is true that we have always been adopting a line of peace, and for years we have been advocating the cuff of peaceful co- existence. Centuries ago, our Emperor Ashoka. had preached the Law of Piety and had sent missions to various parts of the world to preach his message of love and peace. Guru Nanak was another apostle of peace who taught us tolerance and love for all. More recently Mahatma Gandhi also gave us a message of love and nonviolence. Pandit Nehru championed the cause of the weak and down-trodden nations and stood like a rock for peaceful co-existence. But unfortunately our neighbours have been following a policy of hatred and ill will towards us and ultimately launched an aggression against our country. The manner in which the people of India of different ideologies, castes and creeds, united together to face the challenge to our honour and integrity has infused a new life and self reliance in the country. But we have to be alert and keep a constant vigil against the nefarious designs of our enemies.
6. In view of this impending danger, we have to think of some long range planning and preparation for meeting all types of new challenges. This can be possible if our education gets defence- oriented. We have to think of ways and means so that every citizen is fully prepared to make his or her contribution, not only in the cause of the country's economic advancement but also in her defence and security. This has to be the raison d' etre of all future planning and I am sure that the Central Advisory Board of Education would pro- vide guidance and leadership to the entire country in such a vital matter. We cannot continue to depend on foreign aid and have to be self-reliant and self-sufficient in our food and defence,requirements.
7. It is gratifying to note that education has made an all round progress in the country. If we look back at the position that obtained in 1947 and compare it to what it is today, we find that education has made phenomenal progress in all spheres. The number of Primary Schools in the country in 1946-47 was 1,35,000 and in 1963-64, it was 3,75,900. The number of High Schools then was 3.659, and now it is 23,072. Similarly the number of Colleges (Arts and Science and Teachers Training) in 1946-47 was 442, and in 1963-64 it was 1,480. In 1946-47 we had 16 Universities, and today we have 62 Universities. The progress in the number of scholars in different age-groups has been even more marked. The number of scholars in 1946-47 in the age- group 6-11 was 1,04,57,000 and now it has gone up to 4,46,32,900. The number of scholars in the age-group of 11-14 was 16,19,200, and now it is 91,98,000. The number of scholars in 14-47 age-group was 6,66,666, but now it has gone up to 40,06,400.
8. It is, however. significant to note that Technology has not got within the Universities the same accredited place which Humanities and Science have. Technological subjects are regarded essential for technicians only but are not considered academic enough for the award of degrees. This point was stressed by Dr. D. S. Kothari, at his Convocation address at Ahmedabad the other day. Emphasis on Technology and Science in our Universities is bound to help in removing the distinction between mental and manual work and open. more avenues for employment.
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The invaluable assistance which science can render in revolu- tionising our industries, agriculture and economy,as a whole, does not stand in need of reiteration. I am also aware of the endeavour made by our educationists during the eighteen years of independence to impart a scientific orientation to our educational system at the various stages, to set up institutions for higher scientific research, and to carry the fruits of scientific research to the common man. But when we look around and note the progress which we have made, we cannot escape the feeling that much more still needs to be done in this direction. There is still a need for correlating research in our national laboratories and the universities with the problems and requirements of the people and a need for establishing a healthy and growing rapport between our research workers and the people.
I would like to request this august body of eminent educationists, and scholars that in their thinking about the content and problems of education at various levels, they should constantly keep in view certain basic needs which confront our country is particular. and the world in general, in the modern times. I am referring to the need for national integration, and for harnessing science in the reconstruction of our developing economy, and for international understanding. As I mentioned earlier, in the past some weeks we have had the fortune of witnessing an inspiring and tremendous upsurge of national unity and solidarity in the face of aggression on our borders. Before this aggression has ended, the anxiety of all right thinking people in our country is how to continue and sustain this spirit of harmony in feeling and action, in times, of peace. Who else except the educationists, have the power to perform this task? The promotion of international understanding, of harmony between man and man irrespective of nationality, attempts to solve the same problem in a wider field. I am certain that the great challenge which these crying needs of our modern world pose, will not go unheeded in the deliberations of this august body.
9. Although India is wedded to the principle of secularism, the essentials of religious teaching with a spiritual bias should be introduced in our system of education at all levels. It is for the distinguished members of the Board present here to devise ways and means how best it can be done.
10. Until now we have been feeling that illiteracy, ignorance, economic backwardness and poverty were our main problems, but now we realise that we have to be alert and fully prepared for preserving our sovereignty and integrity. I am confident that the educationists and thinkers will so mould education as to enable us to prepare ourselves for the effective handling of all our problems and successfully meeting new challenges.
11. I offer my best wishes to the Board for a fruitful round of discussions, and hope that the Board will give a positive lead to the country at this critical hour.
JAI HIND.