INAUGURAL ADDRESS AT THE LIFE SCIENCES BLOCK AT UNIVERSITY OF CALICUT AT 1100 HRS ON 19-10-2019.

प्रियप्पेट्ट् वैस-चानसलर डां. के. मॊहम्मद बषीर,

[Priyappetta Vice-Chancellor Dr. K Mohammed Basheer],

प्रॊ. पी. मोहन, प्रॊ-वैस-चानसलर,

Prof. P. Mohan, Pro-Vice-Chancellor,

प्रॊ. एं.एं. नारायणन, सिन्डिकेट् अंगम्,

Prof. M.M. Narayanan, Member, Syndicate,

श्री. के.के. हनीफा, सिन्डिकेट् अंगम्,

Shri K.K. Haneefa, Member, Syndicate,

डां. जॊषि सि.एल., रजिस्ट्रार,

Dr. Joshy C.L., Registrar,

श्री. अनिलकुमार वि.आर., यूऩिवेरसिटी इंनचिनीयर,

Shri Anilkumar V.R., University Engineer,

प्रियप्पेट्ट् अध्यापकरे, विद्यार्धिकले, सहोदरीसहोदरनमारे, [Priyappetta Adhyapakare, Vidhyarthikale, Sahodaree Sahodaranmare],

ल्लारकुम्एन्टेनमस्कारम।[Ellavarkkum Ente Namaskaram].

It gives me great joy to inaugurate the Life Sciences Blockand Animal House of the University of Calicut, which continues its significant role in the educational profile and uplift of the Malabar region.

I would begin my address by congratulating the University on its success in adding to its infrastructure, this new Block and the Animal House, by utilizing the State Plan Grant Fund. 

This is my second visit to this Temple of Learning, after
I assumed office as Governor. On my very first visit, I was impressed by the stature of this institution as one of the largest in South India, catering to nearly quarter of a million students registered under it. My interaction with the Faculty had given me some insights into the positive academic atmosphere in this university. I am sure that this academic amity has contributed greatly to this institution’s growth as the largest in Kerala in terms of the area of jurisdiction and student intake.  

A renowned institution like the University of Calicut, which has crossed the Golden Jubilee milestone, has the duty to serve the people of its jurisdiction as well as to be a model and mentor not just to the students but also to other institutions in the vicinity. A university, committed to a broad vision, can change the educational and intellectual landscape of an entire region.   And, University of Calicut, which was formed in 1968 by developing the northern research station of the University of Kerala, had been contributing significantly to the progressive transformation of Northern Kerala into an intellectually advanced society.

Adequate infrastructure is essential to realize the University's dreams of fostering quality human resource and promoting productive research. In fact, the changes that have swept across the higher education scenario in the recent years   call for ensuring up to date infrastructure in our universities and colleges.  Our concept of infrastructure has also broadened from mere buildings to cover connectivity, network, knowledge resources, Information and Communication Technology enabled classrooms, research oriented laboratories etc.  However, we must evaluate two things : first,  whether our universities  fully utilize  their physical infrastructure and secondly, whether they conform to the policy of Inclusion.

I am glad that this new building would improve the functioning of the Department of Life Sciences, which has been   publishing a quarterly bulletin called Life Sciences, and taking efforts to increase the students' employment potential by re-designating courses as Human Physiology, Biochemistry and Microbiology.  Besides, the Polygraph at the department was the fifth in the country.  

It is commendable that the Animal House of the department had facilitated notable works on animal bahaviour and electro-physiology since its inception in 1978.  The new Animal House has been built as per the guidelines of the Committee for the Purpose of Control And Supervision of Experiments on Animals [CPCSEA] under the Ministry of Forests and Environment.

The quality of the infrastructure coupled with a systematic governance of the universities would help in creating the ideal environment for innovation. And, innovation comes only through learned exchange and practice of ideas. I was glad to note that the Department of Life Sciences, which had hosted significant  conferences, has been studying many Ayurvedic preparations  in its lab under Biochemistry, along with cancer related works. I see this as a notable feature, worthy of bringing innovative results.

All our universities have access to hundreds of varieties of medicinal herbs in Kerala and along the Western ghats. Kerala also has been a promoter of the traditional and indigenous medical practices. A more active involvement of the life sciences departments of our universities in research related to Ayurveda would certainly give a boost to our traditional systems of Medicine. Let innovation begin with our biodiversity and bio-resources.

Though employment is one goal of education, our students must be convinced that education and intellectual enrichment are not merely avenues to employment. The universities should establish themselves as totally above ordinary institutions, which impart instructions that would help students to handle the requirements of survival or daily life. The emphasis in a university must be on how to think and to go beyond the obvious levels of learning so that students acquire the capacity to evaluate and question the facts before them.

Research in a university should aim at the creation of new knowledge that may be useful to society and even the economy. The universities have a greater role in today's economy, which is a Knowledge economy. Beyond this role, there is a responsibility to regularly apprise society about the fruits of your research. Therefore, every researcher in this University should be convinced about this social obligation. Let me also remind about the need for varsities to become centres of justice. The grievances of students should be settled at the varsity level itself, in accordance with rules and regulations. As far as possible, let us not give room for students to run to courts and higher authorities for getting justice. Our aim should be to ensure Zero grievance universities in Kerala.

कालिक्कट सर्वकलाशालयिले अकादमिक समूहत्तॊड् नालु कार्यङ्ङल पऱयट्टे ।

[1]ऒन्न् – पुतिया आशयङ्ङलुडेयुम् गवेषणत्तिन्डेयुम् केन्द्रमावणम् ई सर्वकलाशाला।

[2]रण्ड् – गवेषणत्तिन्डे फलम् समूहत्ते कृत्यमायि अऱियिक्कणम् ।

[3]मून्न् – पठन गवेषण सॊकर्यङ्ङळ् परमावधि उपयॊगिक्कुका ।

[4]नाल् – गवेषणत्तिल् धार्मिकता पालिक्कुका ।

एल्लावरकुम् एन्टे आशंसकल् ।

लोका: समस्ता: सुखिनो भवन्तु ।

[Lokah: Samasta: Sukhino Bhavantu]

Valare Nanni

Jai Hind

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