His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi,Supreme Council Member & Ruler of Sharjah,
Shri Pinarayi Vijayan, Hon’ble Chief Minister,
Prof. C. Raveendranath, Hon’ble Minister for Education and Pro-Chancellor,
Dr. K. Mohammed Basheer, Vice-Chancellor,
Dr. P. Mohan, Pro-Vice-Chancellor,
Dr. Abdul Majeed, Registrar,
Members of the Senate and Syndicate,
Deans of Faculties, Other Academicians,
Guests from Sharjah, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It gives me great pride and joy to address you all at this Special convocation, which has been called to confer the honorary degree of Doctor of Letters, honoris causa, on His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, the ruler of Sharjah.
I understand that Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi is the 19th scholar to be honored by the University of Calicut in its fifty years of existence. Let me at the outset, congratulate him on receiving this honour.
The conferment of the honorary degree on a scholar extraordinary like Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi goes a step beyond the recognition of academic excellence to further strengthen the international exposure that Kerala has always enjoyed. Therefore, let mecompliment the academic community of this University on its insight and initiative to honour the contributions of a ruler whose statesmanship has always been ennobled by the golden touch of academic brilliance. This occasion also affirms Kerala's cooperation with the people and institutions of Sharjah and the United Arab Emirates. This is undoubtedly, a golden moment in the Golden Jubilee year of this University.
Quite often, Special Convocations are held to grant the seal of academic recognition to the contributions of scholars who may not be academicians. However, Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, who has received the honorary doctorate today, is an academician and polymath with two Doctorate Degrees and academic expertise traversing areas as varied as agriculture, history and political geography. As Minister for Education in the Government of United Arab Emirates, he could utilize his expertise in policy making. The Honorary Doctorates he has received so far have come from nations like Canada, France, South Korea, Japan, United Kingdom and Egypt. Today, the University of Calicut has added India to that list.
Our former President Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan has observed that the world is meant to be a friendly partnership.I am certain that education and universities play a significant role in creating such a friendly partnership across societies. I hope that this convocation would also help to foster better understanding and cooperation between India and the United Arab Emirates, especially in the context of our recipient's great love for India and Indology. That this scholarly ruler of Sharjah can speak our mother tongue, Malayalam, shows the extent of his love for this land and its people.
It is well known that the cooperation with the Gulf region had helped Kerala to emerge as amarvel in the eyes of the analysts of development all over the world. The economic and social impact of the Gulf phenomenon on Kerala is clearly visible at the family, community, State and national levels. At the same time, the industrial and educational climate in the UAE has also benefited from the presence and involvement of people from India, especially Kerala. It would be a great achievement if this cooperation could be successfully expanded in the higher education sector too, through more academic linkage between institutions in India and United Arab Emirates.
It is through education that every society transmits its intellectual heritage and technical skills with a view to refining its future generations culturally and socially. Today's education must be in tune with the spirit of the knowledge society which has neither barriers nor borders. I am happy that the University of Calicut, which has been serving the educational needs of the Malabar region, has rightly initiated a step in this direction. It also merits mention that this university, which has won the NAAC accreditation with an A Grade and the highest points in the State has introduced Feedback system and web based learning for students. While updating its facilities with modern technology, it has also shown sincere concern in ensuring facilities for the differently abled.
I once again congratulate His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi on receiving this Honorary Degree from the University of Calicut. Let me assure him that this honour is also a mark of the love and respect the people of Kerala nurture in their minds for the land and people of Sharjah in particular and United Arab Emirates in general. I wish you many more laurels in future.
Thank you
Jai Hind
