India emerging as robust economy despite challenges: Chancellor CUK

Ganderbal, July 11: Central University of Kashmir (CUK), Chancellor, Lt. Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd) Tuesday said that India should be considered as the nation in the world which is only looking towards peace, stability and development.
“There are no permanent friends and permanent enemies, only permanent interests on which the decisions of the nation revolve,”, Lt. Gen Syed Ata Hasnain, said, while delivering a special lecture on “Post Pandemic New World Order.” Dean Academic Affairs, Prof. Shahid Rasool, Registrar, Prof. M Afzal Zargar, I/c Controller of Examinations, Prof. Fayaz Ahmad Nika, Dean School of Education (SoE), Prof. Syed Zahoor Ahmad Geelani, Finance Officer, Dr. Mehraj ud Din Shah, Director DIQA, Prof. Wali Muhammad Shah, Major General, Mr. Vinod Naik (Retd), Colonel (retd) Nadeem Arshad, Deans of Schools, Heads and Coordinators of the departments, scholars, students from the CUK and University of Kashmir (online), administrative staff and other functionaries of the varsity were present on the occasion.
Lt. General said, that India is progressing leaps and bounds in all the major sectors and is emerging as a leading economy in the world, post pandemic. “Despite the challenges and difficulties faced during the Covid outbreak, the country has progressed and bounced back on all fronts, and currently has a robust economy, when compared to other developed countries of the world,” he said. CUK Chancellor, said, the Covid hit the country socially and economically. “However, as most of the world went through recession, India bounced back and its GDP has reached $3.75 trillion in 2023.”
CUK Chancellor, said the appointment of Prof. A Ravinder Nath, as Vice-Chancellor, CUK, has been an amazingly positive development. The 100-days target, document set by him, shows his absolute commitment and resolve, to pursue the goal of making the varsity, a centre par excellence, on academics, research and infrastructure front. “He (Prof. A Ravinder Nath) is working by setting targets with deadlines.” He expressed happiness over the increasing number of students from other states receiving education in the university and said that it reflects their confidence and trust in the quality education provided by the varsity.
Lt. Gen Syed Ata Hasnain aspired that people of Kashmir should proliferate and develop better skills, have best of the infrastructure and other facilities to live a peaceful life. He said that as an army man, he advocates a policy to win the hearts and minds of people by helping in their economic growth, development and sustainability and providing education to the children and imparting skills to the youth, for the overall development of the society and the country, adding that the interface and interaction of students promotes the peace, harmony and tranquillity. He said the university should engage world class consultants and technology driven construction techniques to establish the permanent structures.
Lt. Gen Syed Ata Hasnain said that as Member National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), he visited the routes leading to Amarnath cave to review the Disaster preparedness for the ongoing Shri Amarnathji Yatra, adding the Yatra gives a tremendous contribution towards Kashmir on economic and social front.
He also talked about the contemporary world order and the Ukraine-Russia war and said that India has become a balancing power and its prowess has been acknowledged by all the countries, including the United States and China. Earlier, the CUK Chancellor also laid the foundation of Mini-Amphitheatre
Speaking on the occasion, Dean Academic Affairs, Prof. Shahid Rasool, said, the concept of globe village has become a reality due to the communication and technological revolution and intervention. “While villages are known for care and concern for each other, the global village cares less about harmony, brotherhood and concern for each other. In the global village self-interests are paramount and precede other concerns”, Prof. Shahid Rasool said. He further said that in the new world order, the context about the survival of the fittest theory has also changed. “In earlier days, the survival of the fittest meant that if you were muscular, powerful, with huge ammunition and an army, you would thrive and survive. But in contemporary times, it is the information, knowledge, and wisdom, which are the real weapons and we have to use these to develop strategic relationships, for our survival and growth,” he said. Prof. Shahid said that irrespective of ideologies, nations have started coming together for their economic growth and development and making their presence in the new world order.
Earlier in his welcome address, Registrar, Prof. M Afzal Zargar, said, the university is progressing on the academics and research front and the university, from the last two years, is admitting the students through the Central Universities Entrance Test (CUET) conducted by the National Testing Agency, across the country. “The number of students and scholars from other parts of the country receiving education in CUK has increased manifold and 150 such students are currently pursuing various programmes in the varsity,” he said. Prof. Zargar said, the progression of the students is going well and several of them have qualified the national and regional Civil Services examinations. He said the university is marching ahead on the research front and at present 220 scholars are pursuing research in different departments, with the majority of them receiving non-net fellowships and some getting the funds from other agencies. Prof. Zargar said the university is one among the first few universities which adopted the NEP-2020 and constituted a panel to implement it in the letter and spirit. Dean SoE, Prof. Syed Zahoor Ahmad Geelani, conducted the programme proceedings and also introduced the guest speaker to the audience.