No other university in India as national as BHU: Professor CNR Rao

Varanasi: Eminent scientist and recipient of Bharat Ratna Prof CNR Rao on Monday said there is no other University in the country which is as national as the Banaras Hindu University and that it should be provided more resources and financial help to encourage "better research" works.

Addressing Banaras Hindu University (BHU)'s 99th convocation, he asked students to aspire for achieving the highest possibilities in their dreams.

Rao, alumni of BHU, said "no other university is as national as Banaras Hindu University" and urged the Central government to provide more resources and financial help to encourage "better research" works.

Advising students to follow the path of forthrightness, peace, and compassion, he said, "this university was built on the ideology of Mahatma Gandhi, (Madan Mohan) Malaviya Ji and Rabindranath Tagore among other freedom fighters".

"It is a complete university in itself because it includes the courses from poetry to engineering. We should make sure that this completion of university never gets dismantled and our students need to put their best efforts in this direction," Rao said.

He said, "The great India is possible when we have great institutions and great institutions are possible when we have great teachers and students".

"India offers numerous opportunities to young graduates for self-fulfilment but this world of infinite choices must respond to the concern of humanity. It is merely a hard work which distinguishes a common man and brilliant man," he said.

Rao concluded his speech with Einstein's famous quotes "Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I am not sure about the former".

Recalling his college days, Rao said, "I have never forgotten my days spent in this university. I joined it at the age of 17 and those two years are unforgettable for me".

While pointing to the importance of learning, he said, "The greed for learning is very vital - I am still writing my 52nd book, and that inspiration came from the education which I had learnt from BHU".

BHU vice-chancellor GC Tripathi prescribed the commandments to the graduates to follow their conscience and lead a life of rectitude with courage and honesty.

Tripathi related the direction of the eminent scientist's works with an example that true education and leadership attains to social needs.

He said: "Professor Rao is replicating the same with his extraordinary work in the field of research".

Students were awarded 10,614 doctoral degrees from various faculties including 459 doctorate degrees besides 30 gold medals.