Seminar on National Education Policy, 2020 – Babasaheb Ambedkar College at Bootan Mandi in Jalandhar

 

Seminar on National Education Policy, 2020 – Babasaheb Ambedkar College at Bootan Mandi in Jalandhar

Baba Saheb Bhim Rao Government Co-education College at Bootan Mandi, my native place, in Jalandhar hosted a One-day Seminar on a topical subject - National Education Policy, 2020 and Institutional Preparedness on March 18, 2023. It fell on me to be Chief Guest at the inaugural function of the Seminar. I accepted the invitation with pleasure and with a sense of belonging.  The College, named after the greatest son of India, Babasaheb B.R. Ambedkar, was established
after a long struggle by the residents of Bootan Mandi and other stake holders and I was also one of them working on the backstage. I am grateful to Principal Dr. Chander Kanta and Convener of the Seminar, Dr. Harblas Heera for providing me yet another opportunity to participate in the Event to discuss and deliberate an important issue of concern and interest to the country and the society at large.

It was a well organized and graciously hosted function with Dr. Nilesh Arora, Director of USB at Chandigarh University as the Guest of Honour and the Key Note Speaker, Dean of Commerce and Business Studies at DAV University of Jalandhar, Dr, Gitika

Nagarath, Principal Dr. Chander Kanta, the Host and her associate, Dr. Harblas Heera on the High Table with me, a  non-academic humble citizen, as the Chief Guest. The audience comprised; the core of the faculty of the host College along with special invitees from the academic and intellectual circles in and around Jalandhar and the young students of the College. The Conference Room was full to capacity, a pleasant and satisfying visual. Principal Dr. Chander Kanta in her welcome remarks talked about the College, still in its infancy, and  that it was a matter of satisfaction that in a short span of time the College has registered itself as a good upcoming educational institute n the area and was on track. She added that it will be their duty to see that we make the College a ‘Centre of Excellence’ in due course with a view to justify the College, named after the Indian icon, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.  Dr. Nilesh Arora’s Key Note address was not only thought provoking but also educative and motivational. Commenting on the NEP, 2020, Dr. Arora said that the new policy has taken care of the much needed inputs to give impetus to ‘employability’ and pragmatic deployment of human resources. He also added that it was good that our policy makers have realized, of late, that ‘learning’ and ‘degree’ were two different things. He also appreciated the norms of ‘equity and inclusiveness’ underlined in the new education policy. In my brief remarks, I said that it was a matter of gratification that the purpose of my coming as a ‘learner and a student’ was fully met with the thought provoking and full of knowledge lecture of Dr. Nilesh Arora and presentations of the hosts of the Seminar, Dr. Chander Kanta and Dr. Harblas Heera who very ably conducted the session as the ‘Master of Ceremonies’. Underlining the motto – Educate, Encourage and Enlighten - of new NEP, I said that it was good to note that the new policy has duly recognized the much needed input ‘equity and sustainability’ in the educational framework. I concluded with a word of caution that the GOI and the Educational Administrator must alley the fears of ‘alleged high jacking the policy by some vested interests with sectarian agenda’ expressed in some quarters and added that the NEP should be a tool to prepare the younger generations to understand and attain the cardinal goals of –Equality, Justice, Liberty and Fraternity – so beautifully enshrined in our constitution by our forefathers headed by Babasaheb Ambedkar. 

The interactive aspect of the session was all the more interesting in which the attentive and discerning audience comprising both of young students and well placed academics and intellectuals participated. The Speaking Notes for my remarks may be seen in my Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=6284490444936360&set=a.148326871886112&notif_id=1679148820506297&notif_t=feedback_reaction_generic&ref=notif

The brochure of the One-day National Seminar has rightly mentioned the purpose of the exercise and I quote, “The seminar has been conceptualized to outline the vision of the new education policy in India. The policy recognizes and identifies faculty as the heart of the learning process and will empower the teachers of India by bringing out various reforms for their recruitment, professional development, service conditions etc.” The wide range of ‘Discussion Themes’ listed for the brainstorming technical sessions of the Seminar would certainly provide fuel to the process of learning. The NEP, 2020 has rightly stipulated, “The NEP envisions an education system rooted in Indian ethos that contributes directly to transforming India that is Bharat sustainably into an equitable and vibrant knowledge society by providing high quality education to all, and thereby making India a global knowledge super power” I wish the new policy shows us the way and lead us to the cherished goal of making India a “Vishav Guru”. We are on rails, it seems.

 All said and done, I close this piece with yet another quote from the brochure of the Seminar which lists the agenda and vision of Baba Saheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar Government Co-educational College, “The long term mission of this institution is to achieve and sustain excellence in teaching and enriching local as well as national communities. Being equipped with the facilities and quality staff, the college imparts high standard of education with affordable fee structures”. I take this opportunity to wish the College all success in the years to come. Our success in making this institution a ‘Centre of Excellence’ will be a befitting tribute to Babasaheb Ambedkar. My earlier write ups on the College may be accessed in my blogs and here I link the last one of December 18, 2021:

http://diplomatictitbits.blogspot.com/2021/12/ambedkar-government-college-bootan.html