The University is the third oldest academic institution of modern India. It’s celebrating 200 years of its existence this year.
Dear students, I welcome you all to the Orientation programme 2024. The Day is special to us in different ways. To you, students, it is embarking on a new programme aimed at earning a degree of your choice. For us, teachers, it’s a day of renewal of association and company of a batch of students for a couple of years or more, if you continue for your Ph. D. degrees. Our scriptures have said, and also the famous Persian poet, Rumi- ‘What you are seeking has been seeking you’.
You would have worked hard to get here, having got over all the odds. You will find that coming here has been worth the efforts. This is so because knowledge, in itself, is the greatest thing to have.
नास्ति विद्यासमो बन्धुर्नास्ति विद्यासमः सुहृत। नास्ति विद्यासमं वित्तं नास्ति विद्या समं सुखं।।
There is nothing that equals ‘vidya’ in friendship, company, wealth or bliss.
Another reason why you will find the efforts of coming here justified is the space and environment in this institution, Deccan College Postgraduate and Research Institute (Deemed to be University), popularly known as Deccan College, for short.
Deccan College has entered 203 rd year of its existence. It has played a unique role in India in establishing the disciplines of scientific archaeology, modern linguistics and Sanskrit lexicography. The university is full of examples of its globally recognized contribution to the Indian society and culture. Among others, Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, a graduate of 1873, pioneered the freedom movement with the idea of swarajya (self-rule) and work on Vedic astronomy; V N Bhatkhande, a graduate of 1885, gave the world the full explicit knowledge of Hindustani music; and R G Bhandarkar, a teacher at Deccan College, is known for his seminal contribution to the study of decipherment of ancient texts and his advocacy of social reforms.
My individual message to you is this. Cultivate in yourself the rigour of a successful student, by following all the necessary do’s and don’ts- being regular in class, participating in meaningful discussions with classmates and teachers in and outside the class, searching for additional material in books and journals, giving all assignments and tests, and THINKING.
Never be pessimistic, because, optimism, like love, gets you everything: Spe vincit omnia. Aim at giving the society and the world of knowledge more than what you have taken from them. After all, that has been the tradition of Deccan College.
We are getting used to facing new challenges. Covid-19 shook us in almost every private and public sphere of activity. Our students, faculty and staff showed tremendous grit and ability to find solutions to such earth-shattering happenings. A new challenge that has come up in the field of education is Chat GTP, controversially, a product of AI. My message to you in this regard is, take it as an opportunity to be creative on the basis of being fully informed. Given the computational nature of human make up, and the unique disposition of our brains, with ingrained abilities of learning, memory, perception and decision-making, we should be well equipped to face such challenges and turn them to our advantage.
One thing that you have to protect against is anxiety and depression. The link between depression and the ability for decision-making is now well-established. There are various avenues open to you here to express yourself individually and socially- sports, cultural activities, such as cinema, dance, theatre, exhibitions (through the Art Circle), company of senior people (through the Golden Hours programme) and nature and heritage walks and various programmes organized by the NSS.
I wish the class of 2026 a fruitful, creative and joyous experience.
Deccan College Post Graduate & Research Institute Deemed to be University, Pune
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