Former Union minister of education Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank on Saturday said India believes in “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (the world is one family) policy.
Delivering his speech through virtual mode at the 1st World Leadership Convention on “World is One”, organised by World Leadership Academy (WLA) in association with KIIT (Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology) Deemed to be University, Nishank said: “India was the world leader in ancient times, and it will again lead the world in the 21st century. India has a rich culture, heritage, literature, history, and values.”
He said “People from all over the world came to India to get knowledge. At that time, we had world-famous institutions like Takshila and Nalanda. India believes in ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ policy — it is the Indian culture. We see the entire world as a family. WLA will act as a platform to create leaders in various sectors from culture, heritage to science and technology.”
Inaugurating the convention, eminent thinker and writer Ram Madhav said the world is one from the perspective of geology, sociology, and other branches of knowledge. While the “world is one” is a piece of common knowledge, wisdom is needed to keep it one, he stated.
“Educational institutions should not be factories of degrees and certificates. The real purpose of education is to impart wisdom and values. We need people who can keep the world one and keep humanity going on. Educational institutions should not only prepare students to earn their livelihood, but also inculcate human values which can transform their lives,” Madhav added.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Achyuta Samanta, founder of KIIT and KISS (Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences), said KIIT has been based on humanity and compassion since its inception. It practises the core values of humanity and compassion in the true sense, he stated.
Prof. K.K. Aggarwal, chairperson of National Board of Accreditation (NBA), said, “Knowledge is one; so the ‘world is one’ should be in our thought process always.”
Earlier, KIIT-DU vice-chancellor and WLA president Prof. Sasmita Rani Samanta in her welcome address said, WLA is established to bring people, culture, ideas, technologies, teachers students, researchers, investors, innovators together who are committed to transforming the world for the establishment of peace, justice, and sustainable development.
WLA’s ‘L-Index’, indexing English as well as regional language journals; free access Digital Library; and Project Database were also launched on the occasion.
Among others, former acting chief justice of Orissa High Court, Justice Dr. Sanju Panda, Director, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Dr. Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Director, DRDO ( Defence Research and Development Organisation, ITR ( Integrated Test Range); Harekrishna Ratha, Vice Chairman, Odisha State Higher Education Council Prof. Ashok Kumar Das and many other eminent personalities attended the function.