“There is a need to develop citizens with aesthetic sense in the country. Then only he can love his country, its culture and tradition,” said Alva’s Education Trust Chairman Dr M Mohan Alva.

Speaking at the inauguration of cultural activities 2007-08 and College Student Welfare Officers’ convention at Mangalore University campus here on Saturday, he said those who do not have aesthetic sense are dangerous to the country.

Stating that today’s youth can not differentiate between classical music and folk music, he said there is a strong foundation for cultural art forms.

Dr Alva said instead of making every student a great artist, there is a need to make the students to understand the rich cultural heritage of the country. However, there is no need to teach 36,000 raagas to the students.

But there is a need to encourage and provide a platform for the students to participate in the cultural activities. He said that many colleges have never considered cultural activities as part of their syllabus. Colleges should appoint a Student Welfare Officer instead of deputing a teacher, he added. 

Mangalore University Vice-Chancellor Prof K M Kaveriappa said cultural activities are restricted to a particular region and language.

The culture of a region should not be preserved in the form of CD or a book, but it should be practiced and passed on to the future generation. The culture should not be modified with the advent of foreign culture. Participation in cultural activities helps a student to develop his personality, he added.

Arts Faculty Dean Dr B Surendra Rao said both teachers and students should expand their horizon of learning. Mangalore University has instituted 13 sports talent scholarship for the students, wherein a sum of Rs 1,000 will be given to the selected student every month.

Dr Rao called upon the teachers to keep the students busy creatively, or else they will become dangerously busy, he warned.

In his introductory remarks, Student Welfare Officer of Mangalore University Directorate of Student Welfare Dr K Chinnappa Gowda said that all the educational institutions should become ‘special cultural zone.’  The university has already prepared a calender for the cultural activities for this year, he added. Registrar Dr K Sundar Naik was present on the occasion.