Harvard prof urges to at look life's brighter side

Anup K Pujari, visiting professor, Harvard University and former secretary, Government of India, called upon the people to be more objective in life and be committed to work.

Delivering the 39th Foundation Day lecture of Mangalore University on Light or Sound – Let us Think About Thinking’ here on Monday, he said, “In spite of negativity surrounding us, we should try to absorb the positivity around us.”

He said a sense of pessimism pervades all over without understanding the fact that things are much better than how they used to be. There is a tendency to glorify the past to disparage the present. “People tend not to notice the brighter side of the world. The technology-driven world notices only those that get highlighted in social media,” he felt.

He called upon the gathering not to feel let down by beratings during the course of their lives. The value of an individual does not go down just as the way value of a currency does not diminish even if it is subject to different forms of abuse and continues to remain its worth.

Eminent personalities from Mangalore University jurisdiction— Prof M Abdul Rahiman, (former Vice–Chancellor, Calicut and Kannur Universities), Prof S N Hegde, (former Vice–Chancellor, University of Mysore), Prof P G Chengappa, (former Vice–Chancellor, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru), Raju B Shetty, (alumnus and film director) and Gururaja Poojary, (alumnus and Commonwealth Games medallist) were honoured for their outstanding contributions to the field of education, culture and sports.

Accepting the honour, Prof S N Hegde advised the teachers not to commit academic fraud by continuing in the profession without passion.

Terming teaching as a noble profession, he said it is the only profession that shapes up the people of other professions. Teachers should inspire, motivate, guide and counsel students. He exhorted teachers to be creative and innovative in their teaching and inspire students to be learners.

Going down the memory lane, Prof Abdul Rahiman spoke on the role played by then VC of University of Mysore D Javare Gowda in the setting up of Mangalore University 39 years ago.

Prof Chengappa referring to success that alumni - actor and director Raju B Shetty, Gururaja Poojary, Commonwealth Games medallist - have achieved is a testimony to education imparted by the university.

Raju B Shetty called upon the students not to run to Bengaluru to chase their dreams. He urged the students to love their language and accept their true self.

Gururaja said the university has played a role in recognising his skills as a weightlifter and provided him with support when he needed it.

The Mangalore University also honoured Prof K S Jayappa, Professor, Department of Marine Geology with the best teacher award on this occasion. The award carries cash of Rs 25,000 and a citation.