'Edn can steer country towards progress'

 He was speaking at Senate Bhavan on the occasion of National Education Day and birth anniversary celebrations of Moulana Abul Kalam Azad at Manasagangotri, University of Mysore here on Friday. Addressing students on ‘Science and Society’, Gajendragad said Moulana Azad was among the sensible leaders India ever saw. “He continues to be an inspiration since he understood the importance of education in the progress of the country. He strived hard to spread this awareness around, while also contributing to the quality of education,” he said.

“During pre-independence era, our leader Bala Gangadharanatha Tilak stressed on the importance of education and said it was our birthright. It continued after our independence as well. All children between the age group of 6 and 14 have to be given education, without any exceptions.

But, the government is yet to understand its significance fully,” he said. The role of education is to bring out the capabilities and potential hidden within children. Teachers should guide the children well, else the children may lose interest in the process. “Personalities bloom, worlds expand and potentials can be tapped through education, without discriminating based on their castes of birth,” he said.

“Science is knowledge which helps one turn logical in his/her thinking process. There is greater emphasis in what you ‘sense’ in science as against what you see with your bare eyes. For instance, for everyone, an apple falling from the tree was a norm. But, for Newton, it wasn’t. His curiosity gave the world theory of gravity. There is no ownership in pure sciences, which bags Nobel prize every year. Various sections of science that have stemmed out, should work under single roof,” he observed.

Chairman of 78th Akhila Bharata Kannada Sahithya Sammelana Dr C P Krishnakumar, Kannada Rajyotsava awardee, folklorist Dr Ra Gow and Prof Aravind Malagatti were felicitated on the occasion by Vice Chancellor Prof V G Talawar.