AMRITSAR, MARCH 24
Former
Ambassador to Denmark, renowned journalist and Rajya Sabha MP, HK Dua today
said `forcing’ Italy to return marines for trials in case relating Indian
fishermen’s murder was a major `diplomatic success’ for country. Citing this as
an example he said country’s foreign policy was taking new shape and India must
choose `different elements’ for different regions of the world including North
America, EU, Africa and Asia to mark its presence in world politics.
Dua said this while talking to media persons during 107th annual
Convocation of historic Khalsa College Amritsar (KCA) here today. He bestowed 407
degrees and 91 medals to students in presence of Commissioner of Police Ram
Singh who was the guest of honour and Khalsa College Governing Council (KCGC)
President, Satyajit Singh Majithia, Vice- President Charanjit Singh Chadha and
honourary secretary Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina.
Dua said India was emerging as a major economic power
despite some hiccups in its growth story and its foreign policy must change
accordingly. On media’s eroding credibility, he said there had been visible
damage to media’s image but it is still expanding and he hoped that `inner
voices’ would emerge and media would resort to self-introspection. He also
ridiculed ongoing environment of cynicism when all around there is talk of
nothing positive happening in India, which is not fact.
``No doubt we have not been able to meet expectations.
But it is vast country with problems of population, castism and illiteracy. We
must have confidence and work harder to achieve goals’’, said Dua. He expressed
concern over growing menace of drugs addiction in Punjab and warned that
situation should not escalate to the level of North East states where drugs
problem has infested the society at large.
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Ram Singh said after getting degrees the students have
new challenge of venturing out in the society to start new life, which is full
of challenges. He wished them luck and said one remains a `student’ throughout
his or her life. He said there is no short-cut to the success but hard work.
KCGC top functionaries honoured Dua and Ram Singh. Dua announced to provide
grants for the new girls hostel to come up at the College campus from his
MPLAD.
Earlier Satyajit Singh Majithia welcomed Dua recalling
his services as distinguished journalist, eminent scholar and political
commentator. He said it was a matter of pride that Dua was here to distribute
degrees to youngsters which was motivation in itself. He narrated how KCGC had
been doing its yeoman’s service in providing value-based education in its 18
educational institutions. Dr.Daljit Singh read out annual progress report of
college highlighting achievements in academics, extra-curricular activities and
sports. Chhina later said in his Vote of Thanks that Dua was an example how
anyone with humble background can rise to the stature with the help of education
as a ladder.
Chhina said country was facing problems of population,
pollution and corruption and congratulating students on earning degrees, he
asked them to take vow today to fight these evils in resolving the issues
confronting the country. Amritsar Mayor Bakshi Ram Arora, KCGC joint secretary
Ajmer Sigh Heir, Rajbir Singh, Member SS Chhina, Dr.Santokh Singh, LS Dhillon,
SS Sethi, Khalsa College of Education Principal Dr.JS Dhillon, Principal,
Khalsa College of Education (Ranjit Avenue) Dr.SK Dhillon, Principal, Khalsa
College Public School Dr.Sarvjit Brar, Principal DK Sandhu, Principal GK Kamboj
were present. Dean Academics Prof. Navreen Bawa managed the stage well.
Dua recalled his childhood at Chheherta
Dua who had been Editor of four national dailies
including Hindustan Times, The Tribune, The Indian Express and Editorial
Advisor of Times of India besides being Advisor to two Prime Ministers said he
still remembered his childhood spent at Chheherta, on the outskirts of
Amritsar. He said after 1947 partition his family was uprooted from Sargodha in
Pakistan and took shelter at Chheherta where he completed his primary
education. ``We used to come to Khalsa College to watch hockey matches’’, he
said.
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