Regretting the lack of interest among students towards research in Science and Technology, Minister of Education, Naeem Akhtar Saturday said the government was striving to revive the great tradition of knowledge inherited by the state of Jammu and Kashmir. "We have not been able to carry forward the great tradition of knowledge inherited by us, but we are in the process of revival. In the great enthusiasm to spread literacy, education was pushed to darkness, but we have brought it into focus once again."The Minister was speaking at a function organized by the National Institute of Technology, Sringar, where he was Chief Guest.He was accompanied by Director School Education, Kashmir Shah Faesal. About 250 students from different parts of the state will participate in the internship program over the next four days.Commending the role of NIT in promoting the pursuit of Science and Technology related subjects among students in J&K, Akhtar said “the institute carries the burden of leading the state into the age of enlightenment. He said scientists are not in the race for jobs; science is a seamless, boundary-less world.
Don't get inspired to only find a job or become a junior engineer. These lectures should take you to a higher plane of introspection, inspiration and a much higher ambition," he said.Invoking the Holy Quran and verses of Sir Mohammad Iqbal, Mr Akhtar urged the students to keep higher ambitions and have the confidence to pursue them. "If you are finding relevance for yourself in the society or a source of income, get that off your mind. The kind of direction you give to your lives now will determine the orbit in which you will live for the rest of your lives. The Holy Quran talks about the expansion of the universe. The human mind should be capable to follow this expansion," he said.The Minister said the state must have its own talent hunt programs in the field of Science and Technology to build a culture of scientific temperament, "You have a big job to do. I believe you will raise your bar and set higher goals. Whether the state fails you or not, you should not fail yourselves," he said.Earlier, Director NIT, Prof Rajat Gupta, thanked the Department of Education for its role in organising the internship program. "Around 2000 students have participated in the last six Inspire programs," Prof Gupta said.