Keep technology away from geopolitics: Kalam

“As science is global, technology has to be in a global system particularly in a World Trade Organisation environment and should not be disturbed by technology denial regimes," he felt.

Expressing India’s proven capabilities of fighting commerce and technology sanctions Kalam said ,“The inherent strength of Indians come out on such occasions like the independence movement”.

Giving a call for a second vision of developed India’ after the independence movement, Kalam said every Indian should participate in intiating action with overall vision of realising a developed nation.

“It is a wholesome movement and therefore it is a movement for the young”, he added.

The secretary, department of defence research and development observed that technologies have to play a role of a bridge amongst the scientists, technologists, business community and political system.

“For a developing country to graduate to a developed’ status, selling a buying of technoloy intensive products in domestic markets is essential. And it is equally true that necessity of selling and buying is required for other nations as well," he said.

Explaining the key to development, Kalam said in order to become a developed nation, India has to be economically powerful at least to be one of the four top nations in terms of size of the economy. “Our target should be a GDP growth of 9 per cent annually and that the people below poverty line be reduced to 10 per cent”, he said.

Adding further he said near self-reliance in defence needs of weapon, equipment without any dependence on the outside world was also necessary besides having a rightful place in world forums.

We have seen that technology has made our own country self reliant in food production, milk, vegetables, fruits as well as in areas of space technology,defence technology and nuclear technology to a great extent, he said.

“Thus, today, the important tool to graduate to a developed status for a nation is through technological revolutions," he added.

Earlier Chancellor Dr P C Alexander conferred an honorary D.Litt. degree to veteran Gandhian and eminent social thinker G P Pradhan and litterateur par excellence’ Vyankatesh Madgulkar in the convocation ceremony.

In his acceptance speech Pradhan expressed concern over the increasing nexus between power and wealth in the society. “At a time when the gap between rich and poor has increased to alarming levels, only knowledge and morality can wheel the society on the path of progress," he remarked.

Materialism is not the sole criterion of social life as it needs to be culturally enriched also. Educational institutions such as university can inculcate this values in the younger generation, he added.

Giving a brief account of his fifty years of literary work Madgulkar said that he specialised in comprehending the sorrows of common man of his village, which even after fifty years has continued to provide him subjects of his writings.

Presenting a report on achievements, plans and programmes of the university, Vice-Chancellor Dr Arun Nigavekar said that varsity has taken a major initiative in the field of information technology by establishing it as an independent interdisciplinary subject.

“We have formulated a strategy to establish inter-district, intra-district and campus connectivity for all the 224 affiliated colleges and 41 university departments in the campus for providing global connectivity”, he said. He further said that the varsity was poised to play a prominent role in IT revolution in the country. Chancellor Dr Alexander awarded the D Litt (by research) degrees to Divyabhanusinh Chavda from the faculty of mental, moral and social sciences and to D Sc (by research) to G S Sainani from the faculty of medicine.

Dr Alexander also gave away The President of India – Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma Gold Medal’ to Balu Dagdu Aaghav for exemplary performance in all fields such as academics, sports, social service and project work.Vice-chancellor Dr Nigavekar awarded gold medals in other catagories to the successful candidates from all the faculties.