Make campuses hubs of ideas, dialogue, nation-building: LG Sinha

Jammu, Feb 27: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday said that the youth hold boundless power to steer society and nation toward the future.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of ‘Goonj 2026’, a youth festival hosted by the University of Jammu (JU), LG Sinha emphasised on putting a dedicated focus on shaping balanced minds and bold innovators for sustainable development.

“Empowered youth engineers the future and I believe intellectual depth, creative strength and innovative youth leadership is essential for national advancement,” he said.

The LG said when young people kindle the flame of courage within themselves and step forward with unshakeable belief, then new pathways open up for society and the nation.

He exhorted the students to embrace innovation, pursue fresh research, experiment boldly, unlock nation-building doors.

“Honour your traditions, respect your past and connect with your roots. This will deepen the profound sense of identity, confidence, and self-awareness that no classroom can ever fully teach,” LG Sinha said.

He said that the purpose of education was not merely the acquisition of knowledge but creation of enlightened citizens who are sensitive towards their duties.

“True education prepares youth to forge entirely new answers and solutions that the world has not yet imagined. Students enter campuses not merely for degrees, but to nurture culture, explore new ideas, choose bold paths, and courageously drive societal progress,” the LG said.

He said that the pace at which the world was changing was almost beyond comprehension and technological explosion had quietly transformed both educational institutions and industries alike.

LG Sinha directed the faculty members to make their higher education campuses the manufacturing hubs of new ideas.

“The effort must go beyond curriculum. Let there be genuine dialogue across disciplines. Let every lecture in every classroom become a doorway to new possibilities,” he said.

On the occasion, the LG also launched the podcast ‘JU Vaachan’, an initiative of Department of Journalism and Media Studies, JU.

He said that the two-day event would offer distinctive platform to youth from diverse disciplines to create one future.

LG Sinha said that the festival would educate the mind, energise the body and ignite the innovation.

Prof Umesh Rai, Vice Chancellor, University of Jammu, Ramesh Kumar, Divisional Commissioner Jammu; Prof Neelu Rohmetra, Dean Research studies and Prof Prakash Anthal, Dean Students Welfare were also present on the occassion.

Padma Shri Jitendra Udhampuri; Padma Shri  S P Varma; Padma Shri Romalo Ram and Ashok Bhan, former DGP also attended the inaugural ceremony.