Vice President of India C.P. Radhakrishnan addressed the 8th convocation of Nagaland University at its Lumami campus on March 6, 2026, urging the 6,884 degree recipients to remain adaptable in a rapidly changing world and to translate education into leadership and service. Speaking as chief guest, he described convocation as the start of a new chapter and called on graduates to set clear goals, avoid unhealthy comparisons, and move forward with purpose.
At the university headquarters in Lumami, Radhakrishnan reminded students to stay grounded and to honour the sacrifices of parents and teachers, saying, “Pursue progress with purpose and dedication.” He stressed that a university’s success should be measured not only by knowledge but by the leaders it cultivates, adding in his address that “the character that embody the excellence they pursue and the contributions they make to society are the measures of the success of any university.”
Highlighting Nagaland University’s growth since it became a separate institution from North-Eastern Hill University in 1994, the Vice President praised its research contributions and initiatives such as a Cancer Research Laboratory and efforts to preserve indigenous Naga languages and customary laws. He also laid the foundation stone for the HEFA Phase II buildings during the visit.
Radhakrishnan pointed to Central government initiatives for the Northeast, including the Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North East Region (PM-DevINE), launched with 100% central funding and an initial corpus of Rs 1,500 crore, and noted that the Union Budget 2026–27 allocated a record sum of over Rs 6,800 crore for North East development. Urging greater engagement with the national mainstream, he appealed to Naga youth to join the civil services: “More and more Nagaland youngsters must participate in UPSC and you all must get very successful and serve the rest of the Nation.”
Describing Nagaland as a “living canvas” of nature and culture, the Vice President cautioned that development should not damage the environment and made an emphatic plea against substance abuse: “I also urge all of you to always say no to drugs. That is my humble request. You should be free from drugs, and you should make your friends and family members free from drugs.”
Radhakrishnan welcomed recent political initiatives for stability, referring to the tripartite Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA) agreement signed in February 2026 between the Central Government, the Government of Nagaland and the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation, saying it would help address long‑standing concerns and promote peace and inclusive development. Present at the convocation were Governor and Chief Rector Ajay Kumar Bhalla; Deputy Chief Minister T.R. Zeliang; Chancellor Dr. Samudra Gupta Kashyap; Vice‑Chancellor Prof. Jagadish Kumar Patnaik; and other dignitaries. The ceremony awarded degrees to 6,884 students, including 107 PhD scholars, 825 postgraduates, 846 professional programme graduates and 5,106 undergraduates, and presented 54 gold medals for academic excellence.
Original Source: https://www.morungexpress.com/vice-president-calls-on-naga-youth-to-pursue-progress-with-purpose
Category: Nagaland
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Publish Date: 2026-03-06 22:51:00
