Jammu: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday called upon graduating students to use technology responsibly, uphold human values and take an active role in nation-building, asserting that while Artificial Intelligence (AI) would provide speed and access to data, the responsibility of giving direction to technological progress would remain with human beings.
Addressing the first convocation of Cluster University of Jammu, the Lieutenant Governor said the relationship between humans and AI would be one of partnership rather than competition, stressing that technological advancement must be guided by civilisational values, compassion and accountability instead of being driven solely by profit and productivity.
“AI will have speed and data, but humans will provide direction, compassion and the courage to ask new questions. AI should be guided by civilisational norms, values and accountability, and its development should rest on human welfare, not just profit and productivity,” he said.
Emphasising the importance of humanities in an increasingly technology-driven world, Sinha observed that scientific and technological capabilities must be complemented by ethical understanding, historical awareness and cultural sensitivity.
“Technology tells us what we can do, while the humanities teach us what we should do. The nation needs engineers as well as historians, and scientists as well as musicians,” he said, underlining the need for an interdisciplinary approach to address emerging challenges and strengthen the intellectual capacity of society.
The Lieutenant Governor said India was passing through a historic phase of transformation and that the vision of building a developed nation by 2047 could be realised only through the active participation of its young population.
“Building a developed India by 2047 is our national resolve. By then, many of you will be at the highest peaks of your careers. Therefore, a developed India is not a slogan for another generation; it will be the essence of your life’s achievements,” he said.
Highlighting India’s progress in science, technology and innovation, Sinha referred to the country’s achievements in space exploration, including Chandrayaan-3, and its growing capabilities in quantum technology, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, green energy and biotechnology.
He also highlighted the expansion of digital public infrastructure and the growing role of research and innovation in the country’s development.
Referring to India’s startup ecosystem, he said the country now had nearly 2.23 lakh startups and 135 unicorns, with several successful entrepreneurs emerging from smaller towns.
He described this trend as a genuine democratisation of opportunity, demonstrating that talent and entrepreneurial potential were no longer confined to major cities.
Offering a different perspective on India’s demographic dividend, the Lieutenant Governor said young people should view their growing numbers not merely as an economic advantage but as a responsibility towards society.
“I prefer to call it a demographic responsibility,” he said, explaining that the real value of the country’s youthful population would be reflected in its ability to address social and economic challenges.
He cited examples of young people connecting farmers with markets, transforming women’s self-help groups into employment-generating enterprises and developing affordable medical equipment for people living in remote areas.
“Don’t just seek opportunities, create them,” was his message to the graduating students as he urged them to approach their professional careers with initiative, innovation and a problem-solving mindset.
Sharing practical advice on internships and career development, Sinha suggested that students should approach companies with well-researched solutions to existing challenges rather than merely seeking placements or opportunities. He asked them to develop skills and demonstrate such value that their contribution became indispensable to the organisations they worked with. He also advised them to select internships that offered opportunities to learn something new.
The Lieutenant Governor further encouraged students to turn difficult circumstances into opportunities, observing that talent was not restricted by geographical boundaries or social backgrounds.
“Talent has no fixed address, and greatness does not arrive after checking postal addresses of certain individuals. Greatness seeks courage and struggle,” he said, urging young people to face challenges with determination and unwavering courage.
Sinha also highlighted the intellectual and philosophical heritage of Jammu and Kashmir, referring to Maharishi Kalhana, the author of Rajatarangini, Maharishi Abhinavagupta, and saint-poets Yogini Lalleshwari and Sheikh-ul-Alam. He said these eminent personalities had enriched the region’s tradition of knowledge, promoted harmony among faiths and encouraged the pursuit of truth.
He told the graduating students that they were carrying forward a knowledge tradition spanning more than a thousand years and had a responsibility to preserve its intellectual depth while contributing to contemporary society.
The Lieutenant Governor also congratulated the university’s first graduating batch, describing its members as pioneering torchbearers who would help establish the institution’s academic traditions.
He particularly lauded women students for their outstanding performance, noting that daughters had secured 130 of the 163 gold medals awarded at the convocation.
“When given opportunities, daughters do not merely attain positions but redefine the meaning of achievement,” he said, describing their medals as “badges of confidence” for generations to come.
He added that women students across higher education institutions in Jammu and Kashmir were creating new benchmarks of academic excellence and writing new chapters of success through their achievements.
Outlining five resolutions for the graduating students, Sinha asked them to never stop learning, create opportunities rather than merely seek them, uphold honesty and ethical values, support those who follow them and express their love for the nation through meaningful action.
He cautioned that professional skills acquired today might become irrelevant with changing technology and industry requirements, but the habit of continuous learning would remain valuable throughout life.
“Your degree is not the end of your journey; it is a step to begin a new one,” he said, urging students to make the pursuit of knowledge a permanent part of their lives.
Stressing that academic excellence must go hand in hand with personal integrity, he said knowledge without character was meaningless and encouraged graduates to develop the courage to speak the truth, the resolve to do what was right and respect for every human being.
“The future awaits you. Move forward with courage. Give compassion and sensitivity a place in your heart. Take the light of knowledge into your hands and begin a new journey of life,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
Governor of Tamil Nadu Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar also graced the occasion.
Pays obeisance at Vaishno Devi shrine
Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday visited the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine atop Trikuta hills in Reasi district and offered prayers, a Lok Bhavan spokesperson said.
The visit by the LG, who is also the chairman of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, comes a day after a senior police officer conducted a comprehensive security review at the shrine in the aftermath of recent terror attacks.
Pilgrim footfall at the shrine has witnessed a significant increase, with 83.20 lakh devotees visiting in the first 10 months of this year (January-October), already surpassing the 69.78 lakh count recorded during the entire year of 2025.
The figure is also fast approaching the 94.84 lakh figure recorded during the whole of 2024.
“Lt Governor Manoj Sinha visited the holy shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji and offered his obeisance. He prayed for peace, good health and prosperity for all,” the statement said.
On Friday, Deputy Inspector General of Police (Udhampur-Reasi Range) Swarn Singh Kotwal, along with Senior Superintendent of Police (Reasi) Mukund Tibrewal, visited Katra, the base camp for the pilgrims visiting the shrine, and assessed the overall security preparedness before undertaking an extensive on-foot inspection of the twin yatra tracks from Katra to Bhawan.
On November 11, three CRPF personnel were injured in a terror attack on their post in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district, while the next day, bullet-riddled bodies of two special police officers were recovered from the remote Dachhan forest area of Kishtwar district.
