Prof PB Sharma, VC, Amity University, Gurugram awarded Honorary Doctor of Science degree by Dr. KN Modi University
NEW DELHI. Eminent academician Prof. PB Sharma, founder Vice Chancellor of DTU and RGPV and presently Vice Chancellor of Amity University Gurugram was conferred the Honoris Causa Degree of Doctor of Science degree at a glittering ceremony at the Constitution Club of India in New Delhi during a special convocation held on October 18.
Dr. DK Modi, the Chancellor of Dr. KN Modi University bestowed the Doctor of Science degree upon the octogenarian for his distinguished contributions in the field of Science & Technology Education, and Research & Innovations.
After receiving the honour, Prof Sharma said that Dr. KN Modi Foundation during its illustrious 77 years of service to the society and the nation has lived up to its cherished values of integrity, caring concern for the society and unmatched patriotism while at the same time having a global outlook and unwavering commitment to excellence.
“The educational institutions promoted by the Foundation, including the KN Modi University nurtured by the visionary leadership of Dr. DK Modi have emerged in a short span of 10 years as a centre of excellence in education and research. I feel immensely delighted to be associated with the University, and thank you Hon’ble Chancellor Dr. Modi for giving me this opportunity to be with you on this momentous occasion and to share some of my thoughts on the future of higher education,” added Prof. Sharma.
The illustrious gathering at the Mavelankar Hall of CCI comprised of the trustees of Dr. KN Modi Foundation, members of the Executive and Academic Council, and a large number of corporate guests.
Other eminent guests present on the occasion included education reformist Dinanath Batra, former Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar and former Vice Chancellor of UPTU Dr. RK Khandal.
Bharat Ratna, Former President of India Pranav Mukherjee was the Chief Guest of the convocation ceremony but due to last-minute emergency, he could not attend the function. His speech was read out by Chancellor Dr. DK Modi.
Also read: Prof PB Sharma Conferred with “Founding Father of DTU” Award
Prof. Sharma is a guiding light in the field of higher education in India and during his 50 years long illustrious career, he has earned great reputation as a thought leader, institution builder, world-class researcher, innovator and breakthrough leader with speed leadership qualities. A gold medallist mechanical engineering graduate from SATI Vidisha, Prof. Sharma is a Distinguished Aluminous of the University of Birmingham, UK from where he obtained his Masters and Ph.D. degrees in 1974 and 1978 respectively. He has also been awarded Honoris Causa Doctor of Engineering by his Alma Mater University of Birmingham in 2013 in recognition of his outstanding contributions to technical education.
A former Professor of IIT Delhi, Prof. Sharma has been the Principal of DCE from 1990-2009 and became the first Vice Chancellor of DTU in 2009 when DCE was reconstituted as DTU by the Government of Delhi. Prof. Sharma led DCE and DTU for over two decades and build DCE DTU as a factory of innovation where he mentored his students to develop the First Hybrid Car of India, DCE Fledge in 2005, First AUV in 2006 that was awarded the Most Innovative Design Award by AUVSI in international competition and the First Solar Passenger Car of India, DTU Solaris that was flagged off from Rashtrapati Bhawan by the then President of India Pranav Mukherjee in September, 2012.
As the Founder Vice Chancellor of RGPV, the Technological University of MP, Prof. Sharma set big dreams like developing a pilot plant to capture and convert CO2 into hydrogen, Methanol, and Biodiesel and established Solar- Wind hybrid plant among other innovations that great recognition to RGPV.
Prof. PB Sharma is the Vice Chancellor of Amity University Gurugram since July 2014. During the last five years AUG under his distinguished leadership and visionary guidance of Hon’ble Chancellor Dr. Aseem Chauhan has emerged as a leading centre for higher-end R&D and cutting edge innovations, filing 101 patents in areas relating to nanostructured materials, nanoparticles for treatment of wastewater, nanoparticles for rejuvenating a badly infected plant, Gular extract for rejuvenation of infected liver, antifungal, antimicrobial self-cleaning fabric etc.
Sharing his views on future of higher education in the age of innovation on the momentous occasion of the conferment of the honoris causa Doctor of Science upon him, Prof. Sharma said, “During my 50 years of association with higher education, especially science and engineering education in India and abroad, it has become quite clear to me that education is the most powerful vehicle of transformation of the nation’s economy and its people. But the underlying assumption is that education shall create both the capabilities as well as the character”.
A capable person who has both the competence as well as character would have the urge, an intense inner desire to serve the society with utmost devotion and shall himself excel throughout his life. On the other hand, a capable person devoid of character would employ his capabilities to serve his narrow self-interests and shall not hesitate to exploit the society even commit wrongs that shall destroy the nation, said Prof. Sharma.
While crediting the forefather for introducing the concept of Gurukuls, Prof. Sharma said was, for this reason, they laid great emphasis on building both the capabilities as well as a character in the Gurukuls of ancient India.
“That made ancient India, truly a highly advanced nation on earth, a world leader in human development, a nation where divinity found its magnificent expression in the numeral of mathematics, fundamental nodes of divine classical music and alphabets of mother language Sanskrit. India and its scholastic traditions also earned mother India the honour of having the World-Class Universities of Vikram Shila, Nalanda, and Taxshila that attracted scholars from all over the world to cultivate knowledge and spread the magnificence of enlightened mind creating peace, prosperity, and happiness all around,” opined Prof. Sharma.
While narrating his experience in various educational institutions of repute during his 50-year-old career, the Amity University Gurugram chancellor said that it was not the infrastructural facilities like swanky buildings, sprawling campuses, and equipment that created world-class institutions but the inspired and enterprising minds of the faculty.
“What I have also learned during my 50 years long association with University IIT Delhi, Delhi College of Engineering, Delhi Technological University, Rajiv Gandhi Technological University, and lately Amity University Gurugram, that what creates world-class universities and make headlines for cutting edge R&D, is not just the infrastructure and investment in higher education, but the inspired and enterprising minds of faculty that attracts the talented and inspired students to the university and together the inspired minds of faculty and students that makes the university truly world-class in respect of quality of education, frontal research and innovations that fuel the growth of economies the world over,” said Prof. Sharma.
Prof. Sharma lamented that the High Education has not changed its basic structure and delivery models because it has not been forced to do so.
As a way forward, he advised that if India wished to earn the pride position in the top 100 universities of the world in Times or QS rankings then it needed to create inspired and enterprising minds of faculty, and in turn attracted the talented and inspired minds of students.
“I must not hesitate to add that we need to put our house in order – creating a civic sense akin to a technology-savvy civilized knowledge society, uphold the cherished principles of truth, peace, non-violence and harmonious living in a diverse socio-cultural environment. We need to pay a much greater attention to the health of the environment and tackle the formidable issues such as climate change, air, and water quality, water, and energy security and create a sense of pride in being Indians, yet never forget that we in India stand for the welfare of the entire humanity, harmony, peace, and happiness all around. After all, we are the only people on earth who pray for the entire humanity, nay the entire creation as we chant “ Sarve Bhavantu Sukhina, Save santu Niramaya; Sarve Bhadrani Pashyanti, ma kaschid dukh bhag bhavet”. For us in India, humanity imbibes inbuilt care for all creatures on planet mother earth and also for the beautiful flora and fauna that creates the divine bliss and spreads the magnificence of divinity in earthly existence,” said Prof. Sharma
