• Says “AI may provide speed, but humans must give direction”
• 130 of 163 gold medals won by women
Jammu | Nov,14:Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday called upon young graduates to treat India’s demographic dividend as a “demographic responsibility”, urging them to become innovators, entrepreneurs and responsible citizens who contribute to the country’s development.
Addressing the first convocation of Cluster University of Jammu, Sinha said India’s journey towards becoming a developed nation by 2047 would largely depend on the aspirations, capabilities and contributions of its younger generation.
“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.
The Lieutenant Governor said the country was witnessing a historic transformation, marked by advancements in space exploration, artificial intelligence, semiconductor technology, quantum computing, green energy and biotechnology.
Referring to India’s growing startup ecosystem, he said the country now has nearly 223,000 startups and 135 unicorns, with entrepreneurs emerging from smaller towns, reflecting the democratisation of opportunities.
Sinha said the demographic dividend should not merely be viewed in terms of numbers but as a responsibility to address societal challenges through innovation and enterprise.
“Society would benefit when youth connect farmers to markets, women’s self-help groups become employment-generating enterprises, and engineers develop affordable medical tools for remote areas,” he said.
Highlighting the importance of humanities in an increasingly technology-driven world, Sinha said technological advancement must remain guided by human values and ethical considerations.
“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.
On artificial intelligence, the Lieutenant Governor observed that AI and humans would share a relationship of partnership rather than competition. While technology would transform the nature of work, determining its purpose and direction would remain a human responsibility.
“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.
Sinha also urged graduates to create opportunities instead of merely seeking them. Offering suggestions on internships, he advised students to approach organisations with well-researched solutions, demonstrate their value through meaningful contributions and choose opportunities that help them acquire new skills.
He particularly appreciated the performance of women students, noting that they had secured 130 of the 163 gold medals awarded at the maiden convocation.
He said the achievements of women students reflected their determination and growing participation in higher education.
“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 future generations.
The Lieutenant Governor also referred to Kashmir’s intellectual and cultural heritage, recalling the contributions of Maharishi Kalhana, Abhinavagupta, Lal Ded and Sheikh-ul-Alam in promoting knowledge, harmony and the pursuit of truth.
He urged graduates to uphold five resolutions: continuous learning, creating opportunities, maintaining honesty and ethics, supporting future generations and expressing patriotism through constructive action.
“Your degree is not the end of your journey; it is a step to begin a new one,” he said, urging students to move forward with courage, compassion and a commitment to society.
Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar also attended the convocation. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Higher Education Minister Shamim Firdous, Member of Parliament Jugal Kishore Sharma, MLA Arvind Gupta and Vice-Chancellor of Cluster University Jammu Professor K.S. Chandrasekar were among those present.
