Citing ‘Atithi devo bhava’, Mehbooba reaches out to non-Kashmiri students

Arteev Sharma

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Tribune News Service

Kakryal (Katra), April 19

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today invoked the Sanskrit verse “Atithi devo bhava” (the guest is equivalent to God) to send the message across that outstation students should be made to “feel at home” in the state.

Her statement assumes significance against the backdrop of the NIT-Srinagar controversy and the demand of non-Kashmiri students to shift the institute outside the Valley.

“In our life, we have learnt about ‘Atithi devo bhava’. When students from other parts of the country come here, they come as guests. Once they leave, they leave with sweet memories and become our goodwill ambassadors. Let us make them feel at home. Once they leave this state, I am sure they will talk about our hospitality and good behaviour and make our children studying in other parts of the country part of their extended families,” Mehbooba said while concluding her address at the fifth convocation of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU) here.

Incidentally, a large number of students from different states of the country are studying at the SMVDU.

Later in her address at a public rally attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mehbooba described J&K as a “miniature India”, chosen by Lord Shiva and Mata Vaishno Devi as their abode. “The state is a perfect blend of cultural and religious diversity,” the Chief Minister added.

Mehbooba also said providing a sense of security to the youth in the state was one of her prime responsibilities. “People in Kashmir are in pain and suffering. We seek the cooperation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in addressing the issue so that no more innocent lives are lost to mindless violence,” she said while referring to the Handwara firing incident.

The Central and state governments would have to join hands to win the hearts and minds of the people, especially the youth, said the Chief Minister.

“Even though J&K has been an epitome of plurality and cultural diversity, the pain and agony suffered by people of Jammu and Kashmir for the past 25 years continues to disturb me. Time has come to end the state’s predicament and devise a new strategy that promises an era of sustainable peace and development,” she added.

Earlier, the Chief Minister, while congratulating the management and faculty for propelling the SMVDU into country’s top 100 universities, praised the ‘young ignited minds’ for excelling in their fields of specialisation.

She said she was delighted by the brilliant performance of girl students, who outshone the boys and literally swept all gold medals on offer.

“I am happy that the university, from a very modest beginning in 2004, has made tremendous progress in a short span of time. This university is an institution borne out of a constant urge to see faith as a resource, a trust repository of common people,” she stated.

Describing universities as melting pots of culture, ethnicities and ideas, where people of all faiths and cultures converge, she said the university’s success was a great tribute to the vision of her father during whose tenure as Chief Minister the SMVDU was established.

The Chief Minister observed that the talented human resource was the country’s greatest wealth and it would have to play a pivotal role in driving its engine of growth.