The programme was named 'After 5' because it was conducted after 5 pm in the conference hall at R.S. Pura campus. The classes were not disturbed. I wanted to address the students on student stress and interact with them in a very informal way due to obvious reasons. The campus was unique with the presence of multicultural students, both men and women. The campus moreover resembled CUSAT, the university where I worked for many years. The students of Sher -e- Kashmir Agricultural university were very enthused to listen to the lecture and interact with me in a very informal way. Moreover, the campus resembled Cusat, the university where I worked for many years.
The campus was just 4 kilometres away from the Indo- Pak border. I wanted to honour the desire of my friend, Dr.Satya Bhushan Bakshi, Deputy Director of Students’ Welfare, Sher-e- Kashmir university. He told me that in 1999, the university at jammu came into existence after bifurcation of SKUAST into two universities one each for Jammu and Kashmir provinces. Both universities have same name i.e. SKUAST (Jammu one known as SKUAST of Jammu and the other is SKUAST of Kashmir). The univ. is multi campus. One campus located at RS Pura (Veterinary Faculty) and the other one at Chatha (Agriculture faculty) along with Vice Chancellor Secretariat. That campus was also very beautiful. Dr. Satya Bhushan is an excellent person with student sensitivity, commitment, and enthusiasm to help students grow to their full potential. I hope he is supported in his attempts to do more for the student welfare. That was why I visited this university.
I lectured on student stress. I explained the need for the students to move out of Jammu to other parts of India to understand other sub cultures. The session was very interactive. I appealed to the students to challenge them with generating meaningful academic experiences with the support of their teachers. Idling oneself, feeling bored and doing nothing can also generate stress. I highlighted the good effects of inter cultural interaction; peer group interaction, and developing inter university academic alliance. I invited the students and teachers for an academic journey to Kerala. Thanks to SKUAST of Jammu.
Thanks to Professor R.M.Bhagat, Director Resident Instructions cum Dean of post graduate studies of SKUAST- Jammu. He is a very good speaker. I could sense it from his interaction with the students. While addressing he told a story about how humans got 100 year life. Initially man was given a life of 25 yrs only by God. He got angry and protested that I am the highly evolved personality but having lesser life span than animals or even birds. Listening to his wails the donkey gave 25 yrs from his life. Still man not satisfied. He was given 25 yrs by dog. Still protest continued and finally 25 yrs were given by owl. The life is full of enjoyment without any worries up to first 25 yrs when one is student fully supported by parents and other persons. Next 25 yrs; look for job, marriage, children and their care; makes one slog like a donkey. After 50 years; the person goes on speaking things which seem useless to the younger generation and they start equating the person to a dog. The last 25 yrs are just like an Owl; one has the eyes open but no activity is possible. Food may or may not be provided but one just goes on sitting without even blinking an eye just like an owl.
I have a word of special appreciation for Dr. Utsav Sharma, Warden Students Hostel and Dr Jonali Devi, Warden Girls Hostel for their cooperation in conduct of the program. As usual I was accompanied by Arti and Sarita.
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