Dr. Yeshi Gyesen (M.A., Ph.D., SLET, NET)
Man is a social animal. But he is physically weakest and most helpless compared to other animals. He is not as strong as a lion; he is not as big as an elephant. He cannot run as fast as a deer, he cannot jump like a monkey from tree to tree, he cannot swim like a fish, and he cannot fly like a bird. He is a poor and helpless animal. A small insect or mosquito can kill a person easily. But God has endowed man to rule over this world. With superior brain & thinking ability, he is the most powerful animal. Education plays a pivotal role in sharpening the brain of the youth and cultivating their thinking ability in a positive direction. Hence, the role of any institute of higher learning is vital in molding the personality of youth.
Keeping such a noble role of the institute of higher learning in mind Government College, Tawang was established in the Year, 2016 vide Government of Arunachal Pradesh Notification No. ED/HE/PLG-592/2016, Dated 16th June 2016. The first Academic Session of the College started in the Year, 2017 vide Government of Arunachal Pradesh Notification No. ED/HE/PLG-592/2016/761-73, Dated 17th May 2017. However, Government College, Tawang has been dedicated to Karamveer Late Shri Dorjee Khandu, former Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh and rechristened as Dorjee Khandu Government College, Tawang in the Year, 2018 vide Government of Arunachal Pradesh Notification No. ED/HE-13 (ACA)/2009 Pt., Dated 25th July 2018.
Let alone the existence of facilities like auditorium, field or stadium and Sports complex, to date our College does not have its own building. However, we have been making optimum use of makeshift building of the college and locally available infrastructural resources with the active liaison with the district administration and with their active and readily available co-operation.
The college has its own limitations in converting constraints to opportunities. For example, I cannot decide to start new programs and courses. The college has been providing only 06 courses in Humanities and Social Sciences. Further, many younger colleges of the state have been permitted to run courses in Education, but our college is not having the Department of Education.
I would like to reiterate that the motto of our college is SA VIDYA YA VIMUKTAYE i.e. Education is that which liberates. It speaks the very purpose of education is liberation from the bondage of ignorance. In the words of Swami Vivekananda,” Education is the manifestation of perfection already in man”. God has endowed man with thinking ability. The question is how much amount of positive energy we are capable of accumulating in our day to day life. That makes the real difference.
There is no dearth of talent among the youth of our state, but their hidden talents are not manifested in the right direction. In other words, the youth of today use a lot of negative energy in their day to day life. One of the reasons for this malady, in my opinion, is that youth of today are stranded at the cross-road of materialistic and spiritual life and they are struggling in between them.
Moral values like honesty, truthfulness, love, patience, tolerance, etc. play a pivotal role in shaping the personalities of the youth. If youths cannot build their own character, how can they build the Nation? I recall the saying of Swami Vivekananda, “Give me few selfless men and women, I shall shake the world”. Therefore, I call upon one and all to be of strong character filled with moral values; which is badly needed in society today.
I conclude with a few abstracts of Abraham Lincoln, US President’s letter to a school Headmaster:
“My son will have to learn. Teach him that for every scoundrel there is a law that for every selfish politician there is a dedicated leader. Teach him to learn to lose and also to enjoy winning. Teach him the secret of quiet laughter. Teach him the wonder of the books but also give him quiet time to ponder over the eternal mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun and flowers on a green hillside. Teach him it is more honorable to fail than to cheat. Teach him to have faith in his own ideas even if everyone tells him they are wrong. Teach him to be gentle with gentle people and tough with the tough. Teach him to listen to all men, but teach him, also to filter all he hears on a screen of truth and take only the good that comes through. Teach him to laugh when he is sad. Teach him there is no shame in tears. Teach him to close his ears to howling mob and to stand and fight if he thinks he is right. Teach him always to have sublime faith in himself because then he will have sublime faith in mankind“.
Jai Hind! Jai Arunachal !!
