Technology transforming societies, but preserving cultural roots and human values crucial: LG Manoj Sinha
STC NEWS DESK
SRINAGAR, OCTOBER 28 (STC): Even as technology is transforming societies, preserving cultural roots and human values remains crucial, said Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today at the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Kashmir Chapter of the ‘Centre for Regional Studies, Culture, Dialects and Emotional Intelligence’ of the University of Jammu. He said future-proof institutions should foster continuous learning, adaptability, ethical awareness and collaboration across disciplines.
Stating about the Centre, LG Sinha said it is a unique and forward-looking confluence of regional studies, culture, dialects and emotional intelligence. Highlighting the rich cultural heritage of Jammu and Kashmir, he said that this initiative will preserve the diverse intellectual and linguistic traditions of the region as well as strengthen cultural, historical and human connections.
The Lieutenant Governor pointed out that a region cannot be understood solely through geography. “Languages, folk traditions, cultural practices, arts, beliefs, customs and life experiences together form the identity of a place,” he said and added that the fusion of regional knowledge and emotional intelligence will be the soul of this new centre and will help in developing a deeper understanding of the society and the people.
Sinha said that the broad objectives of the centre—which include preservation of manuscripts, creation of digital archives, linguistic mapping, ethnographic studies, research on pilgrimage sites and tourism, mountain ecology, local entrepreneurship and fellowships for young scholars—are unique efforts undertaken by the university. He said that such initiatives will help in creating a common repository of knowledge for future generations.
He also highlighted four key factors that highlight the importance of such a centre in today’s era.
First: The need to strike a balance between global connectivity and local identity.
Second: The urgent need to preserve endangered languages and knowledge systems.
Third: The importance of an interdisciplinary approach to address complex challenges; and the fourth is about the importance of the growing recognition of ‘emotional wellbeing’ in the field of education.
He said that while technology is transforming societies, preserving cultural roots and human values remains crucial.
Speaking on the role of universities in the era of rapidly changing technology and artificial intelligence, the Lieutenant Governor said that emotional intelligence and technical competence complement each other. He stressed that future-proof institutions should encourage continuous learning, adaptability, ethical awareness and collaboration between different disciplines.
The Lieutenant Governor also mentioned that the Centre has the potential to emerge as an exemplary institution for research. These institutions can play a role in knowledge creation, cultural preservation and human-centric development, and also enhance the global reputation of the universities of Jammu and Kashmir.
(Straight Talk Communications)
