Srinagar, Feb 26: In a stirring address at the University of Kashmir’s 21st convocation, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah positioned the graduating class not merely as degree holders, but as the “architects of a new Jammu and Kashmir,” challenging them to proactively define the region’s destiny rather than passively await it.
Delivered at the iconic Naseem Bagh campus—a “sanctuary of wisdom”—amidst the presence of Vice-President C P Radhakrishnan and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Omar framed the ceremony as a profound “day of succession” and generational handover. “You are succeeding those who kept the flame of knowledge alive through the most testing times. You are the torchbearers,” he declared, invoking the timeless wisdom of Kashmiri mystic poetess Laleshwari to remind graduates that true education of the self truly begins once formal learning concludes.
Omar celebrated a transformative milestone: women securing over 60% of the nearly 60,000 degrees and medals awarded, calling it proof of J&K’s pivot from “women’s welfare” to “women-led development.” He highlighted the mobilization of lakhs of women into self-help groups and entrepreneurial ventures, positioning them as engines of grassroots economic change in a region long starved of opportunities.
Turning to policy blueprints, the Chief Minister hailed the recently tabled 2026-27 Budget as more than a financial document—a “fiscal compass” charting the path to economic vibrancy, inclusive governance, and modernity. Key thrusts include sustainable tourism expansion beyond Gulmarg and Pahalgam to remote border havens like Keren, Gurez, and Titwal, countering environmental threats such as glacier melt and erratic winters through responsible, eco-conscious planning.
In agriculture and tech, Omar envisioned a “high-density revolution” supercharged by IT innovations—real-time pest alerts, blockchain traceability—to catapult Kashmiri saffron, apples, and walnuts onto global shelves. “Saffron and silicon” became his rallying metaphor for blending heritage yields with cutting-edge tools. He also pitched J&K’s cool climate as ideal for green data centers and knowledge industries, flipping the script: “We want our youth to become job providers, not merely job seekers,” backed by industrial reforms prioritizing R&D and startups.
Omar didn’t shy from harsh realities, openly tackling youth mental health amid academic and societal strains. Urging psychology and social work graduates to spearhead stigma-busting conversations, he redefined success holistically: “Not only about income; it is about a peaceful mind and a resilient heart.”
Governance took center stage too, with vows of ruthless meritocracy: “Whether you are the child of a labourer or a minister, your qualification must be your only currency.” Transparent recruitment and equal opportunity, he stressed, form the bedrock of trust in the administration.
In an emotional crescendo, Omar honored parents’ sacrifices, quoting Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): “Your heaven lies under the feet of your mother.” Every degree, he noted, is a shared triumph forged in hardship. He praised university faculty for transcending textbooks to instill critical discernment in an information-saturated era, crediting them with molding tomorrow’s leaders.
Wrapping up, Omar implored the youth to export Kashmiriyat—the ethos of harmony and humanism—globally: “Go anywhere in the world, but carry the fragrance of these chenars in your heart. Today, you are the light that will lead Jammu and Kashmir forward.”
This convocation—amid J&K’s touted “new era of peace, progress, and prosperity” echoed by VP Radhakrishnan earlier—serves as a morale booster, aligning personal ambition with collective resurgence. As Omar’s words linger, they challenge a generation to build on stability, turning potential into progress.
