Jammu, Nov 14 : Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday said artificial intelligence would transform the way people work, but human intelligence, compassion and ethical values must continue to guide its development, stressing that technology should serve humanity rather than remain driven solely by profit and productivity.
Addressing the first convocation of Cluster University of Jammu, Sinha called upon graduating students to treat India’s demographic dividend as a “demographic responsibility” and contribute towards nation-building through innovation, entrepreneurship and social commitment.
“AI will have speed and data, but humans will provide direction, compassion and the courage to ask new questions. AI should be guided by civilisational norms, values and accountability, and its development should rest on human welfare, not just profit and productivity,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
He said the relationship between artificial intelligence and human beings should be viewed as a partnership rather than a competition, as technology could provide new answers based on existing knowledge, but the ability to ask new questions and determine the purpose of work would remain a human responsibility.
“Technology tells us what we can do, while the humanities teach us what we should do,” Sinha said, emphasising the need to maintain a balance between scientific advancement and human values.
The Lieutenant Governor said the country needed engineers as well as historians, and scientists as well as musicians, to strengthen its intellectual capabilities and address emerging challenges.
Congratulating the graduating students and gold medallists, Sinha described them as the pioneering batch that would lay the foundation for the university’s academic traditions.
He particularly praised the performance of women students, who secured 130 of the 163 gold medals awarded during the convocation.
The Lieutenant Governor said the achievement reflected the growing role of women in higher education and demonstrated what they could accomplish when provided with equal opportunities.
“Daughters across higher-education institutions in Jammu Kashmir are writing new chapters of success in their own names,” he said.
He described the gold medals won by women students as “badges of confidence” for future generations, observing that women were not merely achieving academic distinctions but redefining the meaning of success.
Highlighting India’s economic and technological progress, Sinha said the country was passing through a period of major transformation, with advancements in space exploration, digital public infrastructure, scientific research and emerging technologies.
He referred to India’s achievements in the space sector, including Chandrayaan-3, and growing investments in quantum technology, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, green energy and biotechnology.
The Lieutenant Governor said the national goal of building a developed India by 2047 placed a significant responsibility on the present generation of students, who would be at important stages of their professional careers by then.
“Building a developed India by 2047 is our national resolve. By then, many of you will be at the highest peaks of your careers. Therefore, a developed India is not a slogan for another generation; it will be the essence of your life’s achievements,” he said.
Sinha said India had nearly 2.23 lakh startups and 135 unicorns, with an increasing number of entrepreneurs emerging from smaller towns and cities.
He observed that the growing startup ecosystem reflected the democratisation of opportunities and showed that talent and innovation were no longer confined to major metropolitan centres.
Encouraging graduates to become job creators rather than remaining dependent only on conventional employment opportunities, he said young people must identify problems and develop solutions that benefit society.
“Don’t just seek opportunities, create them,” the Lieutenant Governor told the graduating students.
He said India’s demographic strength would become meaningful only when young people used their education and skills to improve the lives of others.
Explaining his concept of demographic responsibility, Sinha said society would benefit when young professionals helped farmers access markets, supported women’s self-help groups in establishing employment-generating enterprises and developed affordable medical technologies for people living in remote areas.
He also urged students to develop courage and determination while facing professional challenges, saying success was not determined by a person’s geographical background.
“I believe that talent has no fixed address, and greatness does not arrive after checking postal addresses of certain individuals. Greatness seeks courage and struggle,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor also offered three suggestions to students preparing for internships and professional careers.
He advised them to approach companies with well-researched solutions to existing challenges rather than merely seeking opportunities, make themselves valuable through meaningful contributions and choose internships that offered genuine learning experiences.
Referring to the importance of continuous learning, Sinha said rapid technological changes could make existing professional skills outdated, but the habit of acquiring knowledge would remain relevant throughout life.
“Your degree is not the end of your journey; it is a step to begin a new one. Today’s skills may become irrelevant ten years from now, but the habit of continuous learning will never become irrelevant,” he said.
He also urged graduates to uphold honesty, integrity and ethical values, saying academic excellence without character could not contribute meaningfully to society.
“Knowledge without character is meaningless. Do not merely aim to be a topper, become individuals who have the courage to speak the truth, the resolve to do what is right, and who treat every human being with dignity and respect,” Sinha said.
The Lieutenant Governor asked students to follow five principles in their professional and personal lives: continue learning, create opportunities, uphold honesty and ethics, support those who follow them and demonstrate love for the country through meaningful action.
Referring to Jammu and Kashmir’s intellectual and cultural heritage, Sinha recalled the contributions of Maharishi Kalhana, author of Rajatarangini, philosopher Abhinavagupta, and saint-poets Lalleshwari and Sheikh-ul-Alam.
He said their teachings reflected a long tradition of knowledge, harmony and the pursuit of truth, which the younger generation should carry forward.
The Lieutenant Governor urged students to remain connected with these values while contributing to scientific, technological and economic progress.
“The future awaits you. Move forward with courage. Give compassion and sensitivity a place in your heart. Take the light of knowledge into your hands and begin a new journey of life,” he said.
Governor of Tamil Nadu Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar also attended the convocation, while Vice-Chancellor of Cluster University of Jammu, Prof K.S. Chandrasekar, presented the university report.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Higher Education Minister Shamim Firdous, Member of Parliament Jugal Kishore Sharma, MLA Jammu West Arvind Gupta, Registrar Ankur Mahajan, heads of educational institutions, faculty members, students, parents and senior civil and police officials were also present on the occasion. (KNS)
