16 intellectuals get Punjab and Haryana Ratan Award

Chandigarh, Aug 20 (UNI) As many as 16 intellectuals from various walks of life were conferred with Punjab and Haryana Ratan Award by Haryana Governor A R Kidwai at the silver jublee celebrations function of the All India Conference of Intellectuals here today.

The intellectuals included Maharishi Dayanand University Vice Chancellor Prof R S Dhankar, Hisar Agricultural University Vice Chancellor Dr J C Katyal, Kurukshetra University Technical Education director Dr O P Bajpai, Mrs Suman Raheja of Parag and Udyog Vihar, Gurgaon, LT Overseas Limited Managing Director Vijay Kumar Arora, Mindarika Pvt Ltd Managing Director Nirmal K Minda, Advocate Arun Walia, HSF of Coop Sugar Mills technical advisor Ashok Kumar Nanda, Rock Garden, Chandigarh director Nek Chand Saini, Panjab University Vice Chancellor Dr Ranbir Chander Sobti, SGGS, Mohali Principal and Secretary Bharpur Singh, Head of Oral Health Sciences, PGI Harpinder Singh Chawla, Panjab Engineering College director Dr Vijay Gupta, Nishaan Media Pvt Ltd chairman Ranjit Singh Derewal, Ind Swift Group, chairman Gopal Munjal and DAV College Chandigarh Principal S Marriya.

While speaking on the occasion, the Governor congratulated the awardees and wished them success in life. He lauded the efforts of the organisation in recognising the services of the intellectuals, industrialists, entrepreneurs and business women for their contribution in the advancement of the country and people.

He appreciated the topic role of education selected for the function and remarked that if India is to become a leading country in the world it will have to impart education to all citizens.

He lauded the vision of first Prime Minister of India in opening many engineering and technical education institutions in the country which have made India a leading country in the world in the field of science and technology.

He remarked that at present the GDP of the country was eight per cent as compared to four per cent in the world.

He hoped that efforts would be made to enhance it to nine or 10 per cent by 2010 to become a lead economic power in the world.

He called upon the youth to accept the chanllenge and work with dedication and sincerity to make it a leading power after USA and China in the near future.

He remarked that the greater challenge to achieve this target rests upon teachers who have to produce students of calibre.

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