Few attendees in PU for lecture by Sam Pitroda

It seems that Panjab University (PU) students have very little interest in academic-oriented activities. The small size of the audience in the varsity's Law auditorium during the first virtual national knowledge network (NKN) lecture delivered by advisor to the Prime Minister, Dr Sam Pitroda, and Prof Micheal Sandel of Harvard University, seemed to indicate this.

The lecture was hosted through a web cast at the auditorium. In a stark contrast to the attendance during the Lohri celebrations at the Student's Center, here the lecture had a small audience. Some of the students even left the auditorium in the middle of the lecture.

Despite the fact that Vice-Chancellor Prof Arun Kumar Grover and other authorities marked their presence, the majority of the teachers also did not turn up for the lecture.

The lecture was delivered at Delhi University and was available on NKN across the country. Though PU was not plugged in for the interactive session, IIT Mumbai, IIT Kanpur, IISc Bangalore, IIT Guwahati were connected in and participated in an interactive manner.

Dr Pitroda emphasized the importance of new technology to bring about new changes in the society. "If India wants to grow then it has to change and for change it has to equip itself with new technology," added Pitroda.

Ritika, one of the PU students, said that students do not prefer to attend such lectures as in classes also they are supposed to study serious things. If such lectures are made compulsory then only students will attend them.

Jayant, another PU student said, "It is difficult to listen to lectures at a long stretch. If speakers reduce their time of speaking then students may start listening to them."

When Chandigarh Newsline asked the V-C about meager attendance of students, he said, "Maybe students were attending their regular classes."

... contd.

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