Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday called upon the universities and the educational institutions to adopt innovative methods to augment their physical infrastructure and their teaching and research capabilities. “Our universities are in need of a new wave of institutional reform. A reform that will enable them to augment existing talent. There has to be an openness to lateral entry into teaching and research staff and a willingness to try new pedagogical methodologies and technologies to access teaching materials and databases,” he said.

The PM was speaking after conferring the D Litt degree (honoris causa) of Goa University on melody queen Lata Mangeshkar and Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission Anil Kakodkar.

Though Mangeshkar could not attend the function because of ill health, Kakodkar was present. In his convocation address, the PM described Mangeshkar as a great symbol of national integration. Kakodkar led the scientific community and made all Indians proud, he added.

In his speech, Kakodkar said that in order to prevent Mother Earth from destruction, nuclear energy should be utilised and this can also prevent climate change. “Even with our limited resources we have made advancement in nuclear power,” he said.

Governor S C Jamir said that it was an honour for Goa and for the university, in particular, to confer D Litt degree on Lata Mangeshkar. “It is a small token of conveying our heart-felt love, affection and gratitude to the daughter of the soil, who has illustriously metamorphosised into a global personality, par-excellence.”

Later, the PM said the assassination of Pakistani leader Benazir Bhutto was a reminder how terrorism can damage socio-political fibre of a nation and underlined the need for a joint fight against the menace. “Bhutto’s demise is a grievous blow. This great tragedy once again is a reminder to all of us of the great harm that terrorism can do to the peace, prosperity and well being of the region,” he said.

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