From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Jul 14: Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi called upon youth to take the lead in globalizing compassion and make a new beginning for the country’s millions of children by reassuring the children a better future free of all kinds of exploitation and abuses.

“Globalization of information and production to achieve growth and developmental objectives should not be the sole focus area or concern of educational institutions and policy planners but also globalization of compassion. Globalization of materialism is enough. What is necessary is globalization of compassion,’’ the Nobel Laureate said delivering the golden jubilee address of the Christ University in Bengaluru on Saturday.

Institutions of higher learning like Christ must take the lead in encouraging the youth imbue the spirit of excellence and service and make the world a better, more sustainable, livable and lovable place. The energy, enthusiasm, talents and dynamism of the young must be recognized and provided space and even global platform to do something innovative as it is the youth who have the power to change, question and work for a better tomorrow.

In his address devoted to social concern and better future for the children, he lamented that the society in India and most parts of the world was suffering from three major deficits of truth, trust and tolerance. ``While we have advanced technologically and made immense progress, truth and trust were lost and intolerance has grown among people and also governments,’’ he said.

At a time when India has advanced from being the sixth to the fifth biggest global economies in the world, Satyarthi said he was saddened that a four-year-old girl was gang-raped by 10-14 year-old boys after watching porn clips in Kanpur or another 12-year-old boy was raped in the streets of Delhi. All the three stories of India’s climb among the global economies and the sexual abuses of children were reported on the same day making a mockery of the country’s economic advances without ensuring safe childhood, he said.

Referring to the recent incidents of mob lynching of people on rumours about alleged child lifting or the Madhya Pradesh episode of an angry mob seeking to burn a police station which held two alleged child lifters, he said such instances were glaring examples of growing intolerance as well as distrust in the law enforcement machinery. The Trump administration’s attempts to separate children from refugee parents or cases of young children and girls being kidnapped, sexually abused or pushed into prostitution as has been happening in Syria indicated that children were not safe in the developed world, in third world countries or strife torn regions, he said.

"It is matter shame that there 1billion children suffering from abject poverty all over the world in the 21st century,’’ he said and painted the grim reality of 152 million child labourers and 60 million children never going to school and another 200 million leaving schools halfway.

Even shameful is the stark reality that 4 young children, boys and girls, are raped every hour in the country and 8 children go missing daily, who are invariably sold in dubious organ trade racket, pushed into prostitution or even exploited as child slaves. There were no specific laws banning pornography or child trafficking, he said.

"We need to create knowledge and convert it ensure a better and safe future to our children. The knowledge imparted by the educational institutions must be used to remove all forms of inequalities, disparities and exploitation to ensure real inclusive growth and development,’’ he said advances like conquering Mars or taking a close up picture of Pluto were meaningless if they do not benefit the people, especially the children.

Taking a dig at the University Grants Commission (UGC) regulation requiring the use of deemed to be university tag by private universities like Christ and said he would rather simply use Christ, Satyarthi recalled that he had visited Christ during his Bharat Yatra campaign and mentioned that he was happy to attend the golden jubilee celebrations as he was impressed by the vision, motto and core values of Christ as well as the enthusiasm, energy, dynamism and dedication shown by the students and faculty. ``I still vividly remember the impressive and powerful images of the street theatre displayed by the students during my last visit against rape and fight on all kinds of abuses suffered by children,’’ he said asking the youth to take the lead for striving for better and safe future for the children.

Dr Anil Joseph Pinto, Registrar, announced that the Christ deemed to be university was proud to announce the decision to establish a ``Satyarthi Vichar Manch’’ in honour of Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi.

Bishop of Mandya Diocese Antony Kariyil, who had served as the principal of Christ College for eight years from 1978, in his presidential address said the growth of the institution was simply stupendous. From barely 1100 students in 1978, Christ now had 21000 students and was ranked among the top 10 universities in the country and the first among private universities, which was remarkable.

The scion of the Mysore Royal Family Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, in his felicitation address, said promoting education was the priority for building economic growth and moral fiber among the youth. He also offered the patronage and support to Satyarthi for his mission to save children.

Trishika Kumari Devi Wadiyar, alumni of Christ, released a commemorative souvenir, Nurturing Excellence and Service.

Christ Deemed to be University Vice Chancellor Dr Fr Thomas C Mathew and Chancellor Dr Fr George Edayadiyil described the challenges and milestones in the growth of Christ from an ordinary college in 1969 to one of the most prestigious centre of higher learning.

The students of Christ Deemed to be University gave a scintillating dance performance that captivated the audience.