Srinagar, Aug 30: Stating that curiosity is the first lamp of knowledge, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday called for balancing values and science.
“Science gives us speed and values give us direction,” Sinha said, addressing the students on the Foundation Day of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board and the Annual Day of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Gurukul.
The Lieutenant Governor said that in Indian tradition, asking questions has never been regarded as a weakness. “The Upanishadic tradition is one of dialogue, reflection, and experience. Teachers should impart not only knowledge but also values and Samskara to students,” he said.
Highlighting the importance of balancing values and science, Sinha said that science gives us speed, while values give us direction — and the balance between speed and direction is true progress.
“The journey of artificial intelligence and spirituality should proceed together. Our objective should be to strengthen our roots through values and give students new wings through science. I am pleased that the Gurukul has included modern subjects, particularly science and computer technology, as part of its educational system,” he said.
The LG urged the Gurukul and Shrine Board to make environmental consciousness a way of life. He called for initiatives in water conservation, energy conservation, tree plantation, and cleanliness, making the institutions living examples of sustainable development.
“Our ancient scriptures reflect deep respect for nature. The Prithvi Sukta of the Atharvaveda expresses a spirit of gratitude towards the Earth and a commitment to its protection. At a time when we are confronting the challenges of climate change, we need to study and understand our knowledge traditions along with modern scientific understanding,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor proposed three initiatives for the Gurukul:
1. Values and Science Innovation Centre — to create dialogue between Indian knowledge traditions and modern science.
2. Service and Society Campaign — to connect students with communities through service activities like cleanliness, digital literacy, and environmental protection.
3. Future Skills and Ethical Technology — to prepare students for emerging technologies with responsibility and ethics.
“I have full confidence that Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Gurukul will, in the years ahead, emerge as a centre of education where tradition and modernity enrich one another, and where students become aware, sensitive, and virtuous citizens. Knowledge is complete only when it is accompanied by compassion, humility, and a sense of responsibility towards humanity,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
“May Mata Vaishno Devi bless us all with strength, wisdom, and the spirit of service, and may she bless India to continue moving forward on the path of knowledge, compassion, and progress,” he added.
