KANPUR: Uttar Pradesh governor Anandiben Patel on Thursday said women should strive to become “expert mothers” before aspiring to become IAS officers or teachers, stressing that professional success should not come at the cost of family responsibilities.Addressing the 41st convocation of Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University (CSJMU) in Kanpur, Patel urged women to continue their education and careers after marriage while contributing to family and nation-building.“Whether you become an IAS officer or a teacher, first become an expert mother. Everyone should know how to cook the food prepared at home,” she said.The governor, who is also the chancellor of state universities, said daughters should not discontinue their education after marriage and should use their knowledge and skills in the service of the nation.“Just as we wring clothes to separate the water, in the same way, wherever you go in society, wring out your knowledge completely in the service of the nation,” she said, while urging students to acquire practical skills alongside academic qualifications to become self-reliant.Patel also advised parents to remain actively involved in their children’s lives even after they join schools and colleges.“Parents should know what their children are doing after they enter educational institutions. Even a small lapse in supervision can adversely affect their future,” she said.Expressing concern over drug abuse near university hostels, Patel claimed a monitoring team from Raj Bhavan had found narcotics allegedly being supplied through food delivery containers, adding that the network was dismantled through administrative intervention.Linking the rise in domestic violence and crimes against women to declining moral values, she said education should focus on character-building as much as academic achievement.“If degrees are increasing but society continues to witness such crimes, it reflects the true state of our education. Moral values are as important as academic knowledge,” she said.Women dominated this year’s convocation, winning 42 of the 51 medals, accounting for nearly 82% of all medal recipients. Degrees were conferred on over 1.07 lakh students, while Priya Yadav, a BSc Agriculture graduate, received the Chancellor’s Gold Medal for securing the highest marks in the university. Patel also launched DigiLocker-based digital degree distribution for graduates.The governor praised the university’s use of artificial intelligence in academics and administration and lauded initiatives such as skill-development programmes, yoga, music, moral education, counselling services and fee concessions for dependants of Agniveers.Patel’s remarks come days after a series of speeches focusing on women, family values and self-reliance. Earlier this week, she called for greater awareness on women’s health, maternal care and campaigns against child marriage, while at another convocation she advised students to become financially independent before marriage, saying, “If you like someone, first become self-reliant, then get married.”
