With time skills change too: Prof Harshe

NEW DELHI, India, May 18 -- "There was a time when the handloom industry flourished like anything, but the advent of the textile industry heralded a revolution which has led to a practical extinction of the handloom industry, just because as time changes, skills change too", said Prof Rajen Harshe, Vice Chancellor, University of Allahabad, while speaking as the guest of honour on the 38th World Telecommunication Day organized by the Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers [IETE] Allahabad Centre.

Speaking on the theme, "Promoting Global Cyber Security" Prof Harshe called upon the younger generation, while directing his address to the vast student gathering, to "understand that the learning process never ends, and you all should enrich yourselves with enough knowledge about information and communications technologies so that talents from across the world should converge in India, instead of the United States." With its vast financial reservoir, Prof Harshe informed, a great amount of talent was being "bought" by the US, and if "the youngsters of today really understood that knowledge is power and power is knowledge, India would emerge as "world power in knowledge economy with its greatest asset that was its human capital."

In his welcome address Prof S G Prakash, J K Institute of Applied Physics and Technology, Allahabad University, and also Chairman IETE Allahabad, introduced the theme of the event and explained its relevance in today's context. Prof P N Gupta, Hony. Secy., IETE Allahabad rendered out the message from the Secretary General of the ITU. In the first invited presentation Prof M M Gore, Dept. of Computer Science & Engineering, Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology, Allahabad, gave a introductory, yet exhaustive talk on "Network Security and Associated Drawbacks" that comprised of "characteristics of security and security mechanisms" which covered topics such as cryptography, internet protocol security, attacks on confidentiality over networks.

Er Anil Agrawal, IPS, DIG, Police Varanasi, who had headed the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force, UP Police, delivered an extremely interactive presentation on "The Global Information Highway and National Security", whose work had contributed to the maturity of electronics surveillance in this state. Greatly appreciated by not only the Guest of Honour, Prof Harshe, Er Agrawal's presentation which included Case Studies, was also applauded by Dr G S Darbari, President, Eastern UP Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Past Chairman, IETE Allahabad and Dr. K K Bhutani, former Head, Computer Centre, Allahabad University and immediate former Council Member, IETE National Executive, New Delhi, in addition to the students and other members of the distinguished gathering.

Earlier, Organizing Secretary, IETE Allahabad, Er Sanjaya Kala, who conducted the event, spoke about the significance of World Telecommunication Day that was held on May 17 every year and about the International Telecommunication Union [ITU], that was an integral part of the United Nations. It was also decided that May 17, every year, according to a resolution of the ITU, would also be declared as the 'World Information Society Day," he added .

The Event concluded with the vote of thanks delivered by Er.P.N.Gupta, Reader, J K Institute of Applied Physics and Technology, Allahabad University and Hony Secy, IETE Allahabad Centre.

The Hindustan Times is provided through HT Syndication, New Delhi.