Kalyan-Dombivli has been a Commerce education hub and the Birla College has been granted “The College of Excellence” status by UGC and has secured 3.58 CGPA by NAAC. Dr Naresh Chandra, Principal of the College, talks about various achievements of the institution in a conversation with Kartik Sharma of Elets News Network (ENN)
The first lady doctor was from Kalyan-Dombivli, and now it features in the list of 98 smart cities. What is your reaction? We’ve always believed that any city or country can grow to the best of its abilities only through education. Education—be it primary, higher, traditional subjects or professional courses—alone can take a city forward.
I am very happy that Kalyan-Dombivli has been selected to be developed into a smart city. It is a historic city and now we have to convert it into a modern city. The Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) has taken great initiatives, which has culminated into its selection.
It was on account of various initiatives by the KDMC in the past few decades that so many institutions of higher education have emerged here. I am waiting to see Kalyan-Dombivli emerging as an education hub and students from all over the country and abroad come here and seek world-class education.
“In today’s times, it has become imperative for a child to receive valuebased education from primary till higher education. The tenets of clean city, green city and disciplined city will be achieved only if we can create an ecosystem of value-based education system”
In your view, how much role will education play in elevating KalyanDombivli to a smart city?
Education has a huge role to play there. In today’s times, it has become imperative for a child to receive value-based education from primary till higher education. The tenets of clean city, green city and disciplined city will be achieved only if we can create an ecosystem of value-based education system. Through education, we can reach out to each and every person in the society. So, I am sure it will be a city which everybody will fall in love with.
What role can skill development play in building up of a smart city?
In present times, skill development is very important and our Prime Minister has struck the right chord. The youth must have vocational, skill-based and employable education. In our college, we have started UGC-sponsored Diploma Course in Accounting and Taxation. Since this area is known as the hub of commerce education, it makes sense that a student pursues this course in order to become a better-serving citizen.
How is the Birla College contributing to the educational development of this area and where do you stand in that?
Whatever I have achieved in life, I owe to Kalyan city. The Birla College has become part and parcel of Kalyan-Dombivli corporation. My college has about 9,500 students in Science, Commerce and Arts streams. The UGC has granted us, “The College of Excellence” status. Very few colleges in the country have this status. NAAC has also accredited us with Grade ‘A’ and CGPA of 3.58, which is also a significant very achievement. We don’t want to compromise with quality. There are several UGCsponsored initiatives, like Gandhian Study Centre, Woman Study Centre and Woman Development Centre, for the college.