Department of Information Technology, Central University of Kashmir (CUKashmir), celebrated Engineers’ Day at the Tulmulla Campus here on Tuesday.
The celebration commemorates the birth anniversary of Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya, one of India’s most distinguished engineers, whose contributions continue to inspire generations of engineers.
Addressing the students and faculty members, Dean Academic Affairs, Prof. Shahid Rasool, said the modern world would have been different without engineering, as almost every aspect of contemporary life—from transportation and communication to healthcare and digital technologies—had been transformed through engineering innovations. He drew a distinction between science and engineering, observing that while scientists satisfy human curiosity and generate knowledge, engineers translate that knowledge into solutions that improve the quality of human life.
Referring to the advances in communication and healthcare, he said engineering had made it possible for people to learn from teachers anywhere in the world in real time, while sophisticated medical technologies had revolutionised diagnosis and treatment. However, Prof. Shahid Rasool stressed that Engineers’ Day should not merely be an occasion to celebrate technological achievements but also an opportunity for introspection. He said the enormous progress brought about by engineering has also generated serious challenges, including waste, pollution, environmental degradation and climate change.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Karan Nathwani, Associate Professor, Department of Electrical Engineering, IIT Jammu, said engineers should not merely attempt to solve problems but should strive to understand their root causes, examine their implications and identify the real-time challenges that affect people in their everyday lives. He encouraged students to look beyond conventional approaches and develop solutions that have direct relevance to society. Elaborating on the importance of problem-solving through engineering, Dr. Nathwani cited agriculture as one area where technology can make a substantial difference. He said Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning could be employed to automate weed identification and enable more precise interventions, thereby addressing a genuine real-time problem faced by farmers.
Thereafter, during the technical session, Dr. Karan Nathwani gave a detailed presentation about Artificial Intelligence.
Earlier, in his welcome remarks, Sr. Asst Prof. Dr. Yashpaul, said, engineering is not simply about obtaining a degree; it is a rigorous way of thinking. “It demands that we look at a problem, understand its root causes, develop possible solutions, test them, and continuously improve upon them,” he added.
Er. Zahoor Ahmad Najar proposed the vote of thanks. Er. Afaq Alam was also present.
