J J school of Art not just an institute, but a laboratory of innovation: Dharmendra Pradhan

Union Minister for Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Dharmendra Pradhan today visited the 166-year-old Sir J.J. School of Art. On the occasion, he declared Sir JJ School of Art a de novo Deemed University and also unveiled the foundation stone of the new university. Maharashtra assembly speaker, Rahul Narvekar; Deputy Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis; Minister of Higher and Technical Education, Government of Maharashtra, Chandrakant Dada Patil; and Ministry of Education and Ministry of Marathi Language, Government of Maharashtra, Shri Deepak Kesarkar were present on the occasion. 

Addressing the event, Shri Pradhan said that J J school is not just an institute, it’s a laboratory of innovation. He stated that NEP2020 will be implemented here and it will become a global centre of excellence. He also mentioned that he has appealed to JJ School of Arts to make illustrations for the new textbooks and also to make a study course for Vishwakarma Yojana for those obtaining training under the scheme.

While addressing the event, Shri Pradhan said that the tradition of social responsibilities has been present in the Indian system for centuries and the JJ School of Art is an example of this. Mumbai has a great attraction among Indians for its smartness, organized approach, culture, and a ‘Mumbai Pattern’ which has been depicted by the JJ School of Art who will carry this tradition forward in the centuries to come, he emphasized.

On the occasion, Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis said that in the last 150 years the J J School of Art has produced extremely skillful human resources in the field of art, applied art and architecture. The school has contributed to creating Mumbai's iconic structures as well. He also expressed hope that the new wing of the institute would present some new art to society.

The de novo category is awarded to institutions devoted to innovations in teaching and research in unique and emerging areas of knowledge. With the Centre's approval in place, the 'Sir JJ School of Art, Architecture and Design' will become Maharashtra’s  only government-run deemed-to-be University and one among the handful institutes with the 'de novo' tag across the country.