Tripura University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Debabrata Das on Tuesday asked newly admitted students to stay away from substance abuse, value time and focus on self-improvement as they begin their university journey.

Addressing the ‘Deeksharambh (Students’ Induction Programme) 2026’ at the Maharaja Bir Bikram Shatabarshiki Bhawan at Suryamaninagar, Prof. Das said maintaining a positive attitude and making constructive use of time would help students shape their future.

“Every moment of life is important. Twenty years from now, when you look back, today’s time could become a beautiful chapter of your life,” he told the students.

The Vice-Chancellor said family and friendship were important aspects of life and urged students to enjoy their present while simultaneously working towards their future.

He made a special appeal to the students to remain away from intoxicants. Students should not make excuses to move towards substance abuse; instead, they should find reasons to make their lives healthier and better, he said.

Prof. Das also advised students against measuring their success by comparing themselves with others. Rather than competing with peers over wealth or social status, students should compete with themselves and work towards improving their skills and capabilities.

He stressed the importance of recognising opportunities and using them at the right time. According to him, every individual gets important opportunities at different stages of life, and the ability to identify and utilise them can make a difference to one’s future.

The Vice-Chancellor also asked students not to lose hope during difficult circumstances. Problems in the modern world are becoming increasingly complex and many of them cannot be addressed by individuals working alone, he said.

Emphasising teamwork, Prof. Das said collective efforts could help solve even difficult problems. He encouraged students to develop the ability to work as a team and learn from others.

The university’s officiating Registrar, Prof. Samir Kumar Sil, advised the students to complete their tasks on time and remain regular in their studies. He stressed the importance of discipline and consistency in academic life.

Lt. Col. Rohan Gupta spoke about the role of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) in improving the quality of life of young people. He explained various aspects of NCC training and its role in developing discipline and leadership among students.

Prof. Chinmoy Roy, Prof. Parthasarathi Gupta, Finance Officer Debashish Pal, Prof. Indranil Bhowmik and Prof. Ashesh Gupta were among those present at the programme. Dr. Sindhu Paudyal proposed the vote of thanks.

The Deeksharambh programme was organised to welcome newly admitted students and familiarise them with the academic environment of the Central university.

Prof. Das is the Vice-Chancellor of Tripura University, according to the university’s official website, which says he has more than three decades of experience in teaching, research, academic leadership and university administration.