LUCKNOW: Chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Monday visited Colvin Taluqdars’ College in Lucknow shortly after arriving in the city as part of his two-day visit to Uttar Pradesh.Kumar topped the Uttar Pradesh Board in both High School in 1979 and Intermediate in 1981. He stood first among nearly 10 lakh students in High School and six lakh students in Intermediate.Speaking to the media, Kumar said Lucknow had been his “tapobhoomi”, or place of learning and dedication, as he had received his education in the city. He said he had returned to his “karmabhoomi” after several years to deliver a message to the voters of Uttar Pradesh.Kumar said the Election Commission would focus on educating people about the electoral process, particularly through interactions with booth level officers (BLOs), who form the foundation of democracy.He added that programmes would also be organised in universities and schools across Uttar Pradesh to explain the election process and highlight the importance of transparency.“Lucknow has been my place of learning. I studied here and have returned to my place of work after many years to convey a message to the voters of Uttar Pradesh,” he said.During his interaction with students at Colvin Taluqdars’ College, Kumar recalled the lessons he had learnt at the institution and said they had helped him throughout his life.He told the students that college years were an important phase when teachers, institutions and the surrounding environment offered valuable learning opportunities. He said students should remain receptive to the ideas and values imparted by their teachers.Kumar said he enjoyed interacting with the students and reflected on the similarity between their present phase of life and his own time at the college.“That was one phase of life, and this is another,” he said.
