PRESIDENT OF INDIA GRACES CONVOCATION CEREMONY OF MAHATMA GANDHI ANTARRASHTRIYA HINDI VISHWAVIDYALAYA

The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu graced the sixth convocation ceremony of Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya at Wardha, Maharashtra today (April 16, 2026).

Speaking on the occasion, the President said that the soul of India finds expression through Indian languages. A single stream of culture, sensibility and consciousness flows through the various Indian languages. She was happy to note that students from various states across the country, including those from the North-Eastern region, are pursuing their education at the Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya. She underlined that this tradition of inter-linguistic dialogue will contribute to the advancement of all Indian languages, including Hindi.

The President advised students to take pride in our heritage. She said that with this spirit of national pride, they must give special attention to two national objectives. These objectives are intrinsically linked to Indianness, our national identity and the talent and self-confidence of our fellow citizens, particularly the youth. These are to eradicate the vestiges of a colonial mindset and to re-establish the Indian tradition of knowledge. She advised students not to oppose any language, but to take pride in Indian languages.

The President said that naming this university after the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, is entirely befitting. It is expected of everyone associated with this university that they will work with unwavering resolve towards the promotion and development of Hindi and other Indian languages. She expressed confidence that by adhering to the ideals of Bapu, all stakeholders of the Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya will continue to constantly enhance the glory of the university.

The President said that Gandhiji regarded education as the foundation of self-reliance. He emphasised that only the education linked to the life necessities of the majority of the citizens constitutes meaningful education. He termed any education that did not serve the national interest as ‘un-national education’ and criticised it. He regarded the ability to understand the sentiments of the people, to take an interest in the lives of the masses, and to advocate on their behalf as an integral part of meaningful education. The President highlighted that Gandhiji's views on education remain just as useful today as they were nearly a hundred years ago.

The President said that it is our own language alone that can serve as the language of creation, of exploration and of original thought and innovation. We must create original works, not mere imitations. We aspire to build a strong, Atmanirbhar and Viksit Bharat. The realisation of such an India is possible only upon the bedrock of Indian languages. Driven by various initiatives, including the ‘National Education Policy’, our nation is advancing in the right direction. She expressed confidence that the young students of the Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya will not only achieve personal growth but also make substantial contributions to nation-building, thereby enhancing India’s prestige on the global stage.