Speech by Her Excellency the President of India Shrimati Pratibha Devisingh Patil at the Convocation of Manipal University

Ladies and Gentlemen,

and Dear Students,

I am very happy to be here at the 10th Convocation of Manipal University, an institution which is a product of the vision and commitment to education of Dr. T. Madhav Anant Pai. It started as the Academy of General Education in 1942, and after imparting education for over five decades, it became a deemed University in 1993. Today, Manipal is one of the leading academic and education institutions in the country. I wish the University of Manipal a bright and prosperous future.

Speaking to students, I am always reminded that India with a large youth population has a unique demographic advantage in terms of manpower availability for building the nation. The energy of the youth and their enthusiasm must be guided into productive work. Their ideas and innovations tapped for the betterment of society. Peaceful and prosperous nations are indeed, predicated on an educated and well-informed population. Universities have a responsibility to nurture the future citizens of the country. The education system must look at the holistic development of the youth of the country. In this context, I would like to emphasize three aspects which are very important for the overall development of the youth.

One, education is about knowledge. Dear students, whatever subjects you choose you must study them well and in-depth. Merely learning for passing exams is not enough, you should comprehend the various topics through a critical and analytical process. Quest for learning and a questioning mind, push the frontiers of knowledge, and will result in delving deep into subjects, researching and innovating. As the youth, it should be your aim to become intellectually competent and technically skilled.

Second, knowledge without values is incomplete. It is a value system that can prepare the younger generation to become responsible citizens who contribute to the welfare of the society, and to the advancement of the human race. Values provide an anchor in life as well as the ability to take decisions, however difficult. They make you strong and capable of withstanding the trials and tribulations of life. Concepts of peace, harmony and tolerance must be learned here. We are a democratic nation, which means there must be willingness to listen to the other's point of view, and to have respect for differing perceptions. The education system must strengthen adherence to secularism, inclusiveness and pluralism. These are the great values enshrined in our Constitution and developed by our civilization. These give strength and sustenance to our diverse multi-cultural, multi-religious and multi-lingual society.

The third aspect which is important is to build a spirit of working together constructively. In this, sports play an important part. Apart from physical fitness, sports develop qualities like team spirit, discipline and learning to accept success and defeat.

It is important that Universities have an environment conducive for the healthy growth of the students, so that their talents can blossom and they become positive individuals. Our nation has made significant strides. We also responded creatively to advances in electronics, communications and computer technology and resultantly, India has emerged as a major player in these fields. To maintain a leadership role in the knowledge economy, we must focus on innovation and on remaining competitive. Today, we are the fourth largest economy in the world in terms of Purchasing Power Parity, and one of the fastest growing economies of the world. Given our impressive performance during the last decade, and our resilience during the global economic downturn, we can look forward to achieving double digit growth rates. However, we have to address many constraints and remove many roadblocks on our growth trajectory. For a nation which is the seventh largest in geographical terms, and the second largest in terms of population, our existing physical infrastructure is inadequate. We have to change this situation. The number of bridges, roads, harbours, as well as our power generation capacity and transport facilities, among others, require extensive additions. This means that the nation needs a large corps of well-trained engineers and technologists.

Technology carries with itself the immense power to bring about revolutionary changes. Our first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru said, "Who indeed could afford to ignore science today? At every turn we have to seek its aid.... The future belongs to science and those who make friends with science." A sound base of research in India had led to the Green and White Revolutions in the country, which brought about far-reaching changes. Our scientists and researchers must look at bringing in new revolutions for enhancing productivity on a sustainable basis, may it be agriculture or any other area. Unfortunately, there has been a decline in our research capacity. Teaching basic science with practical applications to change the landscape of our villages and towns should be looked at seriously by our education system.

Speaking at other universities in India, I have also emphasized that the activities of good universities must strive to contribute to the richness of the cultural, literary and social aspects of their immediate community. It is in this context, that Universities must have outreach programmes that enable students to interact with local communities and understand their issues. Those who are educated must work for the upliftment of the disadvantaged sections of society as a part of their social responsibility. They can undertake social welfare work, help the poor as well as the needy and become messengers of change, and in this way, become individuals who have a sense of responsibility to society. This requires a spirit of social service. We have to reach out and connect India physically, technologically and, need I say, emotionally!

Education should also broaden the outlook of the youth, moving them away from a narrow approach to life. Education should impart values to the youth that makes them sensitive to fellow human beings and the environs around them. They should learn the qualities of the head and the heart. As Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore said, "The highest education is that which does not merely give us information but makes our life in harmony with all existence." Our Universities therefore, should be symbols of learning, humanism, tolerance and balanced reasoning. Practices like ragging and harassing should find no place in educational institutions. I earnestly appeal to students and educational institutions to stop this most disrespectful practice. Education involves a process of learning and sometimes unlearning as well. Learn what is good and useful to society, and unlearn what is harmful to you and society. There is one aspect that concerns me, and that is the rising habit of drug consumption among students. Drugs debilitate life and when students take to drugs they are drawn away from academic and intellectual pursuits, often disturbing campus life. There should be a campaign to make students aware of the ill effects of drug consumption.

Universities help a nation in giving it economic vitality, scientific prowess, a broad outline of social change and global competitiveness. I call on the management, faculty members and students, to continue to strive for excellence. With these words, I once again, would like to say that how happy I am to be here at Manipal University. I am confident that the students who have received their degrees today will do well in their careers. You should always remember that success is based on dedication and perseverance. With these words, I wish success to the young graduates.

Thank You.

Jai Hind!