President Mukherjee attended the book launch of Vice President Hamid Ansari on Wednesday, May 8, counting the importance of university education in Indian scenario.
Why are universities so important for the President?
One of the most well educated politicians, Mukherjee marked the importance of universities in his life:
University tours helped in gaining more knowledge
He frankly described that being a visitor at various universities helped him learning a number of things
He is also obliged to the institutions for bringing in their inputs, which have "enriched my life and expanded the horizon of my knowledge"
"I am deeply grateful to them (institutions of higher learning) that at least at the fag end also, I got the right type of lessons from my gurus," he said.
Though we have such premium education institutions, where we are lacking behind?
President Mukherjee counts a number of flaws in higher level education system:
According to the President, India is losing its precious gems and great minds as many IITs prefer working with international companies abroad and not in their own country
As many as 2,000 students fly abroad in search of job, he mentioned in his speech
"This talent must be better utilised than promoting products of big MNCs (Multi-National Companies)," he said, adding that massive investments have to be made in research and development activities in order to make a "knowledge society"
He further augmented the audience by mentioning that "no Indian University got a Nobel prize for research in original"
Indeed, the President has been showing the importance of research in quality education in higher learning institutions.
What are the possible solutions?
"You can hold on your ground, no harm, but don't shut the windows as Gandhiji said 'I refuse to be blown off but I will not think of shutting the windows, let the free flow of window blow across my room so that I can enrich myself'," he said after receiving the book
Pointing towards 'academic freedom', President Mukherjee explained that the flow of information and thoughts should be free
He also emphasized on the need of the hour, which is to develop research and innovation cell in the universities. "If we cannot improve our educational qualities, educational standards in the basic areas like research and innovation then how will we occupy our rightful place in the high table of the comity of nations?," he asked, adding that there was surely "no lack of talent" among the students and teachers in the country
Teachers and academicians should be given more respect and recognition in the institution
Source: Indiatoday
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