President Pranab Mukherjee has said that solution to major problems facing the country is possible through creative use of scientific knowledge, research and technological innovations. He said that no one can set a country back which is rich in knowledge of science and technology.
The President said that science education, technology researches, innovations and quality researches are indicators of nation’s progress in new era.
Addressing the convocation of Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) here today, President Pranab Mukherjee exhorted students to become self-confident through knowledge and skill and move forward to build a new India. The world belongs to youth power, he added.
The President stressed the need for finding out new ways for better use of India’s youth power and talents. Expressing concern over quality and norms of higher education in the country, he said that no Indian university is among 200 best universities in the world whereas our country boasted of universities like Nalanda and Taxila 1500 years ago where students from all over the world came. Mukherjee said that there is no dearth of talent in India and country can set norms for higher education.
Referring to scientists Hargovind Khurana, Chandrashekhar, Sir CV Raman and Amartya Sen, the President said that Indian talents can win more Nobel Prizes. These talents were nourished in India but recognised later after studying in foreign universities. Mukherjee expressed satisfaction that Indian higher education institutions are undergoing improvement. IIT-Madras and Mumbai and Guwahati have been included in top institutions of the world recently.
Governor Ram Naresh Yadav said that scientific researches need to be connected with social concerns. Stressing the need for promoting creative contributions in development of science, he said that necessary teaching and research facilities including scholarships and fellowships should be provided to students. The Governor said that our country is moving ahead rapidly in scientific, technological and technical education.
Union HRD Minister Smriti Zubin Irani said that students should make continuous efforts for academic excellence. The country’s future rests with them. She exhorted them to keep in view protection of human values along success in academics and career.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that Indian scientists are commanding respect throughout the world. He said that India has always been a scientific country. India had been an accomplished country in astrology and medical education. Nalanda and Taxila were the best universities at a time when a number of countries in the world were socially and culturally backward.
The Chief Minister said that at present there is a little lack of research in higher education whereas Indian talents have been naturally of investigative disposition. He said that schoolbag burden is affecting children’s natural talents. They have started to memorise everything instead of understanding. If children are taught in their natural environs then creative instincts of science will emerge in them. Chouhan called for lessening schoolbag burden to hone children’s natural growth.