Former President APJ Abdul Kalam on Thursday said that India will have to graduate into knowledge and innovative research to emerge as leader in real terms. Stressing that research was foundation for academic excellence; he said that we have to apply new methods and techniques to take the country to the summit globally.
Kalam was addressing the first convocation of Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences at Solan.
He said that the purpose of real education was to lead the youth to outshine in the selected field. Emphasising the need of research work, he said that research leads to quality teaching and quality teaching imparted to the youth in turn enriches the research.
The former President said that economy and environment are linked to technology, which promotes prosperity. He said that India was rich in bio-diversity which could be of immense use in the field of drug evolution. The pharma industry and pharmacists should do exhaustive research and evolve drugs based on traditional Indian plants and herbs to combat many of the prevalent diseases around the world. He called upon the pharmacists and the students of various disciplines to keep these targets in mind and contribute adequately for the realisation of Indian Pharma Vision 2020.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said that Himachal Pradesh had taken significant strides in the direction of human resource development. Major health and demographic indicators and literacy rate have shown significant improvement in the last two decades.
He said that in an era of global economy, universities must endeavour to develop into an internationally recognised centre of research and education. This would enable to meet the future needs and challenges in biotechnology, pharmaceutical industry, food technology, nanotechnology, information technology and other disciplines.
Singh said Himachal Pradesh had taken a lead in mitigating climate change and conservation of environment and had initiated concrete steps for reducing Green House Gas emissions. State Government was laying special emphasis on harnessing this natural wealth of medicinal plants, besides it had earmarked Rs10 crore for raising 45 lakh herbal plant species in the State this year.