With so many learning avenues for the present generation, rediscovering the rich legacy of India is at the heart of the New Education Policy as it brings together the best of Tradition and modernity, President Droupadi Murmu said on Wednesday.
Delivering the 10th convocation address at the Central University of Tiruvarur, 319 km south of Chennai, she said, “In India, we have great and ancient traditions that sought knowledge for the sake of knowledge. In today’s digital age, you (students) are in an enviable position of having so many learning resources available to you that it was not possible for any previous generation. This is at the heart of the National Education Policy; it brings together the best of tradition and modernity.”
Keep learning was her advice as the internet revolution has transformed with new professions, with AI having come up, changing the face of industrial revolution 4.0 and work culture. “In such a dynamic environment, those who can adapt and learn new skills will become leaders of change,” she added.
Education, she said, must aim to link individual development with social development and to underscore this, quoted her predecessor, Dr S Radhakrishnan, “literacy is not education; knowledge is not education; but the growth of wisdom, the capacity to look upon others with compassion, that is what is necessary.” Emphasising that education should be oriented towards the benefit of society, the President called upon the students to collaborate with the industry to make use of technology for enriching nature and ecology, towards the larger good of humanity.
Recalling her journey as a school teacher and learning being a lifelong one, the President remarked: “As they say, once a teacher, always a teacher.” To drive home this, she said, “Mahatma Gandhi remained a student all his life, learning languages like Tamil and Bangla, scriptures like the Gita, and skills like making sandals and spinning charkha. You should keep the sense of wonder alive and remain curious.”
On the University contributing to the comprehensive development of the marginalised sections through initiatives like Community College and the Dr Ambedkar Centre of Excellence, the President said she was delighted to see that girls have won more than two-thirds of the gold medals which, according to her, is a sign of inclusive growth of society. Drawing the attention of the students about being a citizen of India, she said, “It is a source of pride and confidence. You are part of a society that has contributed to your achievement today. Others have helped you to reach here and so you should help those who need a helping hand.”