The President of India, Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday said, “The Universities are great hubs of ideas, not ivory towers and should act as agents of social change,” while addressing the valedictory ceremony of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations at the Utkal University. He said the academic community should be engaged in research in areas that do not only create knowledge base but also that supports human society.
The Utkal University, Odisha celebrated the completion of 75 years on Sunday during which Odisha Governor Ganeshi Lal, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Union Petroleum and Steel Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and State Higher Education Minister Arun Sahoo were also present.
President Kovind addresses the concluding ceremony of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of the Utkal University in Bhubaneswar; says universities are great hubs of ideas but they are not ivory towers. They are part of society and thus remain engaged with social change. pic.twitter.com/YKnrDWQlz8
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) December 8, 2019
“Institutions must spread Mahatma Gandi’s core value of ‘Ahimsa’ in a world stung by intolerance, violence, and strife,” President Kovind said. He asked teachers and students to be sensitive towards the need of the marginalized people in the country, saying education is an effective instrument for social empowerment.
He further said education, health, and environment should be taken up eagerly by institutions like Utkal University which are enriched with multi-disciplinary faculty to do anything.
“Education is the best tool for social empowerment. I am not only a passionate advocate of this belief but also proof. Universities are great hubs of ideas, but not ivory towers. They are a part of society which remain engaged with social change,” said President.
“A real scholar is one who puts his learning into practice. So in the quest of your knowledge, never forget to practice and improve with your intellect,” he further said.
He congratulated Utkal University on 75 years of its existence, he said, it is time to take the stock of its achievements and work on the areas where improvements are possible.