President calls for educational revolution

President Pranab Mukherjee addressing at second
Convocation of IIT-Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday called for an educational revolution while regretting that India does not yet figure in the list of the countries with the best international educational institutions.

“As per the international ranking there is not a single Indian university, including the IITs, amongst the top 200 universities in the world,” the President said while gracing the second convocation ceremony of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bhubaneswar here.

However, he affirmed that India had a vision to be in the league of leading nations and said, “This is possible only if we have highly capable engineers, scientists, doctors, academicians and other intellectuals.”

“Academic regulation must be streamlined to create a more flexible, transparent and student friendly educational system,” Mukherjee said.

Stating that a world class higher education system is marked by excellence in functioning, Mukherjee said, “Improvement of India’s academic system calls for innovative changes.”

Mukherjee lamented that on account of lack of quality very few academic institutions can claim global reckoning.

“Our examination system must incorporate modern methods of evaluation. Top quality teachers must be recruited. A spirit of competition amongst universities must be infused,” the President said.

The President also laid emphasis on the need for research and innovation, which he said, is an important mechanism in the wheel of development.

“It is the bounden duty of all our universities and engineering institutions to put research at the forefront of their academic efforts,” said Mukherjee.

“I am happy that IIT Bhubaneswar has done exactly that,” said Mukherjee, adding that, as many as 129 students are today enrolled in its PhD programmes in the pursuit of “cutting edge research in various fields.”

Mukherjee too called upon the IITcians to have a sense of empathy for the poor and downtrodden and to realise their hopes and aspiration while remaining at the altar of success. “Never forget to retain a sense of empathy for those countrymen of yours who are still burdened with hunger, poverty, deprivation, disease and backwardness,” Mukherjee said.

Stating that IITs are recongnised the world over for the academic excellence and their alumni have earned respect globally for their intellect and professionalism, Mukherjee said, “As a product of IIT, you have to live up to expectations.”

On the occasion, Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) was conferred on three eminent scientists, Prof Asit K Biswas, Prof UR Rao and Prof Lord S Kumar Bhatacharyya.

As many as 103 B Tech Degrees and two Phd Degrees were awarded to the students besides President gold medal to Vemireddy Hari.

Governor of Odisha SC Jamir, State Culture, Tourism and Law Minister Maheswar Mohanty, IIT Bhubaneswar Board of Governors Chairman SK Roongta, Director of the institute Prof Madhusudan Chakravarty were present on the occasion.