Pranab Mukherjee addressed 1st Convocation of IIT, Jodhpur

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee has addressed the first Convocation of Indian Institute of Technology, Jodhpur on July 10, 2013.

Addressing the students, the President said they are not only a valuable asset for their profession, but also the intellectual wealth of our nation.

They are products of an education system of a new nation, born out of an old civilisation. They must fully understand the democratic ideals of our country.

They must not only embrace the rights that are provided in our polity but also accept whole-heartedly their responsibilities towards the nation.

The President reminded the students that they are amongst the brightest young minds of our country. The governance of our country and issues of national importance should excite them. They should read, learn and formulate views on these issues.

A healthy democracy is marked by informed participation. He asked them to inform themselves and inform others. He further called upon the students to engage with India's beautiful, complex, often difficult and sometimes noisy democracy.

They should help the nation create better citizens who understand their rights and responsibilities. He asked students to lead the world, be the change that they seek in the world and make India proud.

The President said access to higher education should not only be for the privileged few. There is need for quality educational institutions across the length and breadth of our country.

Student aid schemes should be institutionalised to make education affordable for meritorious students from economically difficult backgrounds.

Increasing accessibility of higher education will bring a greater section of youth into the system, resulting in a larger pool of trained and competent manpower to fuel the growth centers of our economy.