Former President Pranab Mukherjee Address 10th Edition of Indian Management Conclave

Addressing the 10^th edition of Indian Management Conclave, former President of India, Pranab Mukherjee advised engineering aspirants to aim for admission in IITs (Indian Institutes of Technology) so that they can serve larger purposes. According to him, India needs IIT graduates as their talent can be used for a better purpose. The talent of IIT graduates should not be confined to a regular job, and innovations are expected from them, he added.

During his address, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee emphasized promoting basic research in the country. He cited an example where he asked an IIT Director whether he knew any student who had dedicated his life for basic research. However, the IIT Director replied that he was not sure about it, and Pranab Mukherjee was very much disappointed with the reply he received. Therefore, it is advisable for the students to focus on basic research, which not only brings them fame but also they can contribute to the country in a greater way, he explained.

Adding further, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee said that the education in India excelled during the years 6^th century BC to 12^th century AD due to the existence of popular universities like Vikramshila, Nalanda and Takshshila. Until the Nalanda and Takshshila were destroyed, India was a leading country in higher education, and thousands of students from abroad used to pursue higher education in India. Now, the scenario has changed, and thousands of Indian students have been going abroad for higher studies. This scenario has to be changed, he hoped.

Throwing light on the development of higher education in India, Pranab Mukherjee said that he is proud of the IIT graduates in the country. IITs have a great reputation in India, and the focus on higher education was extreme from the first five-year plan to 12^th five plan. During these five year plans, the Indian government was successful in building huge infrastructure, increasing the number of higher learning institutes, increasing the number of IITs from 8 to 16 and the number of NITs to 30, he detailed.

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Expressing his disappointment, Pranab Mukherjee said that India did not have any Nobel laureate since 1933 who is doing basic research in any Indian university. India has good talent resources, and the emphasis on pursuing basic research in higher learning institutes is poor. Students should be encouraged to take up basic research, he advised.

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Concluding his speech, Pranab Mukherjee stressed that India needs teachers who help students in pursuing basic research.