Once again, Prez bats for tolerance on desi campuses

President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday said there should be no room for intolerance, prejudice and hatred in educational institutions which should act as flag bearers for coexistence of multiple views.

Addressing a special convocation of the University of Mumbai to confer Honorary Doctor of Law to famous agriculture scientist M S Swaminathan, he said the higher education sector has a crucial role in national development effort.

He said ancient India, with its centres of learning such as Nalanda and Takshshila, was known for high-level of philosophical debates and discussions which should be encouraged.

Mukherjee said, “We should embrace free conversation and even argument, leaving behind narrow mindsets and thoughts. The lesson for a modern Indian university is to ensure that this great tradition finds new life and vigour within its precincts.”

“The University which has Mahatma Gandhi in its list of illustrious alumni has always recognised leaders who have played significant roles in transforming various fields,” he added.

This was not the first time Mukherjee has spoken about intolerance. While delivering a lecture in Kochi recently, the President had said those in universities must engage in reasoned discussion and debate rather than propagate a culture of unrest.

He said the higher education ecosystem has a crucial role to play in national development efforts and influences various growth centres in the economy. “The growth of an economy depends on higher education in many important ways. The quality of training provided to students employed by the economy determines its competence,” the President said.