Varanasi, Dec 11 (UNI) President Droupadi Murmu on Monday said that in Indian tradition, achieving the goals of wealth and work based on morality and achieving religious principles and attaining salvation have been considered as the aim of life and this can be accomplished only through knowledge.
Addressing the 45th convocation of Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith here, the President said, “In our tradition, achieving the goals of wealth and work based on morality and achieving religious principles and attaining salvation have been considered as the aim of life. The efforts for religion and salvation are accomplished only through knowledge.”
She said, “The motto of Vidyapith is ‘Vidyaya amrutham ashnute’ (immortality is gained from learning). This motto is taken from Ishopanishad.
In Ishopanishad it has been realised that practical knowledge and spiritual knowledge are complementary to each other.”
The President said, “Practical knowledge leads to fulfilment of wealth, religion and desires. Spiritual knowledge based on education leads to immortality that is salvation. In the overall concept of education, students are made capable of practical life and at the same time values of religion and spirituality are also inculcated.”
She said that the message of the confluence of the old and the new has been given in the ‘Kulgeet’ of Vidyapith. “Indian ideals like morality, ideals, religion and salvation transcend the division of new and old. Since those ideals have always existed and can be called ancient. The scope of Chir-Naveen (ever new) includes the latest trends of science and practical knowledge,” Murmu said.
The President said that association of two Bharat Ratna with this institution is proof of the glorious heritage of Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith. “Bharat Ratna Dr Bhagwan Das was the first Vice Chancellor of this Vidyapith and former Prime Minister Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri was the student of the first batch of this institution,” she said.
Murmu said that it is expected from the students of this institution that they should adopt the life values of Lal Bahadur Shastri in their conduct. She said that the journey of this Vidyapith began 26 years before the independence of the country, with the goals of self-reliance and Swaraj as envisioned by Mahatma Gandhi.
The President said, “Vidyapith, as an institution born out of the non-cooperation movement, is a living symbol of our great freedom struggle. All students of Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith are the flag bearers of our national ideals of the freedom struggle,” she said.
Murmu also said that the intention behind naming the Kashi Vidyapith, as Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith, is to express respect for the ideals of our freedom struggle. “Following those ideals and making an effective contribution to the progress of the country during the Amrit Kaal will be a true tribute to the nation-building founders of the Vidyapith,” she said.
The President said that Varanasi has been the center of Indian knowledge tradition since ancient times. “Even today, the institutions in this city are contributing in the promotion of modern knowledge and science,” she said.
Murmu urged the students and teachers of Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith to continue enriching the glory of their institution in keeping with the tradition of the center of knowledge.
