Education – President Murmu Encourages Graduates to Create Opportunities for Society
Education – President Droupadi Murmu has urged graduating students to measure success by the positive impact they create rather than the positions they obtain. Addressing the first convocation ceremony of the Central Tribal University of Andhra Pradesh (CTUAP) in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday, she encouraged students to become entrepreneurs, support their communities, and use their education to improve the lives of those who continue to face social and economic challenges. Degrees were awarded to 373 students during the ceremony, including 13 recipients of gold medals.
Education Should Benefit the Wider Community
Reflecting on her own academic journey, President Murmu recalled becoming the first graduate from her village and said that many students receiving degrees at CTUAP were likely the first graduates in their own families. She encouraged them to remember their roots and extend support to people who have not had similar educational opportunities. According to the President, education achieves its true purpose only when it helps others move forward alongside individual success.
Tribal Universities Have a Larger Responsibility
The President said that institutions established for tribal communities should serve purposes beyond academic instruction. She noted that such universities can become important centres for research, leadership, and policy development while addressing the practical needs of tribal populations. She stressed that these institutions should work closely with nearby communities to strengthen education, healthcare, livelihood opportunities, skill development, awareness of forest rights, and the preservation of indigenous languages, cultural traditions, and traditional knowledge systems.
Women Students Set an Encouraging Example
Highlighting the university’s academic achievements, President Murmu pointed out that nearly 46 percent of this year’s graduating students were women. She also noted that around 70 percent of the gold medal winners were female students, describing the achievement as a positive indication of growing gender equality and women’s participation in higher education. She said these figures reflect increasing educational opportunities for young women and demonstrate the value of creating inclusive academic environments.
Focus on Traditional Knowledge and Modern Learning
The President appreciated the university’s efforts to combine traditional tribal knowledge with contemporary education. She noted that CTUAP has introduced initiatives covering tribal welfare, climate change, nutrition, public health, entrepreneurship, community development, and energy conservation. According to her, integrating indigenous knowledge with modern academic disciplines can help produce practical solutions that benefit both local communities and the country as a whole.
Leaders Highlight University’s Growing Importance
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan described the university’s first convocation as an important milestone in its institutional journey. He expressed confidence that the Central Tribal University of Andhra Pradesh would continue to grow into a nationally respected institution. He also emphasised that higher education institutions should actively contribute solutions to emerging national and global challenges while preparing students to support India’s long-term development goals.
Students Encouraged to Create Lasting Impact
Addressing the gathering, Andhra Pradesh HRD and IT Minister Nara Lokesh told graduates that education becomes meaningful only when it creates positive change in society. He encouraged students to pursue innovation, entrepreneurship, and responsible citizenship instead of limiting their aspirations to conventional career paths. He remarked that the value of education is ultimately reflected through meaningful contributions to society rather than academic qualifications alone.
Lokesh also referred to President Murmu’s inspiring journey from a tribal village in Odisha to becoming the President of India. He said her life demonstrates how determination, education, and dedication to public service can transform lives. He further observed that universities located in tribal regions have an important role in expanding educational access, improving social mobility, and supporting inclusive development for future generations