Puttaparthi: With India emerging in
the forefront of the "innovative world", the universities
should focus more on research so that the country can build on
its achievements in various areas such as biotechnology and
nuclear science, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Monday.
At the same time, Singh pointed out that accelerating
technological and social changes have put new pressures on
individuals and society leading to great and urgent challenges
and stressed on the need for value based education.
"Today we cannot succeed without providing value based
education to our youth," he said addressing students at the
convocation of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning
here.
Observing that the country required global leaders in
education, entrepreneurship, technology and management, Singh
said, "We must create systems and opportunities where they
will acquire the skills to enable them to excel not just in
India, but also increasingly on the global stage.
"As India modernizes, grows and plays a larger role in
world affairs, we will need an ever-expanding pool of human
resources, the quality of which will have to be second to
none," he said, adding, "We are now emerging in the forefront
of the innovative world and we need researchers and inventors
who will create the technologies and systems of the future".
The Prime Minister said scientists and technicians
have already achieved renown in areas like IT, pharmacological
sciences and biotechnology, space and nuclear technology. "If
we are to sustain and expand this, it is vitally important
that our universities become more prolific in research on a
much larger scale".
The university education also needed to shape students
who would meet the needs of a modern, rapidly growing economy
and a fast changing society, Singh said.
Referring to various works in the field of water
supply, education, medical and health undertaken by Shri
Sathya Sai Baba to alleviate the sufferings of the poor and
the needy, Singh said "such benevolence and philanthropy
should be an example to the many in our country who have the
means, but are yet not able to emulate it".
The Prime Minister also asked the students to reach
out to those less fortunate and less privileged. "I am not
talking about charity. I have in mind the idea of sharing, of
giving of yourselves, your abilities and skills, to lend a
helping hand where nobody else stands ready," he said.
PTI
