At the convocation ceremony of Patanjali University in Haridwar, President Droupadi Murmu highlighted the crucial role women play in building a developed India and encouraged graduates to embrace the essence of ancient Indian wisdom.
She proudly noted that 64 percent of the graduates were women and that the number of medals awarded to female students was four times higher than that of male students. The President added that this success is a sign of the upcoming India that is mature and led by women.
She got the motivation from India's brainy cultural past and she cited the four girls GARGI, MAITREYI, APALA, and LOPAMUDRA who have been not only the intellectual but also the spiritual leaders throughout history. President Murmu trusted that the women, being educated, would make the country more brilliant from the inside by their character and abilities.
She congratulated all graduates and medal recipients while specifically appreciating the teachers, guardians, and parents of the female students. Speaking from Haridwar, a sacred place known as the gateway to Lord Vishnu ('Hari') and Lord Shiva ('Har'), she acknowledged the privilege of studying under the blessings of Goddess Saraswati in such a spiritually rich setting.
She praised the university’s effort to blend modern education with Indian cultural values, turning its graduates into torchbearers of a great cultural tradition. The President paid respect to Maharishi Patanjali, the founder of Yoga, who purified the mind through Yoga, speech through Grammar, and body through Ayurveda. It is noteworthy that the university was able to maintain the relevance of Maharishi Patanjali's traditions in the current era by actively promoting Yoga, Ayurveda, and natural medicine for a healthy India.
What also captivated her was how the university unabashedly lived up to the three core principles: firstly, the ethos of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' (the world is one family), secondly, the integration of the ancient Vedic knowledge with modern science, and thirdly, taking up the challenges of the world. Addressing the students, she said they had received education that aligned with these ideals in a beautiful natural setting and stressed the importance of protecting the environment and living in harmony with nature for the future of humanity.
Concluding her speech, President Murmu expressed her strong belief that the graduates would be ready to tackle global issues such as climate change and would contribute significantly to building a virtuous society and a developed nation. On the occasion, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami congratulated the President on her life of struggle and modesty. He pointed out her recent flight in a Rafale fighter jet as a courageous act and a beautiful gesture of love towards the country which can be taken as a hopeful and bright example for the whole nation.
Moreover, President Droupadi Murmu also formally opened a Foot Over Bridge and Horse Riding Area at the President's Retreat, Dehradun. The INR 9 crore Foot Over Bridge, decorated with Himalayan-style brickwork, is a sure way of safety for the visitors to the garden of the President, which is now accessible directly from the road. The newly constructed 0.7-acre riding area is a tribute to the tradition of the Presidential Bodyguard, thus, creatively combining increased security with the heritage value of the complex.
