'Rediscover forgotten knowledge': President Murmu urges research on India’s scientific legacy

NEW DELHI: President of India, Droupadi Murmu highlighted historical examples such as the flood management expertise of Suyya in Kashmir and the scientific advancements of the Gupta period, calling for intensive research to uncover India’s overlooked scientific legacy. She also underscored the need for social inclusion in education, ensuring that economic, social, or psychological barriers do not hinder access to higher education.

Murmu was speaking at the inauguration of the two-day Visitor’s Conference 2024-25 at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday, where she emphasised the revival of India's scientific heritage alongside a commitment to excellence and inclusivity in higher education.

“Our country has a rich tradition of scientific achievements,” she said, urging institutions to integrate Indian Knowledge Systems into modern education. "Conducting serious research to rediscover lost streams of invaluable but forgotten knowledge will be highly beneficial. I expect all of you to identify and document such overlooked scientific contributions from ancient India," she added, as the President stressed that it is the responsibility of the higher education ecosystem to rediscover and adapt these invaluable knowledge streams to contemporary needs.

She called on institutional leaders to support students by addressing their insecurities and offering moral and spiritual guidance. “Ensuring the well-being of every student should be a priority for institutional administration,” she urged. She also noted the declining enthusiasm for classroom teaching in the post-pandemic era, emphasising the importance of interactive learning: “There is no substitute for the lively interaction between students and teachers. Encouraging experiential learning will enhance students’ interest in subjects.”

Murmu emphasised that a nation's development is intrinsically linked to the quality of its education system. She urged the heads of higher learning institutions to prioritise research alongside education, highlighting the establishment of the National Research Fund as a crucial step in fostering innovation. “The true value of research lies in its novelty, utility, and broad impact,” she remarked, adding that Indian research should aim to solve local, regional, and national challenges.

She set forth an ambitious vision for India’s higher education sector, stating, “Our researchers should be honoured with world-class awards, our institutions’ patents should drive global change, and students from developed countries should choose India as their preferred destination for higher education.”

As part of the conference, the Visitor’s Awards were presented in the categories of innovation, research, and technology development where Professor Saripella Srikrishna (Banaras Hindu University) received the award for innovation for his work in quantum technology to boost the National Green Hydrogen Mission, professor Ashwini Kumar Nangia (University of Hyderabad) was honoured with the award for research in physical sciences for developing high bioavailability drugs at affordable costs, professor Rina Chakrabarti (University of Delhi) and professor Raj Kumar (Central University of Punjab) jointly received the award for research in biological sciences for their contributions to sustainable freshwater aquaculture and anticancer research, respectively and Venkateswarlu Chintala (Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya) won the award for technology development for his research on commercial-scale petrol and diesel production from landfill plastic waste.

The conference will continue tomorrow, focusing on crucial topics such as flexibility in academic courses, international collaborations, translational research, and effective student assessments. The outcomes of these discussions will be presented to the President during the closing session.

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