Education is an instrument to set mankind free from bondage of narrowness: Mukherjee

President Pranab Mukherjee attended the 5th convocation of National Institute of Technology, Agartala today.

Speaking on the occasion, Mukherjee said education is an instrument to set mankind free from the bondage of narrowness. It widens our horizon and shapes our fundamental thinking. As Aristotle had proclaimed "Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all".

Mukherjee said the unfortunate incidents of the recent past involving heinous crimes against women and children calls for a revisit to our moral values. Students must be in the forefront of the battle for women's security, rights and welfare.

Universities must act as guides in meeting contemporary moral challenges and ensuring that nine essential civilizational values of love for motherland; performance of duty; compassion for all; tolerance for pluralism; respect for women; honesty in life; self-restraint in conduct, responsibility in action and discipline are fully entrenched in the young minds.

The President awarded Honoris Causa D (Science) to Prof. Rolf-Dieter Heuer, Director General of CERN and Prof. Bikash Sinha an eminent Indian Physicist on the occasion. He also dedicated the NITA Sports Complex to the nation.