Emphasising that country's political leadership should understand the importance of education for development, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said ways should be devised for reversing the brain drain.
"I urge all our political leaders to understand the central importance of education in the development of our country," he said accepting the honorary doctorate conferred by the Madras University at a special convocation to mark the conclusion of its sesquicentennial celebrations.
"We have to devise ways and means to facilitate the reverse flow of global Indian talent resident abroad into our knowledge institutions," he said.
Singh said considerable part of public debate was presently focused on short-term problems. "Unfortunately, a considerable part of our public discourse is focused on short-term problems and on issues pertaining to access to what is presently available. We are not devoting as much attention to questions of growth and development and to the challenge of a multi-fold expansion of opportunities," he said.
Students should strive to make India a major powerhouse of knowledge with an inclusive and innovative approach.
He said expansion of opportunities should not compromise on the standards and outcome of education.
Stressing that a university always stood for "humanism, tolerance, reason and progress", Singh asked "if the temple of learning itself becomes a home of narrow bigotry and petty objectives, how then will the nation prosper or a people grow in stature."
