Former President Pranab Mukherjee today lamented that Indian universities lagged far behind top educational institutes in the world and stressed the need for research and innovation.
At a function here to mark the 200th birth anniversary celebrations of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, the founder of the Aligarh Muslim University, Mukherjee said Indian varsities needed to focus more on research.
"We have failed to give due importance to basic research and innovation in our institutions of higher learning," Mukherjee said.
He said the vision of India was based on a scientific outlook that generated from an "open mind".
Mukherjee added that AMU highlighted Indian nationalism and ethos.
Students from different religious, ethnic and cultural backgrounds studied and worked in the university, the former president said.
Hundreds of old students of AMU who attended the bicentenary celebrations pledged to make AMU a leading world class institution.
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