President Droupadi Murmu said education is the most transformative force in her life while receiving an Honorary Doctorate from the Bucharest University of Economic Studies in Romania. She highlighted education as a great equaliser promoting inclusion, ethics, compassion and stronger India-Romania friendship.
President Droupadi Murmu on Friday described education as the “single-most transformative force” in her life while receiving the prestigious Honorary Doctorate (Doctor Honoris Causa) from the Bucharest University of Economic Studies in Romania. The honour, the university’s highest academic distinction, recognised her significant contributions to academia, public service and international cooperation.
Speaking at the award ceremony, President Murmu reflected on her inspiring journey from a small village in India to the country’s highest constitutional office. She emphasised that education had played the defining role in shaping her life and creating opportunities that would otherwise have been beyond reach.
“I was born in a small village in a family with very limited means. I was the first girl from my village to go to college. That experience taught me more powerfully than any textbook that education is the great equaliser. It does not ask where you were born; only how far you are willing to travel,” she said.
The President stated that education has the unique ability to transform individuals, families and entire societies by providing equal opportunities regardless of social or economic background. She noted that her own life stands as an example of how learning and perseverance can overcome challenges and inspire future generations.
Accepting the honorary degree, President Murmu expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Rector, the Senate and the academic community of the Bucharest University of Economic Studies. She said she accepted the honour with humility on behalf of the 1.4 billion people of India and regarded it as a symbol of the enduring friendship between India and Romania.
The President also recalled her early years as a teacher, saying that classrooms, no matter how modest, have the power to shape futures and uplift communities. She underlined the crucial role teachers and educational institutions play in nurturing responsible citizens and strengthening democratic values.
Addressing the challenges of the modern world, President Murmu stressed that rapid technological progress, including artificial intelligence and scientific innovation, must be guided by wisdom, ethics and compassion. She said universities should focus not only on advancing knowledge but also on developing human values that contribute to peace, sustainable development and social harmony.
Highlighting the long-standing cultural ties between India and Romania, President Murmu referred to Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore’s visit to Bucharest in 1926 and Romanian national poet Mihai Eminescu’s interest in Indian philosophical texts such as the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita. She said these historical connections continue to strengthen mutual understanding and cultural cooperation between the two nations.
The ceremony marked the concluding event of President Murmu’s six-day State Visit to Moldova, North Macedonia and Romania, aimed at enhancing diplomatic engagement and expanding cooperation in education, culture, trade and other sectors.
Her remarks on the transformative power of education come at a significant time, as students across India continue to raise concerns over examination irregularities, including the NEET paper leak. While not directly referring to these developments, her emphasis on fairness, inclusion and equal opportunity reinforced the importance of maintaining integrity in the education system.
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The event was attended by students, faculty members, diplomats and distinguished guests, who applauded President Murmu’s message that education remains the strongest foundation for individual growth, social progress and international cooperation.
