“We are the only country till today out of 184 members of the United Nations, who succeeded in sending its orbiter to Mars in its very first attempt,” Mukherjee said further in his speech. While talking to more than 5,000 students here, Mukherjee also stressed on the fact that youth of the country will help India become a global economic power. “Yes, you can do it and you alone can do it,” he said while interacting with one of the students.
Further speaking about the importance of education in development of the country, former President, who was a teacher before joining politics, said that a better education system can lead to the achievement of distributive justice. We are all equal before our Mother India, he added. Further encouraging students to pursue more holistic education, Mukherjee said that there is no end to education and learning helps in expanding our horizon in order to reach new heights.
Recalling India's progress from the time when it was not able to even manufacture a fountain pen during the colonial era, Mukherjee said the 71 years of independence and 68 years of planning resulted in India rising to become one of the largest economies. “We are the third military power of the world,” he said. Mukherjee highlighted the country's achievements in science and technology besides space research.