If Kalam was space scientist, Modi is social scientist: Ram Nath Kovind

President Ram Nath Kovind urged graduating students of Gujarat University to learn from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former president APJ Abdul Kalam.

Addressing the students at the convocation, Kovind said, "Both (Kalam and Modi) have many similarities. Both came from humble backgrounds yet rose to great heights. Kalam was so poor he sold newspapers to fund his college education. We all know about our 'chaiwala' PM. I am sure none of the graduating students here had to ever sell tea. None of them had to face the sort of difficulties that these two leaders experienced."

Calling one a space scientist and another a social scientist, Kovind urged the students to rise so high in life that they would surpass the achievements of these two leaders.

The president expressed pleasure at the fact that the number of women gold medalists were almost double than that of men. "We have 87 girls who are gold medalists against 49 boys. I have seen this trend not just in Gujarat but all across the country, in other universities too. If this continues, soon it will be men who will be demanding reservation and not women," the president said.

Kovind praised Centre's initiatives such as Start-Up India, Digital India, etc. and told the students that they have helped opened more windows for them.

In all, 56,159 students have graduated from different disciplines from the University; the highest number of students, 25,903, passed out from the commerce faculty.

Governor OP Kohli, who was also present at the event, said there was a need for universities in the country to collaborate with each other and with universities abroad. Stressing on the need for research, he reminded the varsity that its duty was not just transmitting knowledge but to create knowledge as well.