President Droupadi Murmu on Friday, 24 July received an Honorary Doctorate (Doctor Honoris Causa) from the Bucharest University of Economic Studies in Romania, describing education as the 'single-most transformative force' in her life. The award — the university's highest academic distinction — was conferred in recognition of her contributions to academia, public service, and international cooperation.

A Personal Journey That Shaped a President

Speaking at the ceremony, Murmu drew on her own origins to underscore the power of learning. '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.

She recalled her years as a teacher, noting that even modest classrooms could alter the course of entire families and communities. The remarks carried particular weight coming from a Head of State who rose from a tribal village in Odisha to the highest constitutional office in the country.

India-Romania Ties at the Centre

Murmu accepted the honour 'with humility on behalf of 1.4 billion Indians, as a reflection of the enduring friendship between the peoples of India and Romania.' She expressed gratitude to the Rector, Senate, and the broader university community for the distinction.

Underlining the depth of the bilateral cultural bond, she invoked Rabindranath Tagore's 1926 visit to Bucharest and the fact that Romanian poet Mihai Eminescu had studied the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita — a reminder, she suggested, that India and Romania have long been intellectual neighbours.

Education in the Age of AI

Murmu stressed that as artificial intelligence and rapid scientific advances reshape the world, universities bear a heightened responsibility. She argued that wisdom, ethics, and compassion must guide knowledge — not merely technical capability. The remarks positioned higher education institutions as moral anchors, not just engines of employability.

Backdrop: India's Education Crisis at Home

The speech arrives against a charged domestic backdrop. Students across India have been protesting against examination irregularities, including the widely reported NEET paper leak, which has shaken confidence in the integrity of the country's public examination system. Murmu's insistence that education must remain 'fair, inclusive and transformative' resonated as an implicit acknowledgement of those concerns, even as she spoke thousands of kilometres from New Delhi.

Final Leg of a Six-Day State Visit

Friday's ceremony marked the concluding event of Murmu's six-day state visit spanning Moldova, North Macedonia, and Romania. The event was attended by students, faculty members, and dignitaries. With the doctorate conferred, the President is expected to return to India, where the education debate is unlikely to cool anytime soon.