Varanasi: Former ISRO chairman G Madhavan Nair on Sunday advised the students to contemplate about the nation's problems and make efforts to address them along with acquiring knowledge.
Addressing the 97th Convocation function of Banaras Hindu University here, Nair said, "merely acquiring knowledge should not be the goal of education."
The education would not be fruitful until and unless it concerns for the betterment of the society, "which they (students) would return in the form of their quality services," Nair said.
The youths are the assets of?the nation and they should prepare themselves to compete and face the global challenges.
The students must "think, analyse and act" accordingly, the former chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation said.
"All youths must contemplate about the problems of the nation and then analyse it and come up with innovative ideas to act against these problems and also make efforts in?removing them," Nair said.
The education is the only tool that can decrease and remove the widen gaps between rich and the poor in the country, adding that affordable education must be imparted to all sections of the society.
The chief guest also emphasised that there was a need for parents to change their?mind-sets, who builds up ideas about their child's career even before their birth.
He said that parents should promote their child according to child's interest and capability so that they may lead a free and stressful life without bearing any kind of unwanted pressure.
Nair emphasised on promoting science and technology and added that science is a vital part of our life.
He said that BHU founder Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya had said that "Science can remove poverty as it is a part of our daily life".
"And that's why Malaviyaji established this University where the ancient traditional subjects and the modern subjects both are being taught together," he added.
Dr Karan Singh, Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University presided over the function in the presence of Vice-Chancellor Prof Girish Chandra Tripathi.
Gold medals were awarded to topper students of the different subjects by the Chancellor.
A two-minute silence was also observed at the function to pay condolences for the victims of earthquake in Nepal and some parts of India.
