Murmu, who arrived in Romania on Thursday for a state visit, received the Doctor Honoris Causa, the highest academic honor from the university, recognizing distinguished individuals for their significant contributions to education, public service, and global cooperation.
In her acceptance address, Murmu expressed her deep appreciation for receiving this esteemed honorary doctorate.
“I offer my heartfelt thanks to the Rector, the Senate, and the entire university community for this honor, which I humbly accept on behalf of 1.4 billion Indians, symbolizing the lasting friendship between the peoples of India and Romania,” the president stated.
Murmu shared that education has been the most transformative influence in her own life.
“I was born in a small village to a family with very limited resources. I became the first girl from my village to attend college. That experience demonstrated to me, more profoundly than any textbook, that education is the ultimate equalizer; it does not concern itself with where you come from, but rather how far you are willing to go,” she noted.
The president emphasized that she had the honor of teaching for some time in India and observed, “how a single classroom, no matter how modest, can alter the trajectory of a family’s future and, eventually, that of an entire community.”
“This belief has accompanied me throughout my public service career, as education is not just a tool for personal advancement, but the most solid foundation for a fair and inclusive society,” Murmu remarked.
“As the world transforms under the influence of artificial intelligence, digital technologies, and rapid scientific advancements, universities like this one bear an even greater responsibility to ensure that knowledge is infused with wisdom, ethics, and compassion,” she added.
“While India and Romania may be far apart geographically, our civilizations have long communicated with one another, often through poets before diplomats,” Murmu observed.
“Almost a hundred years ago, in November 1926, Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore visited this very city and spoke to a full hall at the National Theatre of Bucharest about the unity of the human spirit,” she reflected.
The president shared that Tagore was deeply moved by how well the people of this country grasped the Indian way of thinking.
“Your national poet, Mihai Eminescu, explored the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita during his student years, and those insights had a profound impact on his writings,” Murmu mentioned.
“This shared civilizational instinct is captured by the ancient Indian phrase Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – the world is one family – reflecting the principle that guides India’s global engagement today: cooperation instead of competition, dialogue rather than discord, and a collective responsibility for our shared future,” she stated.
“Education has been a cornerstone of this partnership. For decades, Romanian universities have welcomed Indian students, especially in fields like medicine, engineering, and technology,” the president noted.
Speaking to the audience, which included students and faculty, she said, “Success is not only gauged by professional accomplishments but also by the values you uphold and the positive impact you have on the lives of others.” “May you stay curious in your quest for knowledge, confident in your skills, and compassionate in your actions, using your abilities to build bridges across cultures and contribute to a more peaceful and prosperous world,” Murmu encouraged.
The decision to grant this prestigious academic title was based on a proposal submitted by the Council for Administration of the Bucharest University of Economic Studies and received unanimous approval from the University Senate, as stated by Professor Gheorghe Hurduzeu, the President of the Senate of BUES.
“Through this gesture, our academic community conveys its profound appreciation for a leader whose life journey has become a testament to the transformative power of education,” Professor Hurduzeu remarked.
