Tiruchirapalli/UNI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said “our nation and civilisation have always been centered around knowledge.”

Addressing the 38th convocation ceremony at Bharathidasan University (BU) here, Modi said some of the ancient universities like Nalanda and Takshashila are well known. Similarly, there are references of places like Kancheepuram housing great universities.

Gangaikonda Cholapuram and Madurai were also great places of learning, he said.

Being here at the convocation ceremony of BU is special for me as this is my first public interaction in 2024, the PM said, "BU started on a strong and mature foundation. This maturity has made the university impactful in many domains. Whether it is humanities, languages, science or even satellites- the BU makes a unique mark."

“You are stepping into the World at a time when everyone is looking at you with a new hope in every sector. Youth means energy. It means the ability to work with speed, skill and scale. In the last few years, we have worked to match you in speed and scale so that we can benefit you."

He said in the last 10 years, the number of airports has doubled from 74 to nearly 150.

Tamil Nadu has a vibrant coastline. You would be happy to know that the total cargo handling capacity of major ports in India has doubled since 2014.

Modi said India has also sealed a number of trade deals with important economies.

The deals will open up new markets for our goods and services. They also create countless new opportunities for our youth. Whether it is strengthening institutions like the G20, fighting climate change or playing a bigger role in the global supply chain, India is being welcomed as a part of every global solution.

In many ways, due to the local and global factors, this is the best time to be young in India, he added.

Stating that every graduate can help contribute to creating a developed India by 2047, the PM said the science you (students) learn can help a farmer in your village, the technology you learn can help solve complex problems. The business management you learn can help run businesses and ensure income growth for others.

The economics you learn can help reduce poverty and in a way, every graduate here can help contribute to creating a developed India by 2047, he said.

Quoting the Tamil verses of famous poet Bharathidasan, after whom the University had been named as “Puthiyathor Ulagam Seivom,” Modi said it meant creating a brave new World which is also the university’s motto.

He said the Indian youth were already creating such a World. The Indian scientists are on the World map through missions like Chandrayaan and our innovators took the number of patents from around 4,000 in 2014 to almost 50,000 now.

Our humanity scholars are showcasing the India story to the World like never before. Also, the nation’s musicians and artists were continuously bringing international awards for the country, the PM said.

Earlier, Modi interacted with students and felicitated gold medal winners.

In his address, Chief Minister M.K.Stalin appealed to the students to concentrate on education and bring laurels to the state and the nation.

“I tell you as a Chief Minister and also in the capacity of a father,” he said.

He claimed that the Dravidian model governance implemented education for all during the times when education was reserved for one section of the society.