New Delhi: Gurukul has developed minds and hearts of students with good thoughts and values for their holistic development, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday. He was addressing the 75th Amrut Mahotsav of Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul Rajkot Sansthan via video conferencing.

 “Spreading true knowledge is the most important task, and this has been India’s devotion towards knowledge and education in the world which has established the roots of Indian civilisation,” he said.

“In the last 75 years, Gurukul has developed the minds and hearts of the students with good thoughts and values, so that their overall development can be done. From dedicated students in the field of spirituality to scientists in ISRO and BARC, the tradition of Gurukul has nourished every field of the country,” he said.

Referring to the Indian tradition of treating knowledge as the highest pursuit of life, the Prime Minister said that when other parts of the world were identified with their ruling dynasties, Indian identity was linked with its Gurukuls.

The Prime Minister emphasised the role of the education system and educational institutions in shaping the bright future of India and said that the country is moving at a fast pace to develop the education infrastructure and policies in the country at every level in the Azadi Ka Amrit Kaal.

He informed that the country has seen an increase in the number of IITs, IIITs, IIMs and AIIMSs in the country and the number of medical colleges saw an increase of sixty-five per cent when compared to the time before 2014. He further added that with the New Educational Policy, the country is preparing an educational system that is futuristic. As a result, the new generations that will get their education in the newer system will make for ideal citizens of the country. /BI/