Delhi, 27 February (H.S.): President Droupadi Murmu, graced the convocation ceremony of the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad today.

Speaking on the occasion, President said that there are many problems all around us, and many of them require design tweaks and not great resources. Creative thinking can lead to solutions that can improve the ease of living, especially for the underprivileged communities. She highlighted that design is often a less noticed but crucial factor in social and economic development of our country. She was happy to note that the National Institute of Design has excelled in the concept of design with emphasis on ‘design as a service for the betterment of society’.

President said that traditionally, in our country, design has been interwoven in the fabric of everyday life in all communities. We need to study and document knowledge systems, including design systems, of more traditional communities. Their cultural practices hold the key to some of the challenges that confront the world in 21st century. Therefore, revitalizing the historical solutions drawn from India's diverse cultures and leveraging them for innovation will benefit not only the nation but will also contribute to global progress.

President said that our designers have demonstrated the power of design to create positive social change.

President told the students that making beautiful things is a creative job and brings joy as well as monetary rewards. But they should never forget the functional aspect. There are problems that await their solutions. She further told students that their creative spark can change the lives of people. She advised them to spend some time in villages, and in remote areas if possible. She said that this would inspire new ways of looking at the world, and they could help people there with their learning.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar