President Kalam urges BITS students to make India ''knowledge power'

Pilani, Mar 30 (UNI) President A P J Abdul Kalam today exhorted Birla Institute of Science and Technology (BITS) students to strive hard to make India a world leader in knowledge power.

''The country is making rapid strides in bio, neno and information and communication technology and is working closely with many African countries in these areas. It has emerged as a centre of world knowledge platform,'' the President said during an interaction with the students of the premier Institute.

He said the world knowledge platform has been working closely with other countries in the field of energy, water, healthcare, food, and automobile.

The President emphasised the need for the use of technology for constructive purposes and making the world a secure, stable and a peaceful place.

He stressed for more research in natural calamities like earthquakes and reducing human and material loss.

The President expressed the hope that BITS would become a virtual university in due course and the country would benefit from its 45-year-old experience in science and technology.

BITS Vice-Chancellor Prof L K Maheshwari welcomed the President and other dignitaries at the function.

UNI