Bijapur: If India is to join the ranks of advanced nations, it must strengthen the foundation of education, said President Pranab Mukherjee.

Addressing the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of Sainik School, Bijapur, the President also said a good education always includes building of character.

He bemoaned the deviation from civilization values which can be often seen in our society and called upon school authorities to do their utmost to inculcate in young men and women core civilization values such as discipline, compassion, tolerance, respect for the opinion of others, regard for their rights and a high sense of duty to the nation.

Speaking about the contribution of the Bijapur Sainik School where boys belonging to different states were living together, he said Sainik Schools were the result of the far-sighted planning and leadership of stalwarts like former Defence Ministers V K Krishna Menon, Y B Chavan, then Chief Minister of Karnataka, S Nijalingappa and then Union Education Minister, K L Shrimali.

The President expressed hope that the Sainik School students would naturally develop a more open approach to the linguistic, regional and religious diversity of the country and respect it.

Noting that the achievement of an educational institution was measured by the success of its alumni, he said, the Bijapur Sainik School had rendered a great service to the nation by its outstanding products to the military-young men who have shaped into exemplary individuals.

He also said that the Central and State Government services have selected, with confidence, dozens of Sainik school products who are, today, ably engaged in nation building.

Earlier, the President inaugurated an indoor stadium constructed to mark the Golden Jubilee of the school.

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