President Murmu Receives Romania's Highest Academic Honour

President Droupadi Murmu was conferred the prestigious Doctor Honoris Causa, the highest academic distinction of the Bucharest University of Economic Studies (BUES), during her State Visit to Romania, recognising her contributions to public service, education and international cooperation. The honour also underscored the growing educational, cultural and strategic partnership between India and Romania.

Accepting the award, Murmu said she was deeply honoured and dedicated the recognition to 1.4 billion Indians, describing it as a reflection of the enduring friendship between the people of the two nations. The honour was unanimously approved by the university's Senate following a recommendation from its Council for Administration.

Founded in 1913, BUES is Romania's premier institution for economics, business and public administration. In her acceptance speech, Murmu reflected on her journey from a small village in Odisha, where she became the first girl from her village to attend college, calling education the "great equaliser" that transformed her life. Recalling her experience as a teacher, she said education remains the strongest foundation for building a just and inclusive society.

The President also urged universities to ensure that the rapid growth of artificial intelligence and digital technologies is guided by wisdom, ethics and compassion, stressing that institutions must nurture responsible leaders alongside skilled professionals.

Highlighting the deep civilisational ties between the two countries, Murmu recalled Rabindranath Tagore's 1926 visit to Bucharest and noted that Romania's national poet Mihai Eminescu drew inspiration from the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita. She said India's philosophy of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" (The World Is One Family) continues to guide its engagement with the world.

Murmu also noted that Romanian universities have educated Indian students for decades, particularly in medicine, engineering and technology, and called for greater academic collaboration through research, faculty exchanges and student mobility. The ceremony took place during the final leg of her three-nation visit to Moldova, North Macedonia and Romania, which focused on expanding cooperation in defence, trade, technology, innovation and education. Addressing students, she urged them to pursue knowledge with curiosity, integrity and compassion while contributing to a more peaceful and prosperous world.