President Droupadi Murmu was awarded an honorary doctorate (Doctor Honoris Causa) by the Bucharest University of Economic Studies during her state visit to Romania.
The university's highest academic honour recognises outstanding contributions to academia, public service and international cooperation.
Accepting the award, Murmu said she was deeply honoured and highlighted the transformative role of education in her life. She also emphasised the strong educational and cultural ties between India and Romania, urging students to combine knowledge with ethics and compassion. Murmu dedicated the honour to the people of India, describing it as a symbol of the enduring friendship between the two countries.
Murmu described education as the most transformative force in her life, recalling that she was the first girl from her village to attend college. Drawing on her experience as a teacher, she said education can transform lives, strengthen communities and build a more inclusive society.
She said universities have an even greater responsibility in the age of artificial intelligence to ensure knowledge is guided by ethics and compassion. Murmu also highlighted the cultural ties between India and Romania, citing Rabindranath Tagore's visit to Bucharest and Mihai Eminescu's inspiration from Indian scriptures, saying these reflect the spirit of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam".
Calling education a cornerstone of India-Romania relations, she noted that Romanian universities have welcomed Indian students for decades. Professor Gheorghe Hurduzeu said the honorary doctorate recognised Murmu's inspiring journey and symbolised the enduring friendship between the two countries.
