I am delighted to be amongst you today in this world-famous Sofia University, which bears the name of St. Kliment Ohridski. It gives me a great pleasure to know that this University was the first school of higher education in Bulgaria and was started in 1888. While going through the history of your University, I learnt that the establishment of this seat of learning is closely linked to the period of National Revival in Bulgarian history. That was the period when the Bulgarian people gathered spiritual and intellectual strength to establish their right to independent, political and social existence and to establish an institute to reflect their own culture and education. This once again emphasizes the fact that education is a powerful tool for national development leading to the prosperity of the nation.

Before arriving here, I was thinking over the last few days on what thoughts I could share with the students and the faculty of this historic University. I was thinking how enlightened minds could help in the transformation of a society. My thoughts turned to the prominent and enlightened citizens of Bulgaria; Ephoria Evlogi and his brother Hristo Georgiev who donated a fairly large area of land and a sizeable amount of money to start the construction of this university. The dream finally took shape when the first lecturers were appointed in January 1888 and the first classes began a few months later in October 1888. It must have been a challenging but fulfilling period for the first Rector Professor Alexander Teodorov-Balan who began the new endeavor with just 43 students. Today it has grown to be one of the biggest and finest Universities in this part of the globe.

India and Bulgaria Friendship

India and Bulgaria share a friendship that has stood the test of time. The first contacts between our peoples are said to have taken place as early as the 8th century AD. I am told that the prominent Bulgarian scholar, Kanev had devoted himself to studying the links between ancient Bulgarian and Indian scriptures as well as to translating the Vedas. In fact, recent research points to some similarities between the ancient Bulgarian script, Glagolitsa and one of our ancient scripts called Brahmi. Both our scholars have pointed out ancient cultural similarities in folk music, songs, literature and customs.

The visit of one of our great poets Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore to Bulgaria in 1926 is still fondly remembered both in India and in Bulgaria. Several of his works have been translated into Bulgarian. I believe that our epics - the "Ramayana" and the "Mahabharata" as well as the "Panchatantras" are popular in your country.

I am happy to note that the Sofia University has a separate Department of Indology set up in 1983 and eminent works have been brought out by Indologists of Bulgaria. I would like to thank the Indology students present here today for pursuing Indian studies and also the esteemed faculty members for imparting this education. Our heritages are understood through our manuscripts, literature, art and music. Sustained efforts are important ingredients in understanding these to provide crucial links between cultures of India and Bulgaria. In this regard, your Indology department through intense collaboration with Indian Universities would provide a window to the world where the past will meet the present and create the future in our bilateral relations. In today's fast changing world, I would like to urge the aspiring scholars to pursue studies about not only the rich and ancient culture of India but also the emerging modern and vibrant India. Our country has grown from a fledging economy at the time of our Independence in 1947 to being one of the large economies of the world.

India's Core competence

India today has core competence in many sectors including Information Technology, pharmaceuticals, textiles, automobiles, engineering and space technologies with strong industrial base. Now it has entered into Biotechnology and Nano Sciences and Technology. It is also one of the few countries that can build and launch her own satellites, large computing systems and embedded software. From a major food importer, India today exports food grains to more than 30 nations and that most of it goes as aid. From an indebted country, India today is turning into an assisting country, with the economy becoming stronger.

Economic development in Bulgaria

Bulgaria is also progressing rapidly. Its GDP growth rate was one of the highest in Europe last year. I see a tremendous potential for growth in our bilateral cooperation with the rapid growth of our economies. Economic growth is directly proportional to educational growth. I see a special role for students and academia in the emerging scenario. Strengthening existing links between the industry and the academia must be the focus area for new research.

I understand the urge of today's youth to forsake tradition in favour of modernity. However, there is essentially little contradiction between these two seemingly different terms. Indian society as well as Bulgarian society has both maintained a proper balance between the new and the traditional. That is why the Indology Department at your University and the Slavonic Studies Department in Delhi have thrived, thereby providing stability to our mutually beneficial relations.

Knowledge society

In the 21st century, a new society is emerging where knowledge is the primary production resource instead of capital and labour. Efficient utilisation of this existing knowledge can create comprehensive wealth for the nation. Such a knowledge society has two very important components driven by societal transformation and wealth generation. The societal transformation has to be through large-scale development in education, healthcare, agriculture and governance. These in turn will lead to employment generation, high productivity and rural prosperity. IT industry throughout the world has amply demonstrated the economic advantages and wealth generation by the electronic network- this network permits knowledge to pass between isolated villages, towns, cities, countries and even the continents. The IT industry has shown that by transferring bits and bytes across geographically dispersed locations, knowledge multiplies and generates wealth.

Information & Communication Technology (ICT)

ICT has established that the data transformed into information has a business proposition, which has given a competitive advantage. I am sure by the end of this decade, countries like India will have IT enabled services in the fields of human resources, customer interaction, finance and accounting, data search and integration, e-education, tele-medicine and e-governance.

Core competencies that can be exploited in addition to the above include Information Security, Scientific Software development that can spearhead a strong domestic market, Entertainment, Education, Hardware and chip design and Wireless. In India the software industry is exploring these areas to create a wealth of $80 billion by the year 2010. We strongly believe by a proper planning and the ability to move up the value chain we may even touch a target of $150 billion by 2010.

Challenges and opportunities

Changing times call for fresh solutions and answers. In today's world of questions, the academia must not fail in its duties to lead and channelise new energies and challenges. The early years of the 21st century I believe are going to be very important for the future course of human history. It is in these next few years that humanity will begin to face many different problems, which you from the younger generation will have to resolve. Globally, there is a likelihood of a crisis developing in the areas of energy, drinking water, and environmental protection. Terrorism is another challenge facing the world. Rapid integration of the global economic system, at a time when contrary and parochial and dangerous trends are fast emerging also remains a challenge for all of us, especially the academia. Many nations have to come together to evolve a vision to solve these global issues so that future generations can live peacefully and prosperously.

I feel that education systems around the world will have to work to generate enlightened international citizens who would then be able to work together as citizens of the planet Earth to solve such problems together. How does one produce an enlightened international citizen? I feel, this can be done through a combination of education with a value system. The second important component will be religions graduating into a spiritual movement. Third and the most vital component is poverty eradication by attainment of economic prosperity by the developing countries. This will result in raising the living standards and will result in bringing peace to the individual, to the family, to the nation and would thereby result in peace on the planet earth.

Having understood the core competencies of Sofia University and the Indian S&T Organisations and Universities, it is time Bulgaria and India identify and evolves joint advanced research projects. This will enable a flip to the scientific and technological co-operation between our countries, strengthening our long-term time tested cooperation. This will also strengthen the scientific capability of the Universities by sharing of knowledge.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I would like to say that both Bulgaria and India remain committed to enhancing academic interactions amongst their institutions and it is my firm resolve to seek out new ways and means to foster a long term relations with your University. My meetings with the leadership of Bulgaria and interaction with the Science Academy enhanced my own perceptions of our excellent ties, of which education and culture form a very essential part. I am very happy at having been offered this opportunity of addressing the students and teachers of your great University. With these words, I would like to thank the faculty for their relentless perseverance and I would like to wish the bright and young students of this University, the very best in their noble pursuits.

May God bless you !

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