Gorakhpur: President Droupadi Murmu on Monday said that when the state with the highest population progresses rapidly, India will set new benchmarks of growth.

Inaugurating the academic building, auditorium and Panchakarma Centre at Mahayogi Gorakhnath University in Gorakhpur, she said that education is the most powerful medium of empowerment.

She also laid the foundation stone for a girls’ hostel and planted a Rudraksha sapling under the ongoing Van Mahotsav celebrations.

“Health and safety of eastern UP are directly linked to the overall development of Uttar Pradesh. When the state with the highest population progresses rapidly, India will set new benchmarks of growth. All stakeholders should contribute with determination towards building a developed India,” the President said. She said that the girls’ hostel project was a significant initiative for women’s empowerment, adding that safe accommodation was a major factor in enabling women to pursue higher education.

Lauding the efforts of the Maharana Pratap Shiksha Parishad, she said that institutions inspired by Maharana Pratap embodied the spirit of “Nation First.” “Maharana Pratap’s sacrifice and courage for national pride continue to inspire generations,” she said, expressing hope that the students would not only excel in professional education but also imbibe the values of spirituality and patriotism.

She urged those associated with the Gorakshapeeth and the Maharana Pratap Shiksha Parishad, especially the youth, to serve society with deep respect for education and India’s cultural heritage.

The President highlighted the growing relevance of Panchakarma therapy in treating complex health conditions. “The new centre will enable more people to benefit from this ancient Ayurvedic process,” she said.

Sharing her own journey, President Murmu said she travelled 300 km from her village to Bhubaneswar in 1970-71 to continue her education. “Back then, no girl from my village had studied outside. I got a place in a girls’ hostel in Bhubaneswar. Today, while much has changed, many girls still face hurdles in pursuing higher education due to lack of secure accommodation,” she said. Calling Mahayogi Gorakhnath University the first private institution contributing significantly to higher education in Gorakhpur and surrounding areas, the President praised its efforts in aligning with the National Education Policy 2020.

President Murmu noted that her predecessor, Ram Nath Kovind, had inaugurated the university four years ago, and since then it has shown impressive progress. “This institution has become a prominent centre for higher and professional education in eastern UP,” she said, crediting the development to the guidance and leadership of Chancellor and UP CM Yogi Adityanath.

Highlighting the university’s integrated approach to medicine, the President said it operates colleges in allopathy and Ayurveda.