The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu, graced the convocation ceremony of the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad today (February 27, 2025). Speaking on the occasion, the President said that there are many problems all around us, and many of them require design tweaks an dnot great resources.
Creative thinking can lead to solutions that can improve the ease of living, especially for the underprivileged communities. She highlighted that design is often a less noticed but crucial factor in social and economic development of our country.
She was happy to note that the National Institute of Design has excelled in the concept of design with emphasis on ‘design as a service for the betterment of society’.The President said that traditionally, in our country, design has been interwoven in the fabric of everyday life in all communities.
We need to study and document knowledge systems, including design systems, of more traditional communities. Their cultural practices hold the key to some of the challenges that confront the world in 21st century. Therefore, revitalizing the historical solutions drawn from India's diverse cultures and leveraging them for innovation will benefit not only the nation but will also contribute to global progress.
The President said that our designers have demonstrated the power of design to create positive social change. They are making impactful design interventions in the social sector, bringing improvements in crucial areas such as healthcare, housing and sanitation. They are focusing their skills and expertise on addressing real-world problems, which often affect marginalised communities. This way, they are also helping bridge the urban-rural divide.
The President told the students that making beautiful things is a creative job and brings joy as well as monetary rewards. But they should never forget the functional aspect. There are problems that await their solutions. She further told students that their creative spark can change the lives of people. She advised them to spend some time in villages, and in remote areas if possible.
She said that this would inspire new ways of looking at the world, and they could help people there with their learning. She urged students to think of the humble ‘charkha’ and then think of Gandhiji who rediscovered it and sought out people to enhance its design. She said that Gandhiji’s sole motive was to free millions of people from poverty. His notion of design had a beauty of its own.