President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday praised teachers, scholars and academics for their contributions to making India a knowledge power. On Teachers' Day, the President said: "I would like to pay tribute to India's teachers, scholars and academics. They have drawn from India's age-old traditions of learning and wisdom and have contributed to India's reputation as a knowledge power."

Kovind's remarks came during a speech on the theme of "Education as an instrument to shared prosperity' at Sofia University here. "They (teachers) are a source of pride for India. Across continents, Indian scholarship and academic excellence is recognised. It adds to the global economy and knowledge structures - and it earns India goodwill."