Shantiniketan (West Bengal), Dec 7 (IANS): Describing Rabindranath Tagore founded Visva Bharati University as an "unique institution", President Pranab Mukherjee Saturday stressed on the need for incorporating "natural education" in modern teaching.

"The growing disconnect of man with nature continues to this day. Modern education in India must incorporate the beautiful ideas embedded in Tagore's 'natural education'. It must be, as Tagore had envisaged, an education for full development in life," said Mukherjee addressing 48th convocation of the university in Birbhum district.

Observing that Tagore was against putting traditionalism and conservatism in a strait-jacket formula, Mukherjee said education intuitions must have a soul and core values and should not always be considered as inanimate objects.

"If we recognize Visva Bharati as a unique institution, we shall have to provide adequate flexibility in our system. If it is not, then we must rediscover and reinvent it," he said.

Mukherjee also urged students not to vie for only for material success, and asked to them to "embrace the world with courage and conviction as they had an obligation towards mankind".