Later, at an interaction with students and teachers of Aligarh Muslim University at Jangipur in Murshidabad district, the President said there were efforts to project the institute as one for Muslims.
"The notion that AMU is for one section only is wrong. All students can enrol in this university," he said.
Mukherjee said the standard of education in the country should be improved and teachers should play a much larger role.
Ancient Indian universities attracted students from abroad but the situation has changed now, he said, adding that efforts should be made to revive the existing universities to bring back the glory.
Murshidabad, he said, was a backward district and steps should be taken to impart quality education to the youth there.
Mukherjee also expressed the wish to visit the new campus of AMU being set up at Jangipur after the work on it is completed.
The President, who was scheduled to be present at a football tournament named after his father Kamodakinkar Mukherjee, did not stay back and returned to Delhi in view of the five-day state mourning for former South African president Nelson Mandela.
