The Vice-President of India, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar exhorting students today said, “Don't have narrow goal. Don't have self-centered goal. Have a goal for the society, for the humanity, for the nation. If you look around, let's say for a thousand years, who are we remembering today? Who are we remembering? Only those who give back to the society, who worked for the society, who lived for the society and led their lives for society.”

Addressing students and faculty members on the 156th Founders’ celebration of Sherwood College, nainital Uttarakhand today, he emphasised, “You will have to imbibe a spirit — Nation always first. We will have to subscribe to nationalism without qualification, unrestricted, because that is what Bharat, a unique nation with 5,000 years of civilisational depth deserves minimum.”

“Quality education, its accessibility and affordability are fundamentals for any democratic nation to achieve……..Education is a gift of God. If you get quality education, you are lucky. If you get this kind of education in a nation of 1.4 billion, you are privileged in the right sense. Education is a great equalizer. Equality in law or otherwise can be optimally and best secured only through education. Education hits very hard at inequities, injustice, and that’s what you are going to do all your life”, he added.

Appealing to parents, Shri Dhankhar stated. “Parenthood is the most important obligation you owe not only to your children but to the entire humanity.  And so please do not stress your children. Don't decide what their object in life is. If you will decide, all of them will end up being in pursuit of money, in pursuit of power. Where would we have scientists? Where would we have astronomers? Where would we have people who define destiny  for the entire globe?”

Reflecting on the significance of motto he said, “ Mottos are not meant to be hung on walls.  It has to become part of your life. And that being so, look at the motto [Mereat Quisque Palmam]. Don't just rival the other one. Don't just envy what the other one has done. You must keep on attaining higher level for you. In the process, the more you handhold someone, the more you help someone,  even to march ahead of you,  that will be your contribution. There are many people who have become very great in sports, science, politics, and otherwise. But they will give credit to someone else who may not have risen to that level”.

Talking about the recent journey of Bharta and goal of Viksit Bharat, Shri Dhankhar said, “In this century, we are not only to literate people. Literacy mattered long back in Bharat. Bharat today is no longer a nation with potential. No. As your potential is exploited to your great advantage by the hand-holding attitude of your faculty members, similarly, Bharat is no longer a nation with potential. This nation's potential is being exploited day in and day out. It is a nation on the rise. The rise is continual. The rise is incremental. And if I go by the last decade, at a global benchmark, the economic rise of Bharat has been exponential. Infrastructure growth has been phenomenal. Among the large economies, we are the fastest growing. The last decade for Bharat has been a decade of development, a decade of growth, a decade of finding a new place in the global order. And that being so, you have to take it forward now — because a developed nation status, Viksit Bharat, as we call it, is not our dream — it is our destination”.

Highlighting the legacy of alumni of the institute, Shri Dhankhar underlined, “ You are at a place where legends have walked. Major Som Nath Sharma, Bharat’s first Param Vir Chakra recipient — the highest military decoration of this nation — your alumnus had it; he studied here. Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, architect of the 1971 victory that has gone down in history as a page to be read by one and all. He brought that victory to the nation, having been nurtured by this institution. You live in that area — never forget. If I come to other fields, there are multiple areas. I would not reflect on more, but I would make a reference surely to Amitabh Bachchan, because his spouse is a very distinguished Member of Rajya Sabha — Jaya Bachchan. Amitabh Bachchan always reminds you— Work is worship. There is no age for work — you must continue to contribute”.

“Their phenomenal achievements are your heritage and heritage matters. Their achievements are your foundation but there is something more. Their legacy is your responsibility now, you have to create new benchmarks”, he added.

Inspiring the youth to act as the catalyst for change, he stated, “ World is looking at India not for its rise alone, not for its scientific development, not alone for infrastructure development; it is also looking at India because of its enviable demographic dividend. The median age of our youth—our youth demographic dividend—is 28. We are 10 years younger than China and the US, and when we look at the composition, 65 percent of our population is below 35 years. Boys and girls, the world is changing too fast for us….not be overtaken by change; we have to create the change we need, we have to formulate the change which we want, and Bharat wants a change which is good for the entire planet. That is why we have Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. In the G-20, we gave a motto to the entire world—one earth, one family, one future.

“India boasts in the world of having the largest number of smartphones, digital penetration and connectivity which is unrivaled in the world. You must have heard very frequently— artificial intelligence, internet of Things, blockchain, machine learning and the kind. These have entered your life in school, in work place, in homes. You will have to change and adapt so that you become worthy citizens of a nation,  Bharat, that is home to one sixth of humanity”, he added.

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JK/RC/SM