Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Earth Sciences, MoS, PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr Jitendra Singh said,  drawing strength from the rich Dogra legacy, it is time now to make a mark  in the global world of which India has already become an essential part after 2014 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi took over.

Addressing a programme organised to observe “Dogra Diwas” commemorating the inclusion of Dogri language in the Indian  Constitution and the  "International Dogra Legacy Excellence Awards 2024" , Dr. Jitendra Singh said, there was a rich Dogra legacy from the earlier times which has even, after partition, produced some internationally acclaimed icons like the famous Space Scientist and Founder ISRO Prof Satish Dhawan and renowned singer of the Indian subcontinent MalikaPokhraj or musicians like Shiv Kumar Sharma and Ustad Allah Rakha, though this may not be a very widely known fact in some sections. He said, while celebrating the legacy gives us inspiration and confidence, nevertheless to keep the legacy alive for prosperity, it is equally important to carry it forward to the next destination which, in today's context, would imply Dogra contribution in the making of Viksit Bharat of 2047.

Dr. Jitendra Singh observed that in the last 10 years during the Modi regime, there has been a resurgence of Dogra pride and it is mainly attributable to some of the long awaited decisions taken by this government including declaring of holiday on the birthday of Maharaja Hari Singh, observing the Accession Day of Jammu & Kashmir and inclusion of Dogri as an official language. He recalled that in his parliamentary constituency also, at the entry point of Jammu & Kashmir, Lakhanpur, for the first time a majestic statue of Maharaja Gulab Singh, the founder of Jammu & Kashmir State, was established in recent years.

Exhorting the Dogra community, particularly the youth, to be part of the mainstream growth story of India, Dr. Jitendra Singh said, India of today is no longer what it was about two decades ago. He said, unlike in the past, we do not wait to adopt the successful practices from other countries but today we are developing our own best practices including technologies for other countries to follow. The success stories of Chandrayaan 3 and COVID Vaccine are the most illustrious examples of this, he added.

Dr. Jitendra Singh said, at a time when we have risen to global rank 3 in the world StartUp ecosystem and when we are ahead of many others in Quantum Technology and Biotechnology, would we be doing justice to our Dogra legacy if we keep ourselves isolated and not be a part of the global journey of India as is seen in several other States. He said, there is no dearth of talent or potential in Dogra youth but what is required is the change of mindset and liberation from the obsession for "Sarkari Naukri". He said, he sometimes feels pained to see youth on indefinite protest for a Rs.6,000 "Sarkari Naukri" when the Modi government has rolled out a series of attractive schemes, which promises a more lucrative source of livelihood. One  of the examples is the Purple Revolution or the Lavender Entrepreneurship right in our immediate neighbourhood.

Dr. Jitendra Singh said that as India today stands among the league of frontline nations in the world, it offers an opportunity to the Dogra youth to draw strength from their rich legacy and seek recognition for themselves across the country and beyond. He said taking inspiration from the Dogra legacy, it is time for them to leave their own mark on the world. He said, this legacy should lay the foundation of giving further impetus to the journey for perfection, and enable the youth to play a visibly meaningful role in the making of a Vikisit Bharat.

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