Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said that India aspires to be a World leader again, adding that the dream is to make the country not only powerful and rich but also knowledgeable.
Speaking at the 98th Convocation of the Delhi University in New Delhi on Saturday, 26 February 2022, the defense minister said that India’s rise to power is not to scare anyone but is guided by the spirit of the welfare of the whole world.
Students must apply Knowledge
Recalling the ancient roots of the word “Deekshant” (Convocation) in the Taittiriya Upanishad, the defense minister highlighted the importance of values to education.
He added that as the students step out into the world, they will have new avenues of learning.
He further said that every knowledge has an applied aspect just like every theory has an applied science. He urged students to commit to working with their skill set in an applied mode in every field.
Need to recall India’s Golden Past
Underlining the need for understanding and connecting to the roots of Indian culture and tradition, the defense minister said no country can become great without understanding and giving respect to its golden past.
He said that at a time when the country has entered into the Amrut phase we all should remember and adhere to the great Indian tradition of equality, harmony, and knowledge.
Noting that there was a time India was a Vishwa Guru and its golden story was mentioned in History, he added that “as we are moving on the path of New India, our young generation needs to connect with the glorious cultural roots”.
When India was the leader in Science and Knowledge
Recalling the ancient times when India was the leader in science and knowledge, Raksha Mantri said that people are not aware of this glorious past because of the long phase of slavery.
Shri Rajnath Singh cited numerous examples of ancient scientists, scholars, and sages like Aryabhatt, Barahamihir, Brahmgupt, Charak, Sushrut, Nagarjun, etc. to convey that India was numero uno in science and technology.
“Zero was given to the world by India which made counting possible. Quadratic Equation was invented by the great Sridharacharya. It has been proved now that Bodhayan had found Pythagoras Theorem, 300 years before Pythagoras did.
Calculus was available in the written form in Kerala over three hundred and fifty years before Newton propounded it. About one thousand years before Copernicus, Aryabhatt had proved that the Earth was round and it rotated on its axis,” he said.
Significance of Values in Life
Underlining the significance of values in life, the defense minister stressed that Samskara is more vital and important than becoming intelligent, meritorious, and wealthy.
Talking about the spiritual strength of the country, Shri Rajnath Singh said, eminent personalities like Mark Zuckerberg and Steve Jobs have also mentioned that in the time of crisis in their lives, it was spiritual places like Kaichi Dham Temple of Neem Karoli Baba at Nainital in Uttrakhand where they found peace, positivity and new direction in life.
He said there are numerous examples like Afzal Guru, Yakub Menon, and Osama Bin Laden to demolish the construct that lack of education and poverty were the only reasons for terrorism.
He called upon the youth to take the pledge to refrain from any activity that goes against the interests of the country.
He said problems like poverty and hunger have still not been eradicated from the country and quality education can be the only tool to eliminate them.
Building India’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
Highlighting the government’s effort to build an entrepreneurial ecosystem for the development of youth, he noted that there was no start-up ecosystem in the country earlier, however, the scenario has changed rapidly in the last seven years.
“There were only 500 start-ups in-country in 2014. But this number has gone to sixty thousand this year,” he said.
“45 new unicorns were registered in 2021 taking the number of unicorns in the country to 83; however in the first 50 days of this year 10 more unicorns have further joined them,” he added.
Youth the biggest Catalyst of Change
Terming youth as the biggest source and catalyst of change in any country, he said youth is the greatest power our country has and its future depends on the youth power.
Stressing on innovation, invention, and ideas, he urged the youth to come forward with a clear objective to take the leadership role to innovate, to invent and establish new companies and research establishments in the country.
Congratulating all students receiving degrees and awards at the ceremony, Mr. Singh said that Delhi University will be completing its centenary shortly, and during these 100 years, the university has established its credentials across the world.
He noted that it’s the only university where the colleges bear the names of great entities and personalities across the Ancient, Medieval, and Modern ages.
The Defence Minister said that the alumni of Delhi University have spread across the world and have been successful in every sphere, instilling a sense of pride in their alma mater.