Published By : Admin |
August 27, 2012 | 15:09 IST
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Today, the praiseworthy daughter of Gujarat, Dhyani, who’s made a new world record in the world of chess, the honorable people seated on the stage, and the ladies who have come from different corners of Gujarat to demonstrate their talent in the game of chess, my heartiest congratulations to you all!.. as it is a common belief in the minds of people that women cannot do this particular work or cannot do that particular job. Regarding chess too, people have harnessed a similar thinking, today you women have done a good job to help change this belief and for that I congratulate you! 4000 women all together under one roof, participating in this game of chess, in itself is is a big event of the world and today it is taking place at Gandhinagar in the presence of Viswanathan Anand. It is also a matter of great joy that today 148 visually challenged women have got their names registered in this game of chess and thus have created a world record too. Therefore, today’s event shall be memorized as an important event for Gujarat, for Gujarat Govt. and for Women power.
In our country it has been very clearly accepted that whenever human race has ushered in the era of knowledge, it is India that has taken the lead. 21st century is the century of knowledge, and chess in the world of knowledge is a game of great patience, it is a ‘war of nerves’..! Concentration required in the game of chess is much more as compared to that required in the yogic world. And in a way, to come out as a winner in the war of nerves is the greatest strength and those who are victorious in the war of nerves, can never lose a war fought physically. They get this strength automatically. Chess offers that kind of power. Entire world is talking about the phase of frustration that the new generation is going through. Psychologically it is being discussed that new generation has no place to release the anger within them, has no place to express the grievances they have and when they can’t find a way out, sometimes the youth tends to the path of suicide. Paper was not good or some problem occurs in exams and they feel like committing suicide, at times parents scold them and they feel like committing suicide, sometimes teachers in school said something and they feel like committing suicide. However one who plays chess, no matter how many problems come his way, he has the capacity to face them very easily, he never loses his mental balance, he does not lose his patience and never indulges in such sins, this is the power of this game…!
We have used the word, ‘Shat-ranj’. The word ‘Shatranj’ has been devised with great wisdom. ‘Ranj’ means the frustrations in one’s mind, one which removes 100 (Shat) types of frustrations (Ranj) that is ‘Shatranj’. This is the power of chess, and thus, more than deafeating the opponent, this game offers the power to win one’s own self. This is the only game where man keeps conquering his own self. If there is a game which helps one get victory over his own self, it is chess. And so, it is the attempt of the Gujarat Govt. to promote this game such that it becomes a part of every family, it becomes a part of one’s life, it becomes a part of school syllabus and it becomes a game which shows the path to liberation.
Kasparov from Russia who always plays against our Anand at ‘Grandmaster’ and achieves the honor of defeat against him, hails from a state that follows the tradition of Buddha and since past 700 years chess has been made compulsory at schools by the state administration. Every family in that state due to Buddhist tradition plays chess and even today whoever from Russia has come into this game has come from that particular state. And in whole of Russia, the lowest crime rate is in this state where chess is compulsory, this is the power of chess. Brothers and Sisters, in order to change the life in Gujarat we are trying to use chess as a tool to connect the lives of people. And in this direction, participation of you people in such a manner depicts a new wave of joy and enthusiasm.
Brothers and Sisters, among the children who have come here, some are from 5th std., some are from 6th std., some are from 7th, some are from 8th, and some are from 9th. They are little kids from school. These children do not have voting rights today nor do they have a right to participate in elections. People advise me “Modiji, this is the election year, elections are coming up in next 2-3 months, please concentrate on voters..!” Brothers and Sisters, to me Gujarat is important, these small children may not be voters, but they are the future of Gujarat and therefore it is the priority for the Government to bond with them.
These days I watch two types of TV news. Whether you watch TV or read newspaper, stories about corruption going on in Delhi keeps getting relayed. Everyday a new corruption story comes. A question may be arising in the minds of this youth that what is this going on..? On the other hand, some people give advertisements, games are being played with money. They give advertisements like, ‘Change the direction, Condition will change’..! I would like to tell them, I would like to tell my media friends that just look at this scene, more than 4000 girls are earning honor for India in the whole world, they are making a world record. Mr. Prime Minister, if you follow this direction of Gujarat, the condition of the country will also change. Follow the direction of Gujarat and I assure you, the condition of the country will change..! You are in the wrong direction and that is why the condition of this country is constantly deteriorating. My young Brothers and Sisters, whether or not you have the right to vote, but I assure you that when you grow up, we shall hand you such a Gujarat that you shall be proud of. We want to give you such a Gujarat that fulfills all your dreams in life, our willing effort is in this direction. We are working with a dream of a building a vibrant and most capable Gujarat. This ‘Mahatma Mandir’ where you are sitting, is built by the workers of our own country. They have built it in 182 days, yes, within hundred and eighty two days, hardly 6 months..! This is the strength of our country. And Gujarat successfully kindles this strength.
I once again congratulate you all, my applause is for you. I congratulate dear Dhyani for making yet another record today. She has been breaking her own records every time. Today she made a new record by breaking her own old record. I am very thankful to Viswanathan Anand for his presence on this occasion today and appreciate his continuous support in Gujarat’s struggle and effort to to do something significant in the world of chess. I express my special gratitude towards respected Advaniji, who inspite of Parliament being in session and hot exchanges happening in Delhi, has come here, has participated in this world glorious event and has blessed us, I am immensely grateful to him…!
Bharat Mata ki Jai…!!
Say it with full strength Friends, with closed fists and raised hands,
Bharat Mata ki Jai…!! Bharat Mata ki Jai…!! Bharat Mata ki Jai…!! Bharat Mata ki Jai…!!
With innovative ideas, energy and purpose, Yuva Shakti is at the forefront of nation-building: PM Modi
January 12, 2026
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With innovative ideas, energy and purpose, Yuva Shakti is at the forefront of nation-building: PM
Swami Vivekananda's thoughts continue to inspire the youth: PM
With a clear focus on the youth, we rolled out successive schemes. It was from here that the startup revolution truly gathered momentum in India: PM
India is experiencing remarkable growth in the Orange Economy, rooted in culture, content and creativity: PM
Over the past decade, the series of reforms we began has now turned into a Reform Express. At the heart of these reforms is our Yuva Shakti: PM
India's youth must take a resolve to free the nation from the mindset of slavery: PM
My colleagues in the Union Cabinet, all Members of Parliament, the winners of the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Challenge, other dignitaries, and my young friends who have come here from across the country including those who have come from abroad must all have had a new experience here. Aren’t you tired? You have been engaged for two days now, so won’t you feel tired listening once again? Anyway, from my seat at the back, I have already said as much as I needed to. When I first took the oath as Chief Minister, I believe that many of you had not even been born. And when I took the oath as Prime Minister in 2014, most of you would still have been children. But whether as Chief Minister or now as Prime Minister, I have always had immense faith in the younger generation. I have always drawn energy from your capability and your talent. And today, I see that you are holding the reins of the mission to build a developed India.
Friends,
In 2047, when India completes 100 years of independence, the journey leading up to that milestone is extremely important for the nation. At the same time, these years are also the most crucial period of your lives. This is a great golden opportunity for you. Your capability will become India’s capability, and your success will take India’s success to new heights. I congratulate all of you for participating in the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue. I will speak on this subject in greater detail later, but first let us reflect on the significance of today.
Friends,
Today is the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. Even today, his thoughts continue to inspire every young person. What is the goal of our lives? What is our purpose? How should we live with the spirit of “Nation First”? In every action of ours, the welfare of society and of the nation must be central. In this regard, the life of Swami Vivekananda serves as a great guide and source of inspiration. In his memory, every year 12 January is celebrated as National Youth Day, and inspired by him, this date has been chosen for the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue.
Friends,
I am pleased to see that in such a short time, the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue has become such a major platform, a platform where youth directly participate in shaping the direction of the nation’s development. More than five million youth registered, over three million actively participated in the Viksit Bharat Challenge, and shared their ideas for India’s future. Youth engagement on such a massive scale is unprecedented. Around the world, the term “think tank” is commonly used. Think tanks hold discussions and influence opinion-making. But after watching the presentations today and the manner in which you raised challenging ideas, I believe that this forum itself has become an institution- a unique global think tank. When millions of minds brainstorm together on defined subjects with a clear goal, what greater exercise of thinking can there be? In fact, the word “think tank” seems inadequate. A “tank” may be small, but this initiative is vast broader than the ocean and deeper than it in ideas. The subjects you discussed today- particularly Women-Led Development and Youth Participation in Democracy- were addressed with remarkable maturity. Your presentations demonstrate how determined our Amrit Generation is to build a developed India. They also reveal the temperament of India’s Gen-Z: creative, confident, and committed. I congratulate all my young friends and everyone associated with the Yuva Bharat organisation for making this event a success.
Friends,
When I mentioned the year 2014 earlier, most of you here would have been only eight or ten years old. You would not have developed the habit of reading newspapers at that time. You did not witness the era of policy paralysis, when governments were criticised for delayed decisions and even when decisions were taken, they were poorly implemented. The rules and regulations were such that youth could not even imagine doing something new. Young people were burdened by restrictions at every step.
Friends,
At that time, something as simple as applying for an examination or a job required running from office to office just to get certificates attested. Paying fees meant visiting banks and post offices to get demand drafts. Starting a business required multiple guarantees even for a small loan. Today, these things seem unbelievable, but this was reality just a decade ago.
Friends,
You spoke here about start-ups, so let me explain the transformation of the start-up ecosystem. While start-up culture began globally decades ago, India saw very little discussion on it until recently. Until 2014, there were fewer than 500 registered start-ups in the country. Excessive government control dominated every sector, leaving young talent with little opportunity to pursue innovation.
Friends,
I have faith in the youth of my country and confidence in your capabilities. That is why we chose a different path. Keeping youth at the centre, we introduced one reform after another, and it was from here that the Startup Revolution truly gained momentum in India. Ease of Doing Business reforms, Startup India, Digital India, the Fund of Funds, and tax and compliance simplification — many such initiatives were undertaken. Sectors that were earlier completely dominated by the government were opened up for youth-led innovation and enterprise. The impact of these efforts has itself become a remarkable success story.
Friends,
Take the space sector as an example. Until five or six years ago, the responsibility for advancing the space sector rested solely with ISRO. We opened the space sector to private enterprise, created the necessary frameworks, and established supporting institutions. As a result, today more than 300 start-ups are operating in India’s space sector. In a short span of time, our start-up Skyroot Aerospace developed its rocket, Vikram-S. Another start-up, Agnikul Cosmos, astonished the world by creating the world’s first 3D-printed engine. All of this is the result of the power of start-ups. India’s space start-ups are now consistently demonstrating their capabilities.
Friends,
Let me now ask you a question. Imagine if there had been round-the-clock restrictions of every kind on flying drones -what would have happened? That was exactly the situation earlier. In our country, both flying and manufacturing drones were trapped in a web of laws. Obtaining a licence was like climbing a mountain, and the entire issue was viewed only from a security perspective. We introduced new rules and simplified them. As a result, many youth today have received the opportunity to move forward in the drone-related sector. On the battlefield, Made in India drones are defeating the enemies of the nation, and in the agricultural sector, our Namo Drone Didi sisters are using drone technology in farming.
Friends,
The defence sector earlier depended entirely on government companies. Our government changed this as well and opened the doors of India’s defence ecosystem to start-ups. This has brought significant benefits to our youth. Today, more than 1,000 defence start-ups are working in India. One young entrepreneur is building drones, another is developing anti-drone systems, some are creating AI-based cameras, while others are working in the field of robotics.
Friends,
Digital India has also created a new community of creators in India. Today, India is witnessing unprecedented growth in the Orange Economy that is, culture, content, and creativity. India is emerging as a major global hub in fields such as media, film, gaming, music, digital content, and VR–XR technologies. A presentation here just now spoke about exporting our culture. I urge the youth present: we have such a vast treasure of stories and legends the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, and so much more. Can we take these into the world of gaming? Globally, gaming is a massive market and a major economy. We can create innovative games based on our mythological narratives. Our Hanuman ji can capture the imagination of gamers across the world. In this way, our culture will be exported in a modern form, using technology as its medium. Even today, I see several Indian start-ups that are beautifully presenting India’s stories through gaming, making it easier for children to understand India while they play.
Friends,
The World Audio-Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) has become a powerful launchpad for young creators. No matter which sector you belong to, today India is opening doors to infinite possibilities. Therefore, my call to all youth associated with this event, and to the youth of the nation, is this: move forward with your ideas, do not hesitate to take risks. The government is walking with you, shoulder to shoulder.
Friends,
Over the past decade, the series of changes and reforms we began has now turned into a Reform Express. At the heart of these reforms is you- our youth power. Next-generation reforms in GST have made processes even simpler for youth and entrepreneurs. Income up to twelve lakh rupees is now tax-free, which significantly increases the potential for savings for those entering the workforce or starting new businesses.
Friends,
You all know that today, electricity is not merely a source of light. From AI and data centres to semiconductors and manufacturing, every modern ecosystem requires abundant energy. That is why India is ensuring Assured Energy. Reforms related to civil nuclear energy- the Shanti Act have been undertaken with this objective. This will create thousands of new jobs in the nuclear sector and will also generate a strong multiplier effect across other sectors.
Friends,
Different countries across the world have different needs and demands, and their workforces are steadily shrinking. Our effort is to ensure that India’s youth are prepared for the opportunities emerging globally. Therefore, continuous reforms in skill development sectors are essential and we are actively pursuing them. After the introduction of the new National Education Policy, regulations related to higher education are also being reformed. Foreign universities are now opening their campuses in India. Recently, the PM SETU programme was launched with investments worth thousands of crores of rupees. This initiative will upgrade thousands of ITIs so that youth can be trained according to the present and future needs of industry. In recent years, India has also signed trade agreements with several countries, which are bringing new opportunities for Indian youth.
Friends,
No nation can become self-reliant or developed without self-confidence. A lack of pride in our capabilities, our heritage, and our tools weakens us. We need commitment and a sense of pride, and we must move forward with strength and confidence. You must have read about the British politician Macaulay, who, during the colonial period, worked through the education system to create a generation of Indians who were mentally enslaved. This fostered an inferiority complex towards indigenous traditions, products, and capabilities. Being foreign or imported came to be seen as a guarantee of superiority. Is that mindset acceptable today? Together, we must put an end to this mentality of slavery. Ten years from now, two hundred years will have passed since Macaulay’s actions, and it is the responsibility of this generation to wash away the injustice of those two centuries. We still have ten years, and I have complete faith that this young generation will accomplish this task. Every young citizen must resolve to free the country from this mindset.
Friends,
Our scriptures say and this was also mentioned in one of the start-up presentations here- “Aa no bhadraḥ kratavo yantu viśvataḥ”, meaning let noble, auspicious, and beneficial thoughts come to us from all directions. You must learn from the world’s best practices, but never allow the tendency to undervalue your own heritage and ideas to dominate. This is precisely what the life of Swami Vivekananda teaches us. He travelled the world, appreciated its strengths, yet continuously challenged the misconceptions spread about India’s civilisation. He did not accept ideas simply because they were popular; instead, he confronted social evils and sought to build a better India. With the same spirit, our youth power must now move forward. And at the same time, take care of your fitness- play, laugh, and live fully.
I have unshakeable faith in all of you, in your capabilities and in your energy. With these words, I once again extend my heartfelt greetings to all of you on National Youth Day. One final suggestion, I want to give you: this dialogue programme should also be organised at the state level to discuss development within states. After that, we should move towards district-level dialogues. In this way, what we call a think tank can evolve into a think web. My best wishes are always with you.
