Whenever I read about any sachem, the role of Fergusson College in building them has always been discussed. Reading them, I always used to look forward to visiting this college and getting blessed by touching the land of this pious place, and today I have got this opportunity. The premise in which Veer Saavarkar ji at the time of his education used to worship his dream of independence, the classroom where he used to talk to his friends about the beauty of freedom; today I have got the honour to step here. I am even more fortunate because I could feel the vibes to serve this nation with all my will in that room. History can vouch that this 100 years old place where I am standing today at, this is the place from where the great men of this country have guided this nation and the youth of this nation. If we don’t do anything, don’t call any speaker, but stand here in silence and feeling this 100 yrs heritage and imagine how it would have been when Mahatma Gandhi would have stepped on this land, how would it have been when Rabindra Nath Tagore visited here, when Shri Raman came here. What kind of environment would have been there when such great men were present in this very room..? If we remain silent for a while and feel those memories around, then Friends, I am sure that those legendary words must be revolutionizing this air in which we are breathing. We can feel stirred expressions within us, if our soul is in that state..! Like when we tune into our favorite television channels, they are presented in front of us, in the same way if we tune our mind to those vibes we can feel those words. I am fortunate of getting an opportunity to stand here and speak at such a place, and I am thankful to all the organizers for that..!
When this plan of coming to Fergusson College was made, I conducted a small experiment. I am quite active on social media. I stay connected to the youth on Facebook, Twitter, etc. It gives me an immense opportunity to know their viewpoints, understand their opinions. So, I asked my young friends on facebook that I am going to Fergusson College, and will be meeting the students there, what should I say to them..? I asked for their guidance, their direction..! I made this request to my virtually active friends and I am proud to say that from across the nation I received more than 2500 letters from the youth of the country. In beautiful words they presented their views about what I should say here, what should I convey here, what problems they had, what were their concerns..! My words today will have reflection of their views because I have read them. My discourse today is knit together by the contribution of those virtually active youngsters. In a way this is not Modi's speech but speech of those 2500 youngsters active and proactive on social media. I am just giving voice to their views, of course my address will reflect my feelings, but the basic element is theirs. I once again heartily thank those youngsters. Along with it I am also satiated. It is discussed often that how is the youth of nation, what it does, does it contribute to the nation. These 2500 youngsters are from every corner of the country, some from Kashmir, some from Mizoram, from Nagaland, from Kanyakumari etc, and I see them all with same respect, I can see the same fiber in them all. And that fiber is same because all of them are concerned with what happens in this country. We all have a perception that the youth of this nation cares only about wearing denims, keeping stylish hair, but it is not so. They contemplate, they want to do something, they want to say something, and today through this experiment of mine, I got to know the fire in them, the spark in their heart, their dreams, their potential, the enthusiasm and exaltation to do something despite all the adversities..! And the future of the country, whose youth is so adept, so committed to do something, can't be in darkness, that I want to tell from this sacred place..! We are really fortunate; we are the youngest nation of this world. 65% of our population is below the age of 35. The country whose 65% population is under 35 years of age, what can't it do for the world, what all can it give to this world..! Considering this, we can say that this youth power can not only be used to solve problems of this nation but can also contribute to this entire world. This is very much possible, provided that there is someone who thinks about it, who can guide them, can hold them, and one who can direct them..!
Friends, today there is despair all around in this country..! Meet anyone and they say that they are unfortunate that they are born in India..! They say that nothing can be done..! Some say that why do you care about others, take care of your own needs..! That is the kind of words which can be heard. Friends, I don’t endorse this language of hopelessness. This is a bountiful land. We have a rich heritage of thousands of years. Even after 1200 years of slavery, this nation has the potential to stand strong. What is the reason..? Lokmanya Tilak stood in front of the British Empire and stated ‘Swarajya is my birthright', what strength it was..! What confidence that was!.. If in the state of bondage, our leaders had that potential, today we are a free nation, why this pessimism..? And thus Friends, it is vital that we overcome this pessimis,. And it is not so that all the hope is gone; there is still hope of situations changing..!
If we discuss our education system, why did the situation turn this way..? Those people who know history of our education system, they must know our great traditions..! I request the research scholars to compare the American education system with our Gurukul education system, and then we will be able to see that the way in which American Education System tries to provide a proper environment to hone the dormant potential of an individual, to polish his latent skills according to his interests, his nature, and his traits. He is not fed, but is provided with the ways to learn. If we look at our gurukul system, what was there in it..? Under the same guru, the same environment, with the same resources, even the princes were studying, the warriors were studying, the managing class was studying and also the budding pundits, the upcoming teachers were also being trained there. What would have been the reason..? The same small Aashram, the same sage, and there were equal opportunities for all the skills to bloom there. At one same place, the princess learned the governance strategies, warriors learned about the warfare, craftsmen about the art and vocation, teachers about the theories and businessmen about profit and loss. That sounds quite unbelievable to me. Friends, if we look at that rich old heritage, we can see that what all did we have, which we have lost..! Friends, our aspiration should be to reach from ‘Gurukul’ (seminary) to ‘Vishwakul’ (universal education)..! We are the people who have moved from ‘Upanishad’ to ‘Upgrah’ (satellites), the people who have dreamt of the ‘Vishwakul’..! But today when we are asked about our stand in this 21st century, we stand there with lowered heads..! But till when this situation will be..? Friends, those who know history of the university system, they might aware that we have convocation system in our universities, but convocation for the first time has been mentioned in the Taittiriya Upanishad. In the history of the human race, convocation has been mentioned for the first time in the Taittiriya Upanishad, which is thousands of years old compositions..! Friends, if we have a look at the available history of university education, it is said that in the evolution of human culture, the age of university education may be around 2600 years. And today I am proud to say that in that educational history of 2600 years, 1800 years of education have been centrally led by us. The intervening period of 800 years, when we were tangled in the chains of slavery, we lost everything and the world headed high. We have had a widely accepted education system for 1800 years. We have heard of Nalanda, Takshashila, we have heard of Vallabhi. Vallabhi was in Gujarat while Nalanda and Takshashila were in the east. People from across the world used to come here for education. In Vallabhi, we had such a system that there was an open seaport at Lothal, where students used to come from around 84 countries and used to study at Vallabhi which was 50 kms away from Lothal. We have had great history , Friends. But what happened then, Friends..? If we would have dreamt of re-energizing that great tradition again, if we would have directed ourselves towards the modern education, if we would have thought to adapt the international education after we got freedom, then we could have done a lot in the history of sixty years..!
Friends, I have not read that gazette personally, but have heard about it in various speeches over years. The gazette of 1835 says that 100% Bengal was literate at that time. Why is it that after independence, we could not realize those dreams..? In the entire country Kerala has performed really well, it has been successful in imparting education even in the smallest villages of the state. But if we get into the details, then even there we will not find the Government’s contribution. Narayan Guru Maharaj of Sivagiri Math, even though he was born in a lower cast 100 years back, but he took a pledge that he will educate every fisherman, every poor and scheduled person of Kerala and as a result of that foundation laid 100 years back, Kerala today has become an example for the entire country in the sphere of education. Whose contribution was it..? Of Narayan Guru Maharaj of Shivagiri Math, who devoted all his life for this cause. What I am trying to tell you all today is that Friends, because of the individual contribution of the great men in this country before independence, we are survived.
Friends, I am a patron of giving up on defunct things, I am a patron of modernization, but modernization without westernization..! We need modernism and not westernization..! We have our own potentials Friends, Why can’t we prepare youth that can stand face to face the entire world with strength through our education..! Friends, the world was not ready to admit but when 20-25 years old youngsters of our country started showing their stature and spread across the world to control the entire world through use of IT, then the world realized that Oh! India has this potential as well. This competence has been portrayed by our men..! Can’t we take this all a step ahead..?
Friends, we have been listening this from the world that the 21st century will be of India. Many a Prime Ministers of our nation have been excited saying that 21st century is heading towards us. We got tired of listening that..! But Friends, did we try that this 21st century becomes our century..? If in the latter half of the 20th century, after independence, our national leadership would have planned that where do we want to take this nation in the coming 50 years, would have dreamt about it and have planned systems in order to fulfill those dreams, then today probably we would not have been standing where we are today..! Let’s look at South Korea; they got free in the same era when we did. And look at the difference Friends, South Korea has equal population as Gujarat; it is of the same size of Gujarat. But in such a short span of time, it has become one of the prosperous nations of the world. Not only this, a country as small as South Korea hosts Olympic Games. In the Seoul Olympics South Korea made it mark in the world. Through sports they positioned themselves in the world and they surprised the entire world by organizing an event of such a level in such a small nation. What human power would be there, and how trained manpower would it be, how visionary those men will be..! And when this country of 120 crore, had to organize the Common Wealth Games, CWG, What did we do..? We lost the respect of our nation in front of the entire world..! Two events related to sports, one makes South Korea emerge as a strong nation, and the other demonstrates us as a nation with no sense of organization, discipline..! Friends, then there come doubts, the anxieties that are this where we want this nation to head towards..? A nation of 120 crores and when Olympics are organized than they discuss that this nation could not even earn one gold metal..! Some nation did this, another did that..! Ok. . This might be the situation... But, did we ever try to connect our education system with it..? Did we give enough opportunity to our youth..? And Friends, can’t we find anyone in this country of 120 crore..? Believe me if you just give our defence forces this responsibility and match the potential of the new recruits, in the interested sports and then train them properly, we will earn 5-7 medals even without much efforts. It requires vision..! All just sit with their hands tied together that nothing happened..! And if at all we earn one or two by fluke, everyone is ready to feel proud..!
Friends, nations are not operated this way and thus when nation building is talked about, then human resource development is the first and foremost need. When The Government spends money, it thinks of what, erecting university buildings..! We have to decide that whether we are going to invest in University Building or in building the university..! Friends, it is a very meager issue, this is not just my play of words, and it is the sound of my soul that what are our priorities..? Our priority should be building the university or university building..? In constructing university building, there is interest, because there are tenders involved..! And thus Friends, we should work on deciding our priorities. It is not that there is no solution to the problems, there are solutions, but it requires intentions..!
Friends, let’s have a look at China..! This is true that for the last 30-40 years, it is greatly discussed that who will rule the 21st century..! People sometimes answer that it’s of Asia, now some say of China and some say of India. And there are not many differences on that. The west will not rule the world for long that everyone is sure on now. All agree that east is the new power. All discussion now ends at India- China, China-India..! Friends, two countries standing at the verge of proving their prominence in 21st century, look at the road map that one has, and of the other..! We will find that in 1978 China decide that it will focus on human resource development, so China formed a commission and decided on the priority of their nation. They decided on what those aspects will be that they will focus on… they established agriculture, they established education, economical activity, security and defence... after deciding on these 4-5 important epicenters, they thought how to achieve it and they realized that they need to first of all design their education system in alignment with the need of these sectors, they need to develop human resource. They diverted the entire education system to achieve that goal, channelized it and changed its priorities..! Friends, you will be amazed to know, India and China do not differ quite much on population, and even the natures of Asian countries resemble each other. Even after that in the year 2000, in the list of topmost universities of the world, India had its two universities listed while China did not have any. Friends, what happened in last 10 years, we reduced to one from two and China, who was zero, made their number reach 32..! And Friends, they even have language problem, while for us English is not a matter to worry about. Even the normal worker of country comfortably says hello. When this is so normal for us, why did the situation turn this way..? I would like that some students of Fergusson college should analyze the roadmap that they opted for and present it to us, that how they did it..? Friends, they invested 20% of their G. D. P. from their budget in the education system. Our country it thought of 7% and could not move ahead of 4%. Now you tell me Friends, that if for nation building, we need human building. And if we want to develop our human resource, we need to develop infrastructure for it, systems for it. Many Indians are shining today in various renowned universities in the world, they are making great contribution, but we do not even think of getting them back..! Friends, you will be shocked to know about the Ph.D. that when there was some 50-55 thousand research scholars in India, there were only 6000 in China. Today, China has crossed the number of 80-85 thousand and we have stepped back from where we were..! Not only this, let us also look at the U. S. system. In America, universities do conduct research but that is not only to get a title of PhD, or to be called a doctor. Every single sheet of the research document is used as an instrument of nation building. Suppose if the U.S. needs to formulate a foreign policy for Tibet or they have to constitute trade relation with it. What will they do..? Some American universities will take some 10-12 subjects, and will send them to Tibet for research. They will come back with their research and their thesis will be passed on the policy formulators. Based on them policies are framed and the chances of these policies failing is far less than their succeeding. Why..? Because, researched subjects are related to policy making..! Friends, I feel grieved to say that we do not have unified data of the people who have done some research after independence. How many gold medalists are there, what are the subjects they are gold medalists in, the country does not have any information about it. How many people conducted research, how this research work can be used, where are the documents related to that research..! Friends, in today’s era of technology, information science and virtual connectivity, can’t we at least compile all this data..? By compiling and grouping them, ask them that this is all the research that has been done, now guide us how can we use it for the national interest..? Friends, the strength to innovate may come when it can, but at least we can mine for this potential, and find this talent out..! For nation building we need to bridge the gaps. We should connect our talent pool in this process of nation building..!
Friends, I would like to quote a small example of Gujarat. A study was conducted that even so much investment has been done for the upliftment of tribals, but still why there situation has not changed..? After this some of our universities have conducted different type of researches concerned with tribals. About the tribal education, the tribal culture, tribal food habits, etc. We collected all these documents and created a small team, and tried to understand what all has been discovered in them. What The Government officers can see about the files and what is there in the files, there is great difference in it..! File an RTI and you will know what is there in the files. Friends, there is a lot of talent outside and when we explored it, we got to know various things from it and considering them, we developed an entire package of ‘Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojna’. The first package we developed was of Rs. 15,000 crores and this time we have prepared a package of Rs. 40,000 crores…! And Friends, with such a comprehensive manner, and vision by relating with the budget this package was implemented that the difference that we could not see in the lives of tribals in 50 years, we could bring it about in only 10 years..! Why..? We connected the talent that was there in our education system, in our researchers, and we got the results. And this is why I say Friends, that it is not so that there is lack of talent in our country or researches are not being conducted, but its vitality is not growing. And this is why I say that we need to focus on research if we talk about nation building and education. And the research that is conducted should not be to have a certificate framed on the wall of someone’s house but it should be an important document for our national development. And when research will get associated with responsibility, the quality of our research work will also improve. The research guides will ask for the references from around the world. They will ask scholars to find all what can be done for growth of the nation. And the change will begin. Friends, if a country does not pay attention on research work, it becomes stagnant. Continuous research and new inventions for changing with times are representation of a live and developmental life. And for that we will have to create an environment. We can get degrees by reshuffling old things with tiptop binding, but can’t bring change in the society. And therefore, qualitative research is the need of the hour..!
Friends, how does education changes life and brings about differences..? Usually they are small things. How did our ancestors work..? Let’s see it deserves attention. Probably you know that in India, the maximum no. of pharmaceutical companies is in Gujarat. Probably 45% of medicinal drugs available to India are manufactured in Gujarat, and even those out of Gujarat, the majority companies are of Gujarati people. Even if the company would be anywhere, but the entrepreneur would be a Gujarati..! Why is it so..? I am not going to discuss Gujarat. What I want to reflect upon is that the first pharmaceutical college of India was established some 50-60 years’ back in Gujarat by the visionary people of that time, and not by the Government. It boosted the pharmaceutical industry and today it has become a hub of pharmaceutical companies eliminating diseases from India. This is just an example of how a small education system can bring giant changes..!
Well Friends, you would be hearing about defence and security forces of India. Friends, we are hearing of defence issues quite often and I also don’t need to state what type of people we are surrounded by. And Friends, look at the condition of our country, we have no friends in the neighborhood..! Friends, I am amazed but actually I have to say something else. There is a huge vacuum of the top officials in our defence forces. Youth of our country is not being able to join top positions in defence forces. Friends, can’t we train students from class 8th itself that this is the kind of officers we need. Friends, in time of 10 years can’t we fill these positions..? You tell me Friends, can it be done or not. Have I come here from the skies with some great solution..? Isn’t it simple to understand..? Have a look at it. The foreign exchange that India spends to acquire petroleum energy from foreign nations, it spends much more on acquiring foreign security equipments. A huge amount of Indian currency is spent to buy imported weapons for security of the nation. Why..? Friends, don’t we have such engineers in the country, don’t we have that mettle, or don’t we have that talent that can make defence equipments on our own, which not only protect our nation but can also be sold to the world, and make the common man of India feel proud. We need to decide that in which direction we want to take the nation. In the engineering colleges of India, there is no subject of defence engineering..! Tell me, what will we do..?
Friends, tourism sector is discussed a lot these days. It is said that the tourism business in the world is of 3 trillion dollars..! Today people all over the world, especially the neo middle class population, are making tourism a part of their life. We have this tradition since centuries. Every child wanted to take his parents for the Char Dham Yatra, take them to the holy Ganga, to the Dwadash Jyotirlingas, to the Ganesha temples… This was tradition in our country. It was religious in nature but these days tourism has evolved as a giant sector. Friends, what is that we do not have to give to this world..! You take the people to see the world, ask them how old a monument is, they will say 100 years, 200 years or by maximum 400 years..! But when someone comes here, we say this is 5000 years old, this one is 4000 and that is 2500 years old..! They get shocked seeing what we have..! How much capacity is there..! Friends, we should have developed human resource keeping tourism sector in mind which could promote tourism. You see, if I go to Pune today and try to find a guide who can show me entire Pune, Will I get a guide..? A guide who can tell me stories from Shivaji Maharaj to Lokmanya Tilak…! I am doubtful I won’t get one. Why, because we never thought about it. In our entire education system there was no emphasis on it. And why was that..? Because, we are not able to come out of the mentality of enslavement of 1200 years..! We lack the pride for what we have to offer to the world, and thus we are not able to see beyond Taj..! We can’t provide the world with what every corner of this country has to offer..! Taj Mahal attracts people from across the world to visit our country; it is acting as a magnet to attract the world. Taj Mahal is getting people to come here, but we need to take them ahead of it, our new generation has to do. Our Government, our society should think on it and through education it should be done. Hospitality Management is associated with tourism. Friends, I will give an example that how difference is made. There is a Sardar Sarovar Dam in the Narmada district, tribal zone of our state. There were some rules there, like no entry or later that clicking photographs was not allowed there. I called my officers and said that what is the use of this board in this age of technology, when people can click photographs of the scooter outside your door and can even know of what colour it is..? What is the meaning of this No Entry..? Friends, we opened it. Not only that we also started entry tickets on it and within 2 years, I was surprised to know that 2 lakh visitors came there. Then we thought that this place may need guides, so we called the local 10th passed tribal boys and trained them and today slowly and steadily they have become so confident that in 2-3 languages they enthusiastically introduce the tourists with the place. Friends, this is a small thing. The question is that can we bring about changes in the nation with such small steps. If we work on these things we can change the situations. But Friends, It is the misfortune of our nation that we are not paying attention on the human resource..!
Today the agriculture growth rate of our country lies between 2 to 3%. We have been taught this since our childhood that India is an agricultural nation. Isn’t it..? But today when we watch television it seems as if its primary production is soap..! Soap of this fragrance, Soap of that flavor..! As if, all we produce is soap..! Friends, why don’t we train our farmers, our youth in our agriculture universities taking agro-technology from across the world..? We have left our farmers on their destiny..! Even after 60 years of independence, they are following the traditions that their forefathers left to them. Friends, they follow the practices that used to feed 30 crore people of the country. Today the number of farmers is going down, agricultural land is decreasing and to feed 120 crore people we need modernized agriculture, we need to increase our productivity. And this won’t come just by our traditions, it comes with innovations, with research, with development of human resource of that type, with evolution of that kind of technology and when we connect all of them, change happens. Friends, the irony is that the country is not focusing on all these things. We can change all this, if we once accept the value of education..!
Friends, we have started a new practice, emphasizing on innovation..! Now this thing should be done by the Government of India, but if no one does so we obviously can’t wait. Someone will have to start it..! Friends, we have started an ‘iCreate’ institute. From any corner of the country, any person, any youngster, any school kid, who has a spark, who wants to innovate, wants to give a technical solution, so for them we have created a world class incubation center, ‘iCreate’..! Presently its construction is in progress. We will get people to ‘iCreate and give them such environment that they can fully use their talent and offer the world something. I requested Narayana Murthy Ji and said that it is our dream. The Government is ready to bear the expenses but I do not want to keep it to the Government. Friends, this is one great difference between us and the others. Others are interested in power, while our priority is to empower..! They want the reign, they want power and we want to make every citizen of the country empowered. Friends, there is a great difference in our ideology..! And this is why I asked Narayana Murthy Ji to look after it. He then studies that Modi is there, if we go to him, Income Tax Department may send notice to us..! He took six months, but ultimately displayed courage and today he is working with us as chairman of it. I want to give this nation a world class institution..!
Friends, we all keep complaining about our police..! Don’t we..? Friends, even they are human beings, can’t they be changed..? Friends, you tell me, how did we assume that all of them are useless, how..? Friends, we have made an initiation. We established ‘Raksha Shakti University’. We have started it just three years back. And those kids who want to go in the uniformed services, we admit them after 10th and 12th for graduation. Their physical training is done. They are taught history, constitution, law, crowd psychology etc. Now when after graduating from there when he will join police services, you tell me will there be a change or not..? At least let us start from somewhere. Friends, the first thing is to develop human resource in every sector.
Friends, today we talk of cyber crime..! There is a chaos everywhere that a kid sitting in Holland can empty your entire account, just by moving his fingers on the computer keyboard. This is the power of cyber crime..! Friends, will we sit crying..? And the way in which our police men have been trained, will they be able to solve cyber crimes..? We will have to work for it. And Friends, I say this with pride in front of the world that Gujarat is the first state in the world that has started Forensic Science University..! But Friends, what happen is that we listen, and then retain only a bit while forget the rest. Today I stand here and say Forensic Science University, tomorrow some of my friends from Congress will announce me to be a liar saying that there are many places where this course is taught, this Forensic Science Department exists. Did I deny that..? I am not saying Forensic Science Course or Forensic Science Department; I am saying Forensic Science University..! So Friends, can’t we develop a human resource in accordance with our needs and requirement of the nation..?
Friends, today we say that the pace of urbanization in India is very high. We are moving very rapidly towards urbanization. People are migrating from rural areas to cities. You tell me how many colleges are there in India of urban planning..? How many colleges are there in India of urban infrastructure, of urban management, of urban water resources..? There are none, my friends..! And if we see that urbanization is taking place very rapidly, then who is holding you back from building your education system in such a manner so that such manpower becomes available..!
Friends, the population of our country is increasing rapidly. Doctors are not being available, but if you have to start a medical college, then without going to Delhi and struggling there for long, you can’t get the permission..! On one hand we need doctors, students want to become doctor, parents also want their kids to become doctors, being a doctor you can earn both money and respect, but on the other hand we are not willing to prepare doctors..! And this is why someone is going to Russia to study, someone is going to China..! Friends, today there will not be even one district in India where students have not gone to Russia or China for studying medical..! Our currency of thousands of crore is moving out, but why can’t we opt for a holistic approach that ensures that every village of the country gets a doctor and move ahead for preparing doctors at a mass scale. Friends, where to take the country and for that, one thing is, how to solve the problems, and second, how to attain the newer heights, if with this vision we emphasize on human resource development, then that person has the capability to raise the other resources.
You tell me Friends, if I ask you about the greatest wish of your life..! Think of the answer in your mind. Friends, I can confidently say that all had one thing in common and that was good education for our kids. Am I right..? Every parent, especially the mothers, have a dream that their kids get good education..! Friends, if we have to impart good education, should not we create systems to prepare good teachers..? We start IIMs to raise CEOs who run companies across the world, but preparing good teachers for our next generation is not our priority..! Friends, India was prosperous because we had a heritage of quality teachers, the Gurus. We destroyed that heritage and stepped towards our own destruction..! Friends, today there is a trend of going to foreign nations. Everyone wants to go abroad. In that too we can decide where to go. Today the world is in need of millions and millions of teachers. They can’t find maths and science teachers. Can’t we export teachers outside..? The country whose 65% population is below 35, can it provide the world with teachers, can’t it..? Friends, when a business man or a professional goes abroad, he earns dollars and pounds, but when a teacher goes abroad, he captures an entire generation of that nation..! If we have the global vision then why the entire world can’t have Indian teachers..? And when our teacher will go outside, he will not only take the subject knowledge, but will also take our ethos, our culture outside and will let the world know about it..! But there should be a dream. Friends, we have begun a small thing. We are the first in India to start a university by the name of Indian Institute of Teachers Education, where just after 12th if your aptitude is of a teacher, you do not need to be a graduate. You come here and graduate in teaching profession itself and then post graduate as well. It will be a five year course. Friends, I am dreaming that the way in which CEOs are hired from IIM campus interviews spending crores of rupees, the day will not be far that in the same manner teachers will be hired by the campus interview on crores of rupees. I want to create that situation..! If every parent wants that their kid should get a good teacher, good education, then why don’t we give priority to it..?
Friends, I am amazed..! We talk of global economy, discuss world trade. In the world trade the biggest strength needed is sea trade..! India is lucky that we have 2/3rd coastal area. We have such huge coastal area and want world trade as well, but we do not stand anywhere in front of a country like Singapore, which is much smaller than us. Because in our country education for marine engineering, port management, etc. is very very limited..! If there is so much scope then why can’t we emphasize on professional education in this area. Friends, if we do this, will our youth remain unemployed..?
Friends, I am proud to say that the Government of India says that the state in India where unemployment is minimum, it is Gujarat. Why..? If you develop according to the development needed, the difference is visible. Whenever an industry comes to us, we ask them what kind of human resource do they need. They state their requirements so then I say that first start colleges here, start ITI and then later your industry will start here. Friends, we work taking a model of Public Private Partnership (PPP), so that the youth of that region gets immediate employment, and they get the skill that they want..! If India has to grow, we will have to focus on skill development. Even Mr. Obama when he got selected as the president second time, he emphasized on the topic of skill development. Friends, we have 65% youth with two arms, but they don’t have any skill, all they have is just a certificate..! And our Government also is letting this culture prevail. Certificate means skill; food security bill means food for all. This is what is happening and this is why we need to concentrate more on skill development. Friends, our youth is ready to work, they have no reservations and if we believe in them and instill confidence in them, situations can be changed..!
Friends, there are numerous topics on which I can talk endlessly. I am talking based on my experience and I am telling you that education plays a vital role in nation building. Our education should be suited to our dream of nation building. Our education should be such that it takes us from ‘Aham’ (I) to ‘Vayam’ (we)..! It should be such that it can help us connect the ‘Swa’ (self) with ‘Samashti’ (the world)..! It should be such that realizes the concept of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (World is a family)..! If we agree to that, there will not be any environmental issue. If we say that the holy Ganges is my mother or I worship trees, then we would not cut the trees..! Friends, there is a significance of our education and ordination, if we move ahead with that belief, then solutions to our problems are not very far. We can change the situation. We can emphasize on creating human beings as per the need. When I have got an opportunity to come to this pious place, I am sure that we will be successful someday in laying a strong foundation of the education system to take this nation to newer heights on the basis of the strength of society by brainstorming and consultation on all that I have said..! With this desire, my best wishes to all of you..! And as promised to those youngsters sitting slightly away from me, I am coming to you. Thank you very much..!
