“World is Amazed by the Reach of Technology to Remote Corners of India.” – Vice President
“A Developed India by 2047 is Not Just a Dream, But a Goal.” – Vice President’s Strong Statement
Vice President Says in Motihari, Bihar: “This Land is Shining Again, Development is Taking Place.”
“Alumni Associations Play a Key Role in Shaping Institutions.” – Vice President
“Think Beyond the Limits of Your Thoughts and Embrace Unlimited Opportunities.” – Vice President
Vice President Addresses Students of Mahatma Gandhi Central University in Motihari
Motihari, Dharmendra Kumar (Corespondent): India’s Vice President, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar, today stated that the world is amazed at how technology is reaching the remotest corners of a country with 1.4 billion people. Through technology, service delivery has become seamless. He remarked, “The senior citizens here know how things used to be – standing in line for electricity bills, waiting for any administrative service, not even knowing how to get a delivery ticket or passport. But nowadays, all of that is at your fingertips. It happens with ease. This is a huge revolution.”
While addressing the second convocation ceremony of Mahatma Gandhi Central University in Motihari, Bihar, Shri Dhankhar said, “By 2047, a developed India is not just a dream; it is our goal. However, achieving this goal will require great sacrifices and contributions from everyone. Consider this: To achieve a developed India, we need to increase the current per capita income eight times. People often ask me, ‘What can citizens do for this?’ It is indeed a crucial question.”
Reflecting on the changes in Bihar, the Vice President said, “This land is shining again. Nalanda had vanished, but now Nalanda is visible again. I visited Nalanda. Now creation is happening here, development is taking place. A new dimension has been added to law and order – this is no small achievement; it is a significant success. Therefore, I urge you: You can take a big leap.”
Sharing a meaningful example, the Vice President recalled the Prime Minister’s initiative, saying, “When I came to this campus, I remembered a call given by the Prime Minister – ‘Plant a tree in the name of your mother.’ I planted one, His Excellency did too. This is a personal act, but imagine if 1.4 billion people did this. He said, you can also plant a tree in your child’s name, saying, ‘I plant this tree in your mother’s name; when you grow up, you plant one.’ Just imagine what a massive revolution this could bring!”
The Vice President emphasized the importance of reducing dependence on imports, saying, “When we import items that are already manufactured in our own country, there are three major disadvantages. First, unnecessary foreign currency drains out of our reserves. Second, we import various items from abroad – paints, clothes, furniture, kites, lamps, candles, curtains, and much more – for negligible economic gain. But imagine how many people could get jobs if these items were manufactured domestically. By importing, we are depriving our own people of employment. Third, such practices hinder the growth of domestic entrepreneurs. The essence is that even an ordinary citizen can do a lot to address this issue.”
Highlighting the role of alumni and their associations, Shri Dhankhar said, “Look at the world’s leading institutions – their reputation, image, and financial stability are determined by alumni associations. Alumni associations play an important role. Every student of this university should take a pledge to contribute to the university fund, whether it is annual or monthly. It doesn’t matter if the contribution is ten rupees, one hundred, thousand, or ten thousand. Over time, it will grow, but the habit needs to be developed. And this habit will only be formed when we make a pledge.”
In conclusion, he urged students to think innovatively and explore opportunities, saying, “Through workshops, tell students about the unlimited opportunities available to them. Government policies are very supportive, and access to funds has become much easier. Whenever you come up with an idea, you will find policies at every step that will help turn that idea into reality. Think beyond the limits of your thoughts.”
The event was also attended by Shri Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar (the Honorable Governor of Bihar), Radha Mohan Singh (Member of Parliament), Dr. Mahesh Sharma (Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi Central University), Professor Sanjay Srivastava (Vice Chancellor) and other prominent figures.
