Says youth must lead India’s march towards Viksit Bharat @2047
STATE TIMES NEWS
VARANASI : Governor of Himachal Pradesh Kavinder Gupta on Tuesday inaugurated the national discourse programme ‘Bharat Vimarsh’ at the K.N. Udupa Auditorium, Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi.
Addressing a distinguished gathering of academicians, scholars, students and social leaders, the Governor Kavinder Gupta underscored the centrality of cultural roots in national strength and called upon the youth of India to assume their role as the primary carriers of that civilisational heritage.
The programme, themed “Education & Drug-Free India: Towards Viksit Bharat @2047”, was jointly organised by Kashiyana Foundation and Divi Welfare Foundation, in collaboration with the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Chair, Faculty of Social Sciences, BHU.
Addressing the gathering as Chief Guest, Governor Gupta said that the strength of any nation is embedded in its cultural roots, and that it is the youth who bear the greatest responsibility of nurturing and carrying forward that culture.
He described Kashi not merely as a city, but as the eternal capital of knowledge, spiritual pursuit and civilisation. “It is fitting that Bharat Vimarsh – a national initiative aimed at fostering meaningful dialogue among youth, academicians and society at large on issues of nationhood, culture and progress – begins its journey from Kashi,” he said.
Invoking the timeless wisdom of the Upanishads – Uttishtha, Jagratha, Prapya Varan Nibodhata – the Governor emphasised that this message holds as much relevance for today’s generation as it did for the ancients. He asserted that the national resolve to build a Viksit Bharat by 2047 can only be fulfilled through the active and enlightened participation of India’s youth.
Governor Gupta stressed that education must go beyond the mere acquisition of knowledge and serve as the foundation for character-building, moral values and social responsibility. “If our young generation is educated, aware and free from the menace of drugs, India’s future will undoubtedly be secure, empowered and luminous,” he said, invoking the ancient sentiment enshrined in India’s scriptures – Janani Janmabhoomischa Swargadapi Gariyasi – affirming that the mother and the motherland are greater even than heaven.
The Vice Chancellor of BHU, Prof. Ajit Kumar Chaturvedi, presided over the function and welcomed the Governor. He observed that the true purpose of education lies not merely in the acquisition of knowledge, but in the development of social responsibility and ethical consciousness, and that forums such as Bharat Vimarsh serve as vital catalysts in inspiring youth towards nation-building.
Prof. Jagdish Rai, Chairman of Divi Welfare Foundation and former Vice Chancellor of Invertis University, spoke on the role of Indian culture and family values in guiding youth away from social evils including substance abuse. Prof. Tej Pratap Singh, Coordinator of the Deendayal Upadhyaya Chair at BHU, highlighted the relevance of Pt. Deendayal Upadhyaya’s philosophy of Integral Humanism in providing a balanced and humane direction to society.
Dr. Sunil Kumar Mishra, Assistant Professor at Lakshmi Bai College, Delhi University, and Visiting Fellow at IAB, USA, also addressed the gathering. Shri Sumeet Ankur Singh, Founder of Kashiyana Foundation and Member of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, reiterated that the core purpose of Bharat Vimarsh is to establish meaningful dialogue between the nation, its culture and its youth so as to bring about positive social transformation. Ashish Gupta, Founder of Bhagwan Das Foundation, called upon the youth to remain free from drugs and contribute actively to education and social service. The programme was anchored by Dr. Sanat Kumar Singh. The vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. Sachin Mishra, while Beer Bhadra Singh, Founder and Executive Director of Divi Welfare Foundation, expressed gratitude to all guests, scholars and participants. On the occasion, the Governor also interacted warmly with students of Apni Pathshala, a grassroots educational initiative. The event was attended by a large number of students, research scholars, academicians and social workers.