“Youth Must Recognize India’s Roots and Contribute to Development” – Speaker Devnani

Jaipur: Rajasthan Legislative Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani expressed confidence that, considering the enthusiasm of the country’s youth and citizens, the vision of a “Developed India @2047” envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi may be achieved even before the target year.

He was addressing the “Viksit Bharat @2047 – Samarth Yuva, Sashakt Bharat Talent Felicitation Ceremony” organized by the National Service Scheme (NSS) unit of University of Rajasthan at the Humanities Hall in Jaipur as the chief guest. The event was chaired by Vice-Chancellor Prof. Alpana Kateja, with NSS Regional Director S S Bhatnagar as the special guest.

Devnani stated that “Developed India @2047” is no longer just the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi but has now become a shared commitment of every Indian. He emphasized that India is not competing to become a global superpower but aims to guide the world with the philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family), continuing its historical role as a global guide.

He urged the youth associated with NSS to reconnect with India’s roots and actively participate in development by blending innovation with traditional knowledge, especially in the era of Artificial Intelligence. He also encouraged them to adopt a spirit of service as an integral part of life.

Highlighting India’s rich heritage, Devnani said that the country has always been a center of knowledge and has led the world in cultural, spiritual, religious, and technological domains. However, he noted that centuries of foreign rule distanced people from their roots. He stressed that ancient texts such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata, along with the Vedas, Puranas, and Upanishads, are vast repositories of knowledge that the younger generation should study and imbibe.

He further highlighted that India has contributed significantly to the world in areas such as mathematics, Ayurveda, and yoga. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for global recognition of yoga through the annual celebration of International Yoga Day.

Sharing his experiences from NSS camps, Devnani recounted an initiative in a remote tribal area of Kotda in Udaipur, where students were asked to spend a day living with tribal families. He said the experience deeply moved the students, making them aware of the hardships faced by underprivileged communities.

He called upon youth to develop a sense of national unity, embrace cultural values, and remain sensitive toward the poor. He emphasized that the spirit of service provides deeper satisfaction than material comforts or high-paying jobs.

During the event, Devnani honored talented participants, outstanding NSS volunteers, and coordinators involved in national and state-level activities of the NSS unit of the University of Rajasthan by awarding certificates and badges.

Presiding over the function, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Alpana Kateja thanked NSS Rajasthan Regional Director S.S. Bhatnagar for announcing an increase in NSS units at the university from 20 to 30. She also shared information about the university’s “Anandam” initiative.

At the beginning of the program, NSS Coordinator Dr. Neeki Chaturvedi welcomed the guests and presented an overview of NSS activities, while the event was conducted by NSS in-charge Dr. Amit.