Good afternoon to all of you!
Education is the most impactful, transformational mechanism that can change the world, bring about equality and contain inequities.
Friends, it is an absolute honour and privilege to be amongst brilliant minds. I had seen the girls right from the airport, the sparkle in their eyes, they represent current Bharat and will take Bharat to 2047 when it attains centenary of its independence. I am full of hope, optimism and confidence that all these girls in 2047 will be in their prime youth and their contribution will determine the fate of Bharat, making Bharat a developed nation at the pinnacle of nations.
In a short span of just three decades, this institution has earned name and fame of an unrivaled degree. This is on account of sagacity of the management, commitment of the faculty, and hard work of the students. Their accomplishments in every walk of life, while I was giving the awards the learned Principal told me that the award is very heavy, in the process she forgot one thing, I was Governor state of West Bengal, Tough situations को हैंडल करना मेरी मजबूरी थी।
I extend my warmest congratulations to all the award winners of the school. The varied nature of awards indicates that it is an institution where education is being imparted in a holistic manner.
Friends, I take you back to my days in Sainik School, I was a meritorious student because it was reflected by the marksheet. We have to be more than that, I am so happy this Institute is going beyond that. That was a time when we did not have any other brand of butter, but Polson. So, whenever I was in the company of a teacher, children from behind used to say Polson, Polson!
I am so happy that there is integrated development of every facet including academics that will take you a long way. The Mayo College Girls’ School has been consistently recognised as a premier institution in the country but what is soothing to note is that the School has produced toppers, shooters, athletes, swimmers, actors, dancers, musicians, vocalist, entrepreneurs, pilots, members of top civil services in IAS and IPS, this list is endless that to in such a short time of 35 years.
As Governor, state of West Bengal, I was dealing with institutions that were 250 years old, institutions that had centenary celebrations; their number was in double digits. Your accomplishments in a little over 3 decades are significant in line with the reflections of the World Bank President when he came for G-20 summit, he said, “what India achieved in digital penetration and technology in 6 years could not have been achieved in 47 years”, that was reflecting the mood of the nation.
I take your 35 years manifold. I say so because in 2022 the country had a milestone achievement. Our digital transactions were four times the combined transactions of US, UK, France & Germany.
I therefore view your achievements in that perspective.
What matters very impactfully is the variety of contributions Alumni make. Alumni have made an impact in every field from Asian Games gold medalist to chef’s. These are the times when these avenues are open to one and all. If Girls make an impact, that reflects the changing affirmative profile of the nation.
All this has happened because of the visionary steps taken by the management, when they scripted for you a motto,” let there be light”. It epitomizes the essence of education.
Friends, in this Institute you are doing the ultimate because education is the key to every growth facet of human life. After a gap of More than three decades, attention could be bestowed and we have after getting input from all the stakeholders a New Education Policy which is a remarkable document that will take this Nation to very great heights, we will be able to realize the dreams which we had once which was having institutions like Takshila and Nalanda.
The policy encourages students to explore a plethora of subjects, nurturing their creativity, blossoming their creativity and honing critical thinking skills. It aims to dismantle rigid demarcations between Science and Arts and vocational disciplines, empowering students to fervently pursue things of their likes. This demarcation was virtually impregnable. The student had the potential, had the aptitude, had the inclination, earlier the institute would say that this could not happen, that barrier has disappeared. I am sure the NEP will be adopted more vigorously to give the knee jerk reaction space to the student. They will be able to play on the frontfoot to fully exploit their talent and expertise, realize their aspirations and dreams.
For the first time in the country two things have happened which matter to the girls in particular you may not be aware your elders would be aware there were the time and ecosystem was present that would create hurdles, handicaps and impede the growth, not allowing to use your talent, fortunately as a result of several initiatives and government policies we have in place today ecosystem that allows every boy and girl to unleash his her talent, exploit potential and realize aspirations this is the greatest achievement in this decade. That is why the Prime Minister has put the decade in a different form; he calls it TECH-ADE. This is a milestone change that has taken place.
Friends you are in Amrit Kaal, on account of our phenomenal growth our Amrit Kaal is our Gaurav Kaal. I take you three months back in August 2023; Chandrayaan landed on the south pole of the moon, India became the first country to have this distinction. Our ISRO has done wonders, I appeal to girls to find out, that ISRO has put in space the satellites of very developed countries in the most efficient manner.
If you go to the other aspect, September 21, 2023 is etched in history, for women empowerment, for women led empowerment, for good three decades efforts have been made to ensure there should be equitable representation of women in Parliament and legislatures. The effort could not succeed. But the efforts succeeded on 21st September 2023, when Parliament provided for one third reservation in Lok Sabha and state legislatures.
I remember one of your alumni, Chhavi Rajawat, she exemplified commitment to social service, she left the corporate world, left urban life and chose to be a Sarpanch. She earned Kudos all over the country, but girls like her will find great satisfaction that there will be one third reservation in Lok Sabha and the state legislature giving you all a greater opportunity to formulate policies of this country.
पुरानी कहावत थी, एक समय था जब सोच थी, अबला जीवन है तुम्हारी यही कहानी, आँचल में है दूध, आंखों में है पानी! लेकिन अब यह कहा जाता है, आज है जमाना नारी शक्ति वंदन का. That is what we did on 21st September 2023, historic day and epochal development that will ensure progress of this country for centuries to come.
Friends, all barriers have been shattered by your gender. I have seen talent of your gender in Rajya Sabha, I have seen talent of your gender in bureaucracy, but imagine now your talent is in aid of our defence courses as fighter pilots, you are taking combat positions in defense. What a great change, we could not imagine when I was a student at Sainik School, Chittorgarh, now girls are being admitted there. I am so delighted to share with you when you take a leap in the larger world nothing will handicap you.
I have two suggestions to make: Never be under tension, never be under stress and never fear failure. Failure is a stepping stone. Never hesitate to innovate and engage in research. If an idea comes to your mind, ensure that idea does not get parked in your mind. That Idea must be explored and put into execution. If you don’t do that, you are not only doing injustice to yourself, you are doing injustice to the entire humanity and the idea entertained and not executed is not a proper human response. I am sure you will take care of this and move ahead with this mantra.
Secondly, take pride in being Indians and take pride in Bhartiyata. Be proud of our historical achievements because the entire world is stunned at them. There was a time when we used to think of the UK, France, Germany and Japan, and our economy was taken to be Fragile Five. What happened in 2022? India became the fifth largest global economy by overtaking Great Britain and France. 2030 में बारी है जापान और जर्मनी की. India will be the third largest economy in 2030, by all indications.
Friends, I have generated a new connection with this Institute, thanks to Maharaja Gaj Singh Ji. I therefore take the opportunity and extend through Maharaja Gaj Singh ji, an invitation to the girls students of Mayo College Girls School to visit Indian Parliament as my guest. See for yourself in two and a half years, what kind of building we have had, and what kind of infrastructure. A batch of 50 will be convenient but even a batch of hundred will be accommodated. I would appeal to the management if every student of this Institute will go to Delhi and see for themselves the new building of Parliament, Bharat Mandapam, one of the top ten convention centers in the world, the Yashobhoomi, Prime Minister’s Museum and War Memorial. These things you may not have seen before, avail the opportunity. I will be extremely delighted if this happens very fast so that during this year we are able to expose as many girls from the institute to our Indian Parliament as possible and the winter session is round the corner.
Friends, alumni of this institution when it comes to age will only be in their prime but I have seen from public space the alumni are contributing hugely. They are making your Institute proud. I will have a brainstorming session with the alumni of Mayo College Girls’ School at Upa-Rashtrapati Nivas and find ways so that you create a corpus where by every student leaving this premises contributes on a monthly basis for her entire life and that will save the future of many girls by giving the institute an opportunity to make available education to those who otherwise may not have it.
Friends, we are fortunate that the president of the Alumni Association is here and I am sure the president will fructify this interaction before the end of the year and someone from my office will be in touch with her.
Finally, I saw the recitation of the national anthem, stuti of Ganesh ji, Bharatnatyam, remarkable!
I have been a school prefect but those were the days when school prefect was appointed on the basis of Academics but when I saw the school prefect here, the house prefect, what a formidable combination. This gives enough indications that life on the campus is resulting in holistic exposure of all your talent and all facets of your personality.
I extend my best wishes to the school, the students, and their families as you continue your journey of learning and growth. Once again I am grateful to Maharaja Gaj Singh Ji for making available this opportunity to me to share my thoughts with those who according to me are the foot soldiers, Warriors of Bharat@2047. It is on their shoulders that Bharat will realize its dream of being the most developed nation of the world in 2047. May the spirit of Mayo College Girls’ College continue to shine brightly in years to come.
Thank you so much!
*****
MS/JK/RC