Text of the Vice-President’s interaction with Students of Sainik School, Chittorgarh (Excerpts)

Text of the Vice-President’s interaction with Students of Sainik School, Chittorgarh (Excerpts)

I am proud to be a Chittorian. That is my identity. I was born in village Kithana, district Jhunjhunu but that was my biological birth. My real birth took place in Sainik School, Chittorgarh. Sainik School taught me values, discipline, decorum, friendliness, care for the environment, to be one amongst many — not to be alone ever. When I look back to my days in Sainik School, I have vivid, pleasant memories. Unforgettable! Chittorians wherever they are have made their school proud. And why not?

In the history of this nation, Chittorgarh has a place of pride.  Every day you boys and girls see the fort. Vijay Stambh, Kirti Stambh, Maharana Pratap, Rana Sangha, Padmani, they are part of our legacy, history. They inspire us, motivate us to always believe in the Nation.

If you look around countries of the world, you will find our civilisation is global envy. There’s no one to compete with us. We have civilisational history of more than 5,000 years old. Sainik Schools, to begin with, were five. Sainik School Chittorgarh was one amongst the five. Now, we are lucky — the number of Sainik Schools has increased massively. That’s a good step in the right direction because those who come to Sainik School basically come from villages, semi-urban areas but they are very talented.

कहते हैं, वो गुदड़ी के लाल हैं। So, Sainik Schools make the career of those who have talent, who have potential, but who need some help. I am so glad you are studying in Sainik School. Be ever proud, all your life, that you studied in Sainik School Chittorgarh and make your school, your teachers, and your parents ever proud.

Now, Sainik Schools have variables. We have Sainik Schools even by State Governments. I had the good occasion at the invitation of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath, to visit a Sainik School at Gorakhpur.  It is birthday of Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. He is the longest serving Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh in continuation and otherwise. He’s remembered all over for changing the landscape of law and order in Uttar Pradesh. 

He has made Uttar Pradesh, Uttam Pradesh. Organising Kumbh was a global achievement but, I would always credit him for Sainik School at Gorakhpur. He has created a Sainik School with complete infrastructure, dedication. Now Sainik schools have also come up boys and girls in the private sector with participation of the private parties.  That’s another good area. The country will do well with more Sainik Schools. We are a large country of 1.4 billion people, the most populous country in the world. We need more Sainik schools because getting quality education is divine gift.

A big change has taken place during our times and decades thereafter, Sainik Schools were meant only for boys. 50% of humanity was ignored. Can you succeed in the world without 50% of the talent not being recognised? And now, Sainik schools are provided for girls. I see them here all around and what an achievement in the world for Bharat. Our girls are combat pilots, our girls are in police force, our girls are in CAPFs. We call those girls involved with ISRO, rocket women. So participation of girls in equal measure is fundamental.

I must appreciate Prime Minister Modi for achieving something which did not happen for three decades earlier — an epochal development, a game-changing development: one-third reservation for women in Lok Sabha and State Legislatures. And I must also commend that earlier we used to have all-boys’ Sainik Schools. Now, we have, at Mathura, all-girls’ Sainik Schools — a big development. It is because of the firm foundations of character, integrity, and commitment in Sainik Schools that we have been able to cater to the requirements of our defence forces.

That is why, as a proud Indian, I can say the recent lesson we taught to the enemy across the border, we are proud of our defence forces. Pahalgam barbarity has been avenged to the accoladation of the entire world. Time for us to salute our defence forces. What they achieved has never been done before. 

Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, who defined terrorism. Their locations in Bahawalpur and Muridke, deep inside the territory of Pakistan, beyond international border, you all must have seen, were destroyed. You must have seen coffins being escorted by terrorists, their army and their politicians. That was the greatest success of our defence forces. 

Coming back to the issue that you are going for a football match, winning or losing is important, but not all important. It is the spirit of the game. It’s the spirit with which you play. It’s the connection you generate. That is more important. While I wish you good luck, I wish good luck to any team that will win because that is also our team. We will excel in one game, others will excel in another game. That has to be our growth journey.

Don’t have the idea that Bharat was born in 47. No — 5,000 years ago! In 47, all that happened was we got rid of foreign rule and that is why today, the entire world is appreciating Bharat. Bharat stands for peace, Bharat stands for global harmony. Operation Sindoor did not target civilians, did not destroy property in a wanton manner. Only the terrorist hideouts were targeted. Precise, calibrated, accurate and we all had the occasion to see it. Which means we have sent a message to the entire world. 

Enough is enough! No more tolerance of terrorism, those who will commit barbarity use terrorism as a weapon will be taught the lesson of their life like Bahawalpur and Muridke and therefore its a confident Bharat. It’s a Bharat on the rise, It’s a Bharat with hope and possibility, It is Bharat that has opportunities for every young mind in every sphere. We are a nation on rise, rise is unstoppable, rise is incremental, We are no longer a nation with potential. Our potential is getting exploited. We are no longer a nation that dreams, No. 

Viksit Bharat is our destination, we are marching towards that and we will succeed because I have before you, young boys and girls. When I look at you, your lives have been changed. revolutionised for a positive aspect. I know when I went to Sainik School from my village, All that I saw for the first time, you are lucky to have seen this before. I have not seen these things before in my life. I would always remember, the time we spent in Sainik School. Always be in connect with your classmates, with your school fellows. 

We are Chittorians, we have celebration batch wise also. You must have seen that. I would be happy as Vice-President of the country to contribute in any manner whatsoever for the growth trajectory of Sainik School. We have a youth icon, the destiny snatched him when he was about 40 years of age. The sage who went to Chicago, stunned the entire world at that point of time. In his address to the Assembly of Religions when he said, Brothers and Sisters.

Remember what he said, He has given a message to entire impressionable minds, girls and boys. I quote what Vivekananda thundered for your generation. It should ever resonate in your ears and what he said was this, “Arise, Awake and stop not till the goal is reached”

Now, what I did not dream, What I did not think while I was a student, while I was in college, while I was in profession as a Senior Advocate, while I was a member of Parliament in 1989, While I was a Minister in 1990 in Delhi I never thought Bharat will rise so much that we will be the first nation in the world to land our Chandrayan -3 at south pole of moon. 

और हमने वहाँ क्या किया? तिरंगा फहराया, शिव-शक्ति point दिया वहाँ पर. That being the situation, you have a bright future. The government of the day is investing in the education, is investing in youth, their interests, sports, and therefore you will have to be different as boys and girls of Sainik School, and to be different you will have to make a difference.

How do you make a difference, to make a difference by optimally utilising your time. Never fear, never have tension, never have stress because these only slide you down. There are no failures in life. Failure is a message, do more, If you look at research, inventions and discovery — three are important. No one succeeded in the first attempt. Chandrayaan-3 succeeded because Chandrayaan-2 succeeded 95 percent. Gaganyaan will also succeed, therefore believe in yourself. 

Your endorsement matters, I am sure you will carry my message to the principal. I will expect students of Sainik School to come in small batches, to see Indian Parliament, and they will be my guests and in 2025, I will make a visit to Sainik School Chittorgarh, and I would like to go to my own house Sanga house. Sanga house is having a difficult position because when you look from Sanga house towards the school building on the left hand side, you will find residence of the Principal, the Headmaster, and the Registrar. So they are all closeby. I will go there, that will be nostalgic journey for me but I can assure you boys and girls you will realise every year what you are getting from Sainik School. 

You will realise, sometimes we think others are very intelligent, because we have not been in that area. Don’t yield. Communicate in your language, exert yourself, you must always give your point of view, that is very fundamental. कभी शर्माना मत, क्योंकि आपमें प्रतिभा की कोई कमी नहीं है। कोई कहीं से भी आ रहा हो, इस धरती पर कोई आसमान से नहीं टपका है। 

Has anyone dropped from the sky on the earth? — No. So we can challenge anyone but challenge in a positive sense. My very best wishes to you and I’m sure you will remember two things I have conveyed. 

Thank you so much.