PM Modi inaugurates ‘National Youth Festival’, says India’s youths are writing the code of global prosperity

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the world looks towards India with hope and confidence because both its people and its thoughts are young. He said India’s capability and its dreams are also young. Speaking after inaugurating the 25th National Youth Festival in Puducherry via video conferencing today,   Mr Modi said the Democratic dividend of India’s youth is unparalleled as along with Demographic dividend the youth of India also has democratic values. The Prime Minister stressed that today, if the youth of India has the charm of technology, then there is also the consciousness of democracy. Today, if the youth of India has the ability for hard work, then there is also clarity about the future. Mr Modi said, that is why what India says today, the world considers it to be the voice of tomorrow.

The Prime Minister said the young generation at the time of independence did not hesitate for a moment to sacrifice everything for the country. But today’s youth has to live for the country and fulfill the dreams of our freedom fighters. He added that the youth’s ability is not burdened by old stereotypes, he knows how to shake them. Mr Modi said, this youth can evolve itself and society according to new challenges, new demands and can create new ones. The Prime Minister remarked that today’s youth has a ‘Can Do’ spirit which is a source of inspiration for every generation.

He said, India’s thinking and philosophy have always accepted the change and there is modernity in its antiquity. The Prime Minister said, the youth of the country have always come forward in times of need. He said, whenever the national consciousness gets divided, youth like Shankar come and stitch the country in the thread of unity as Aadi Shankracharya. Mr Modi said, in times of tyranny, sacrifices of youth like the Sahibjaade of Guru Gobind Singh Ji guide us even today. He said, when India needed sacrifice for its freedom, young revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad, and Netaji Subhas came forward to dedicate their lives to the country. Mr Modi said, whenever the country needs spiritual regeneration, sages like Aurobindo and Subramnayan Bharathi come to the scene. Bowing to Swami Vivekananda, the Prime Minister said the birth anniversary in this year of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav is all the more inspiring. He noted the added significance of this period as the celebration of the 150th birth anniversary of Sri Aurobindo and also the 100th death anniversary of Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathi is falling in the same period. Mr Modi said, both these sages have a special relationship with Puducherry and both have been partners in each other’s literary and spiritual journey.

The Prime Minister lauded that today, India’s youths are writing the code of global prosperity. The Indian youth is a force to be reckoned with in the unicorn ecosystem all over the world. India today has a strong ecosystem of over 50 thousand startups. Out of which, more than 10 thousand startups came up amidst the challenge of the Pandemic.   The Prime Minister gave the mantra of New India – Compete and Conquer. That is, get involved and win. Unite and win the battle. The Prime Minister cited the performance in Olympics and Paralympics and participation of youth in the vaccination drive as proof of will to win and a sense of responsibility among the youth.

Mr Modi noted that the Government believes that sons and daughters are equal. With this thinking, the government has decided to raise the age of marriage to 21 years for the betterment of daughters. he said, Daughters can also make their career, they get more time, this is a very important step in this direction.

Briefing media about National Youth Festival, Secretary, Youth Affairs, Usha Sharma said that the Festival aims to shape the minds of India’s youth and transform them into a united force for nation-building. In view of the emerging COVID situation, the two-day Festival has been scheduled to be held virtually. The Prime Minister also inaugurated the National Youth Summit. During the summit, the youth will get an opportunity to express their views on current issues like Environment, Technology, Entrepreneurship and Innovation,  National Character and Nation-Building among others.

Along with the Youth Festival, Prime Minister also inaugurated the Kamarajar Mani Mandapam constructed here at the cost of 23 crores.  PM also dedicated, the MSME Technology Centre, in Puducherry Technological University set up at the cost of 122 crore rupees to the Nation.

Prior to the inauguration, Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur addressed the audience and followed by the address of Puducherry Chief Minister Rangaswamy.

Lieutenant Governor Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan, Minister of State for MSME Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma, Chief minister Rengasamy and Industries Minister Namasivayam, and others took part in the event.

The 12th of January is the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda and is observed as National Youth Day every year.