“Build a new India where everyone has equal opportunities”: Vice President of India to the youth

Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu called upon the youth to take inspiration from the life of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and work for eradication of poverty, illiteracy, social and gender discrimination, corruption, casteism and communalism. He made these remarks while addressing the Officer Trainees attending the Foundation Course at MCR HRD Institute, Hyderabad on the occasion of 125th Birth Anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose which is being celebrated as ‘Parakram Diwas’ across the country.

Noting that 65% of our population is below 35 years of age, the Vice President said that the youth should lead from the front in building a New India – a happy and prosperous India where every citizen gets equal opportunities and where there is no discrimination of any kind.

Highlighting that Netaji wanted abolition of the caste system in India, the Vice President said that as far back as in the 1940s, soldiers of all castes, creeds and religions lived together, ate together in common kitchens and fought as Indians first and last. Netaji always used to stress that the progress of India would be possible only with the uplift of the down-trodden and the marginalized sections, he said.

Recalling that Netaji stood against injustice in every form right from his school days, he mentioned about the influence of the teachings of Ramakrishna Paramahansa, Swami Vivekananda and Sri Aurobindo on him. Shri Naidu said this spirituality became a source of inner strength.

The Vice President underlined that Shri Bose believed in giving equal pedestal to women in every sphere of life- be it social, economic, or political. “Progressiveness of Netaji’s ideas can be gauged from his decision to form a women’s corps in INA named Rani of Jhansi Regiment”, he said and appreciated the Government’s decision to provide Permanent Commission for the women in Armed Forces. He concluded, saying that he urged the youth to take inspiration from the life of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and lead from the front in building a New India – a happy and prosperous India where every citizen gets equal opportunities and where there is no discrimination of any kind.

(Published from PIB)