The Pondy Lit Fest 2023 is underway at Puducherry. As a part of the event, the SMaRT – Swarajya Awards 2023 were presented to eminent personalities. Lok Sabha MP Tejasvi Surya also delivered the keynote address at the opening ceremony.
In his speech, Tejasvi Surya reflected on the remarkable progress our country has made in the past decade and emphasised the importance of the wisdom imparted by our ancient rishis, who encouraged us to strive for strength. He commended the festival organizers for bringing together discussions on various aspects of society, politics, and the economy onto a single platform and for their determination in hosting the event despite the challenges that came their way.
Bharat Shakti And Strategic Autonomy
During his address, Tejasvi Surya remembered the successful conclusion of the G-20 Presidency and its global implications, and that the present is an opportune time to engage in these discussions. He pointed out the achievements of the Chandrayaan-3 mission and the outstanding performances of Indian athletes in various sports. He emphasised that a consistent and strong political leadership was the foremost factor responsible for India’s remarkable progress in the social, economic, cultural, and political domains over the past nine years.
Quest For Strategic Autonomy
He highlighted that the vision of our Rishis is to attain strategic autonomy and be free from foreign control. Then he quotes Sri Aurobindo’s words on strategic autonomy – “Our ideal is that of a Swarajya free from foreign control. We claim the right of every nation to live its own life by its own energies, according to its own nature and ideals. We reject the claim of aliens to force upon us from a civilization inferior to our own or to keep us out of our inheritance on the untenable ground of a superior fitness while admitting the stains and defects which long subjection has induced upon our native capacity. We are conscious of that capacity and energy reviving in us.”
Markers Of A Decade Of Achievements
Tejasvi Surya reminded that in the years before the NDA government, previous administrations faced significant challenges in effectively addressing terrorism, both domestically and at the borders. He underscored a notable achievement of zero terror casualties in the nation outside conflict zones.
Before 2014, policy on counter terrorism was influenced by domestic vote bank politics even as terror and separatist organizations were creating havoc.
Under PM Sri @NarendraModi Ji, there's zero tolerance for terrorism. Outside of the conflict zone, there has been no… pic.twitter.com/wNfFTLANTK
— Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) September 15, 2023
He also highlighted the government’s approach to quelling the efforts of Naxal outfits attempting to establish a corridor from Pasupati (in Nepal) to Tirupati (in AP), attributing this success to a departure from ideological constraints in political, economic, and cultural discourses.
Tejasvi also affirmed the need for acquiring strength and quoted Sri Aurobindo to emphasise this point: ‘The first thing and the last thing that we must seek, the one essential thing is strength.’
The 9 Years Of Modi
- Tejasvi Surya reiterated the nation’s economic progress by stating that ‘13.5 crore people were lifted out of poverty in the last seven years.’ He highlighted that the current estimate of poor individuals in India is less than 60 million, which is half of what it was in 2017, a third of what it was in 2015, and less than a quarter of the number that existed in 2012. In addition, he pointed out how access to bank accounts, clean and safe energy, and housing has improved for the poor of India.
- Numerous countries have expressed interest in adopting India’s Digital Public Goods (DPG) and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) systems. This system has undergone periodic enhancements and has demonstrated its reliability at India’s population scale.
- He emphasised India’s significant progress toward achieving strategic autonomy by transforming it into a key player in manufacturing and a stable node in supply chain logistics. Tejasvi reiterated that we are no longer perceived solely as a market by the West.
- Tejasvi Surya recalled how the country effectively managed the pressure from global pharmaceutical lobbies during the pandemic. The success of India’s vaccination drive and the handling of the pandemic now firmly exemplify our strength.
- Another significant indicator of this is the recently passed Digital Data Protection Act. He pointed out how multinational corporations were attempting to prevent data localization in India and essentially establish India as their data colony.
- He also highlighted India’s foreign policy evolution, which has transcended domestic pressures and enabled the country to engage on a multipolar level from a position of strength. During the recently concluded G-20 summit, the announcement of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor was made, a development poised to be a game-changer. He reminded us of India’s prudent economic decisions during the pandemic, in stark contrast to other nations that resorted to printing money and are now grappling with deep inflation.
Threat to Sanathana Dharma
In tune with the recent remarks made around “eradicating Sanathana Dharma” Tejasvi Surya warned that if we lose our political strength, we risk reverting to a colonial mindset, where demeaning our own culture becomes commonplace. He pointed out how a prominent leader from the ruling party in Tamil Nadu called for the eradication of Sanatana Dharma, which is the cultural essence of our nation. He also said that such lingering threats go back to the colonial era and it’s essential for Hindus to remain vigilant and protect cultural heritage.
Tejasvi Surya ended the address very aptly by quoting Sri Aurobindo on Sanatana Dharma – “When, therefore, it is said that India shall rise, it is the Sanathana Dharma that shall rise. When it is said that India shall be great, it is the Sanathana Dharma that shall be great. When it is said that India shall expand and extend herself, it is the Sanathana Dharma that shall expand and extend itself all over the world. It is for the Dharma and by the Dharma that India exists.”
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