Every success demands greater success. When we experience phenomenal development and exponential economic growth, people become aspirational. Expectations soar, and each success brings with it the greater challenge of outperforming oneself.
भारत की आत्मा गाँव में रहती है। कृषि का योगदान अभूतपूर्व है। ग्रामीण व्यवस्था रीढ़ की हड्डी है। विकसित भारत का रास्ता गाँव से निकलता है। विकसित भारत आज सपना नहीं है, विकसित भारत हमारा लक्ष्य है।
If we look at our historical past, India was known as a land of knowledge and wisdom, particularly in science, astronomy, and much more. Every aspect of human life is reflected in our Vedas, Upanishads, and Puranas. We are a nation that takes pride in having ancient institutions like Nalanda, Takshashila, and others. However, something changed around the 11th or 12th century, when invaders came and destroyed our institutions, including Nalanda. Our cultural centres were so systematically attacked that, in some cases, over our religious centres, they built their own. The nation endured this. Then came the British rule, during which we were given laws that served their interests, an education system that diminished our own, and a society designed for exploitation. But the best part is, we are bouncing back.
The century belongs to Bharat, and this is not doubted by anyone except a few within our own country. My appeal to them, as an Indian, as a Bhartiya, is to uphold our commitment to our nation, believing that national interest comes first, and no personal or political interest can supersede it. Being citizens of this country is our identity, and we must take pride in it for good reason. No country in the world can claim to have such civilisational depth or richness of culture. And what does this indicate? Inclusivity. Some people are misleading. India is the nerve centre of culture in the world.
What is inclusivity is best defined in our way of life. Never in the history of civilisation has expansion been the method of our ruling clans. We suffered invasions but never undertook any invasions ourselves. From this perspective, no nation in the world has grown as fast as Bharat in the last decade, in terms of economic rise or people-centric policies. Therefore, we face a great challenge—one that confronts our scientists and institutions. The challenge is that we have the largest global population that is aspirational.
When I looked at NABI, I immediately thought of नाभि (navel) in the human body. I find the two to be similar. In our religions, Nabi represents birth and rebirth, the centre of the universe, a symbol of life, connection, and vitality, reminding us of the source of our existence. Your role, distinguished audience, is no different. You must nurture every policy that can help our motherland, Bharat, or Bharat Maa’s soul, blossom.
Most people must understand that while our economy is rising—currently fifth in the world and soon to be third—there is a need for an eightfold increase in our per capita income. This can only be achieved if a larger portion of our population participates in this growth.
With this in mind, I consider it a great privilege and honour to inaugurate the Advanced Entrepreneurship Skill Development Program. To me, a focus on entrepreneurship and skill development is synonymous with a focus on overall development and economic growth.
This place must serve as the North Star for the farming sector, guiding rural youth to enter agro-startups, and also act as a lighthouse when they encounter difficulties, as challenges are natural. Our civilisation’s ethos tells us that there is no such thing as failure. If an attempt fails, it is merely a step towards success.
In ancient India, villages were self-sufficient. There was food, commerce, leather work, and everything else. Today, cooperatives are embedded in our Constitution as an institution.
There must be an evolution of mechanisms in villages or clusters of villages where we establish micro-industries that add value to agro-produce and livestock. This will help create a sustainable society and improve the nutritional value of food. Currently, in rural areas, milk is often the only product with value added to it, such as curd or buttermilk.
What stops us from introducing entrepreneurial skills in areas like ice creams, paneer, sweets, and similar products in these clusters? This is vital, as it will generate employment and satisfy the aspirations of rural youth.
Startups are thriving in tier-two and tier-three cities, but now it is time for them to trickle down to villages, because agriculture is the lifeline of our economy and the raw material for industry. When this happens—close to farmland, evolving into clusters—the economy will leap forward, and people will begin to believe in the potential of rural areas.
How to earn money from farms should not be limited only to the produce. It must extend to marketing, value addition, and small industries.
All institutions in the country must pass the litmus test: the impact of their work must be felt in a positive way. Research that is merely for the sake of research, or to impress others, is not what the nation needs. Research must be meaningful and capable of making a global impact, with real-world applications.
As the son of a farmer, I deeply understand the potential of farmers and the challenges they face from the start. In my time, the challenges were greater, but things have changed. We never imagined that Indian households would have toilets, gas connections, electricity, internet, piped water, roads, or close access to health centres. Now, good education is within reach for many. Transforming our education system to ensure equality is key to cutting inequities and building a better future.
Technology transfer to farms is essential. Farmers are still clinging to old technology, not realising that modern tractors are becoming more environment-friendly, fuel-efficient, multifunctional, and highly subsidised. There must be awareness campaigns to educate farmers about the benefits of such advancements.
Farmers should know their inner strength and be encouraged to market their products at their chosen price. We must ensure that our farmers are never short-changed. This must be our motto. Institutions must work closely with Krishi Vigyan Kendras and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research.
We need to introspect. While we are proud of our progress, our goalposts must shift. We must ask: To what extent are our efforts truly making a difference in the lives of ordinary people? Self-assessment and deep reflection will inspire us to serve the nation with greater zeal.
The aspirations of our people have been fuelled by people-centric policies, reaching the ground. We cannot allow our youth to remain restless. They must know about the opportunities available to them. The son and daughter of farmers should be attracted to starting their own ventures.
There were districts where officials never wanted to go. Prime Minister Modi transformed them into aspirational districts with a clear mission to uplift them. Now, the number of aspirational districts is decreasing, but the number of bureaucrats wanting to contribute and transform them is increasing. We are now moving to the second stage—aspirational blocks. It’s time to nurture aspirational agro-zones across rural India.
I am the son of a farmer, just as there was a movie called Son of a Sardar. The son of a farmer will always commit himself to truth.
Disclaimer: The content has been revised for grammatical accuracy and clarity in accordance with UK English conventions. No changes have been made to the original context or meaning of the text. The views expressed are those of the speaker and do not necessarily reflect the official position or policy of any organisation.
