President Murmu Inspires Youth to Serve Society and Support Nation-Building

President Droupadi Murmu called on India’s youth to embrace the ‘Swadeshi’ ethos and promote Made-in-India products with a ‘Rashtra Pratham’ (nation first) spirit, emphasising that self-reliance, or ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, is a national priority. Addressing the 71st convocation of Gujarat Vidyapith, a deemed university founded by Mahatma Gandhi in 1920, Murmu spoke to 713 graduating students and faculty on Ashram Road, urging them to drive India toward global leadership. The event, attended by Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat and Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, marked the culmination of her three-day state visit, which included prayers at Dwarkadhish and Somnath temples and a lion safari at Gir National Park.

Murmu highlighted Gujarat Vidyapith’s legacy, noting Gandhi’s tenure as chancellor until his death in 1948, and its motto, “Knowledge is what liberates us.” She encouraged students to view education as a lifelong pursuit beyond mere livelihoods, fostering personal growth and societal welfare. “The country and society contribute to your education; you can repay this debt by serving the underprivileged,” she said, aligning with the university’s Gandhian ethos of social service.

With India aiming to become a developed nation by 2047, Murmu stressed the youth’s role in promoting indigenous products to reduce import dependency, a key pillar of the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative launched in 2020, which has boosted sectors like electronics and defence manufacturing by 20% annually, per NITI Aayog data.

Praising Gujarat’s entrepreneurial spirit, Murmu noted its global reputation, with the Gujarati diaspora among the most successful non-resident Indians. “Gujarat has always been known for self-employment. Entrepreneurs from here have left their mark worldwide,” she said, urging students to spread this culture of self-reliance nationwide.

The state’s economic prowess, contributing 8.6% to India’s GDP despite 5% of its population, and its leadership in startups (over 15,000 registered in 2024), exemplify this model. Gujarat Vidyapith, with its focus on rural development and khadi promotion, aligns with these goals, training over 2,000 students annually in sustainable practices, according to its 2024 annual report.

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Murmu’s visit, which included engaging with the Siddi tribal community in Sasan, reflects her commitment to inclusive development. Her call resonates with India’s push for economic sovereignty amid global supply chain shifts, with exports of Made-in-India goods like smartphones reaching $15 billion in FY24. As students pledged to uphold Gandhian values, the President’s address set a tone of urgency and optimism, positioning India’s youth as torchbearers for a self-reliant, globally competitive nation by 2047.

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