Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Saturday reaffirmed India's sovereign decision-making process, categorically asserting that no other foreign power can command or dictate how the country deals with its internal affairs.
We do live in a country and countries that are a comity. We work in together, we work together in tandem. We have respect for each other, diplomatic discussions.
But ultimately, we are sovereign, we make our own choices," he maintained, emphasizing the balance between international diplomacy and national independence.
Addressing the officer trainees of the Indian Defence Estates Service (IDES) batch of 2024 at the Vice-President's Enclave in New Delhi, Dhankhar recognized that India, as any other country, has both external and internal challenges. These, he cautioned, include attempts to create divisiveness.
"There will be challenges. Challenges will be to create divisiveness. For instance, we have witnessed global fires - two of them specifically, you are aware.". These have now become open-ended. See the destruction of property, loss of human lives and their suffering. And see our calibration. We taught a lesson, taught it very well. We selected Bahawalpur and Muridke, and then left it half-way. 'Operation Sindoor' is not yet complete - it's ongoing," he added, alluding to previous military and strategic retaliation by India.
He then countered questions of some regarding India's restraint by pointing to the nation's core commitment towards peace. "Some ask the question - why was it stopped? We are a country believing in peace, nonviolence, a country of Buddha, Mahavira, and Gandhi. We don't want to kill even living creatures - how can we kill human beings? The concept was to bring about sanity, to bring about a sense of humanity among the others," Dhankhar added.
Citing India's demographic dividend, he referred to the youth as a source of admiration for the world. "Our demographic dividend is a world envy. 65% of our people are under 35 years of age.". The median age of this nation is 28, while that of China and America is about 38–39, and Japan, 48. You are the select ones. You have the privilege of serving Bharat, which is the dwelling place of one-sixth of mankind," he emphasized, pinpointing the burden on the shoulders of the young officers.
Referring to India as a civilisation unparalleled in depth, the Vice-President spoke highly of the country's rich history and culture. "No country can claim or can boast of being nearer to us, five thousand years of legacy, culture, heritage, knowledge, wisdom, repository. Now you see, eighteen lakh acres? If you get involved, which you are getting involved, your seniors are getting involved - you can specify to the whole country, how to handle the estates, how to handle ecology, how to handle the environment, how to develop herbal gardens, what is sustainable development, how to conserve and how to utilize modern technology," he said, highlighting the key role of the IDES in taking care of defence lands and ensuring sustainable methods.
Dhankhar also spoke about the increasing number of coaching centers throughout India. Although he recognized the requirement for skill development, he questioned the phenomenon of coaching centers taking a prominent role in education. "Coaching is required for skill. Coaching is required to make you self-dependent. If for limited numbers of seats, throughout the country there are coaching centers competing with each other for advert space in newspapers.". Not one page; two pages, three pages, sometimes four pages at a stretch," he noticed.
"I am not against anybody, but why should coaching be made a part of education? When after more than three decades, the country has been blessed after taking inputs from the stakeholders in hundreds of thousands, National Education Policy. Why coaching? Coach has to enhance your skill," he said, expressing concern over the commercialization of learning.
Ending on an optimistic and determined note, Dhankhar meditated over the idea of a developed India. "Our goal is not to simply develop our economy. Our goal is to develop people. Viksit Bharat is not a dream for us. It is not even our destination anymore. We are moving in that direction," he asserted.
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