Thiruvananthapurm: India is no longer labelled as a nation of snake charmers but charming the entire world with the potential it has for everyone on the globe, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar said here on Sunday.
Dhankhar said this while delivering the 4th P. Parameswaran Memorial Lecture on “Democracy, Demography, Development and the Future of Bharat,” organised by Bharatheeya Vicharakendram.
Reflecting on the growth trajectory of Bharat in the recent decade, Dhankhar underlined, “People-centric policies and transparent accountable governance have given buoyancy to the ecosystem. A nation of one 1.4 billion, look at the transformative change that has impacted the rural firmament.”
“Every house has a toilet, electric connection, water connection is on the way, a gas connection…connectivity, internet and road, rail and handholding policies in health and education sector. These define our growth trajectory”.
“This economic renaissance, which was beyond imagination, beyond contemplation, beyond dreams a few years ago has generated what is the essence of our Sanatana, inclusivity, non-discriminatory, uniform, even-handed equitable development results and fruits for one and all.”
“Effort has been made irrespective of any qualification, race, religion, caste, colour, that the benefit must reach those who are in the last line and this is being done with great success,” he emphasised.
Recalling P. Parameswaran’s contributions, he said ” His unwavering commitment to Bharatiya values, his deep understanding of Indian ethos, and his relentless pursuit of national unity continues to inspire generations. His vision for a self-reliant Bharat, culturally rooted and spiritually awakened resonates profoundly across the nation”.
“The memorial lecture in the honour, in the memory of one of the greatest sons of Bharat. He happens to be in the front league of idealogues and thinkers of Hindu thought process in this century.”
“We are celebrating by way of this lecture one of the finest intellectuals committed to social work…A civilization is known only by one fundamental consideration. Does it really honor its great sons? And that has been the theme in last few years. Our forgotten heroes, unsung heroes, not well-so-unseen heroes, we have remembered them,” he added.
Reflecting on the politically divisive environment in the nation, he said, “We are fetched with alarmingly worrisome scenarios on certain aspects. Politics has become polarised, vertically divisive, temperatures are ever high.”
“The core national values and civilisational values are not the central theme. In this country where diversity is reflected in unity, this country that prides its Sanatan values of inclusivity, we cannot afford ourselves to be distanced from these core values and engage in polarised, divisive activities. As meaningful dialogue fades, so do the pillars of cooperation, collaboration, and consensus,” he said
Underscoring the significance of dialogue and deliberation, he said, “I must share with you my anguish, my pain. Parliament must be a role model for people. It is a platform to transform aspirations of the people into reality.”
“It has to be impregnable citadel of dialogue, debate, discussion, and deliberation and these facets were exemplified by the Constituent Assembly that worked for about three years in 18 sessions. And what we see today? Dialogue, deliberation, and others have yielded to disturbance and disruption,” he said.
“Can there be sacrilege of more intense enormity when temples of democracy are ravaged by disruption and disturbance? Our democracy has to survive and the first test is parliamentary functioning,” he said.
“We face situations where National interest is relegated. Anti-national narratives take wings. We are living in very dangerous times. Political intolerance and reckless stance promoting partisan and personal interest at the cost of Nationalism need to be moderated,” he said.
“There is need for social counseling. Young minds and senior citizens must converge to generate an ecosystem by becoming influencers of our mindset”.
Bharatheeya Vichara Kendram Director R Sanjayan, Dr. Sudesh Dhankhar, spouse of the Vice-President, R.V. Arlekar, Governor of Kerala, V Muraleedharan, former Union Minister, former BJP MLA O Rajagopal, Kendram President CV Jayamani and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
UNI
