- Distinguished Guests of Honour,
- Members of Parliament,
- Public Representatives,
- Prof. Anil Sahasrabudhe, Chairman of AICTE
- Bharat Bharati Founder Executive President Shri Vinai Patrale,
- All distinguished people on the dais and in the audience, friends from media,
- Ladies and Gentlemen!
I am happy to be here to open the Rashtriya Ekatmata (एकात्मता) Sammelan 2023. It is indeed a matter of privilege to be present in this Symposium, alongside renowned experts from different walks of life. I would first like to congratulate Bharat-Bharati, for initiating a national level dialogue, on the theme of such a vital importance.
02. At the outset, I would like to record my homage and tributes to Rashtra Kavi Maithili Sharan Gupt, the doyen of Indian poetry, whose Bharat-Bharti, shaped much of our freedom struggle, as indeed the national consciousness of a newly independent India. It is his birth anniversary today, and I hope, that the deliberations in the Symposium will go a long way in strengthening and fostering the India, of his poetry and literature. It was my proud privilege to visit Rashtra Kavi’s Samadhi at Chirgaon near Jhansi, as a child, and ever since he has remained an inspiring enigma for me.
03. Looking at the zeal and enthusiasm here today, I am confident, that the efforts towards realizing the vision of our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modiji for Ek bharat, Shrestha Bharat and Samriddha Bharat has started to take shape.
Dear friends, Ladies and Gentlemen,
04. The concept of (एकात्मता) is beyond Rashtriya Ekta. Rashtriya एकात्मता is based upon inter-nalizing भारतीय भावना, i.e. Indian Consciousness, in our spirits, as a core uniting thread. This भावना or Consciousness is not limited to, or bound by any religion, language, region, race, creed or caste. It is that all pervasive, and all-encompassing Indianness that has its roots in our ancient civilizational ethos. These ethos, having shaped themselves over many a millennia, are not Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim or Christian. They have no sectarian identity whatsoever. Our ancient civilizational ethos, have only one identity. They are भारतीय, they are Indian.
05. Our Indianness or भारतीयता emanated from "Universalism". From the philosophy of VasudhaivaKutumbakam. We see the whole world as one family and pray for the happiness and good health of all. Our national identity has emerged, through a long drawn process of confluence, assimilation, and co-existence.
06. As Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore had said, and I quote, "No one knows, at whose beckoning call, how many streams of humanity came in indomitable waves, from all over the world, over the millennia and mingled like rivers, into this vast ocean, and created an individual soul that is called Bharat". It is this soul calledभारत, that lies at the core of राष्ट्रीय एकात्मता. It is way beyond, and way more positive, than राष्ट्रीय एकता.
07. As a person born and brought up in Uttar Pradesh, I got to make my professional career in Rajasthan and Gujarat. When I got the opportunity to serve the Khadi & Village Industry Commission, I had the privilege of interacting with the core and soul of entire India, in places as distinct as the North-East, Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Laddakh, Jammu & Kashmir, Goa, Andhra, Telangana, Sikkim and Kerala. Almost entire India. And let me tell you, this core and soul, all across, despite being diverse, was only भारतीय in nature.
08. भारतीय एकात्मता is an embodiment of, as one of our former Presidents, Bharat Ratna Shri Pranab Mukherjee had said, “’Perennial Universalism' of 1.3 billion people, who use more than 122 languages and 1600 dialects in their everyday lives, practice 7 major religions, belong to 3 major ethnic groups - Aryans, Mongoloids, and Dravidians and live under one system, one flag and one identity of being 'भारतीय'”(unquote). We have No ‘Enemies', No Identity other than being Indians.
Friends,
09. I appreciate the efforts, of Bharat-Bharati, which started राष्ट्रीय एकात्मताin 2005 from Surat. It is heartening to note that the initiative has grown today in more than 16 states of the country with active leaders and volunteers, dedicated towards strengthening the unification of souls of sons and daughters of Maa Bharati!
10. Our Hon’ble Prime Minister, who has also visited and blessed this wonderful initiative in early 2010, as the then CM of Gujarat, always dreams of a prosperous and united India. Many of the statutory, regulatory and strategic reforms by the Government of India have contributed significantly, in not only simplifying the eco-system with “one Bharat spirit’ but also inspire all of us to work with selflessness, towards the strengthening one India with vision 2047.
11. I am particularly impressed to see that Bharat-Bharati is moving ahead with a noble agenda of unifying one ‘Bhartiya Atma’, which is at the core of the Bhartiya Pragati and Samriddhi. The diversity of India is an example for the world because we are living with peace and harmony despite great variations in terms of culture, region and other specific factors. I urge, you all to think and propose innovative solutions, regarding how we can drive राष्ट्रीय एकात्मता dialogue further, across different states and regions of India.
12. Today the world is talking about sustainable development. Our भारतीय परंपरा, irrespective of geographical boundaries present a great example of sustainability in action, since time immemorial. Today, the entire world is looking at India for its remarkable achievements and growth under the leadership of our visionary Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji. It provides us with a great opportunity to present the unique model of ‘unity with diversity for one Bharat’ to rest of the world, as a model for inclusive global development aimed at One Humanity, One World.
13. राष्ट्रीय एकात्मता balances social and economic aspects of development with focus on prosperity, peace and progress. We have made great progress in uniting the spirit of one Indian culture through a series of initiatives and programmes. I am happy to see that Bharat-Bharati has been pioneering this concept of One India, which later became an essential part of एक भारत, श्रेष्ट भारत.
14. I am confident that this event by Bharat-Bharati under the leadership of Shri Vinay Patrale ji and his youthful team, who have dedicated their entire life for cause of strengthening the spirit of Maa Bharati among masses and classes, will prove to be a milestone, that will drive the cause of ‘भारतीय एकात्म योग’.
15. I am delighted to see that a Pictorial Book ‘राष्ट्रीय एकात्म प्रवाह’, which focuses on the novel, courageous and exemplary efforts of our beloved Prime minister, is being compiled and will be released in due course. I am sure the book will help in further disseminating the thought of राष्ट्रीय एकात्मता.
16. As the Lt. Governor of Delhi, I assure you of my full support for this noble cause of unifying the nation. Once again, I congratulate, all present here on this grand occasion of the राष्ट्रीय एकात्मतासम्मलेन 2023 and wish you all success in your endeavours.
Thank you.
Jai Hind