Address by Governor at the Cultural Programme followed by High Tea with NCC Cadets returning from the Republic Day Camp (Held in New Delhi)

Address by Shri CH. Vidyasagar Rao, Governor of Maharashtra at the Cultural Programme followed by High Tea with NCC Cadets returning from the Republic Day Camp (Held in New Delhi) at Raj Bhavan, Mumbai at 1130 hrs on Monday, 4th February 2019

Major General Gajendra Prasad, Additional Director General, Brigadier Rajendra Singh Dhaila, Deputy Director General, NCC (Maharashtra), officers and trainers of Maharashtra NCC, Culture and Art Directors, Coordinators and all dear NCC Cadets,

I extend a hearty welcome to each one of you to Raj Bhavan.

Friends, by representing Maharashtra at the prestigious Republic Day Camp and by putting up your finest performance at the national level, you have done all of us proud.

Your participation and your winning performance will particularly make your parents and your educational institution proud.

I congratulate each one of you and also to Maharashtra NCC for bringing rich haul of individual as well as team medals and trophies at RDC 2019.

I was also impressed by your cultural presentation today.

You are indeed very fortunate cadets. At a young age, you got the honour of representing this great State of Maharashtra.

The fact that you were selected from out of 1 lakh cadets from across the State is a testimony of your exceptional qualities, caliber and capability.

Maharashtra NCC is looked up as the best Directorate in the country. Ours, is the only Directorate having won the prestigious Prime Minister’s Banner and Trophy 17 times since its inception. I wish and hope that we shall maintain our leadership position through our winning streak year after year.

I congratulate Maharashtra NCC, its officers and to each one of you for bringing various trophies and medals in individual and team events.

Dear Cadets,

I would like to tell you something, which many of you, probably, may not be aware.

India was among the richest nations in the world with unprecedented prosperity for the greater part of the last two millenniums.

The Gross Domestic Product of India in the 17th Century was more than 25 per cent of the world economy. We were ahead of the entire Europe in terms of trade and excellence in various areas.

Unfortunately, we failed to recognize the global currents and lost our freedom to those who came to India as traders. During the long spell of foreign domination, we suffered economic, social and cultural destruction. At the time of our Independence, our GDP had come down to less than 3 percent of the world economy. We also lost our education system which produced sages and thinkers in various disciplines.

You will be proud to know that this land of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, this land of Admiral Kanhoji Angre and other great warriors provided the toughest resistance to the foreign powers and colonisers.

The most important lesson we learn from our history is that if we stay united as a nation, no power on earth can defeat or enslave us.

India is today the youngest nation in the world having maximum share of youthful population. You, the youth of India, are the future of the nation.

The future destiny of India will depend on how the youth involve themselves in the task of nation building. On completion of your education and professional studies, you may become a professional, an entrepreneur, an artist or a business leader. Irrespective of what you choose to do in life, I will appeal to you to remember your duty to the nation.

I will urge you to serve the nation and provide leadership to society in whichever area you work.

I am pleased to note that the Cadets of Maharashtra Directorate involved in various social service drives like Swachch Bharat Abhiyan, International Yoga Day, Surgical Strike Day, Mission Indradhanush, AIDS and Polio Awareness, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Run for Unity, and others. We must continue such engagement with society.

Recently, India celebrated the 125th anniversary of Swami Vivekananda’s famous address at the World Parliament of Religions held in Chicago in the year 1893. Swami Vivekananda had appealed to the youth, “Arise, Awake and Stop Not until the goal is reached !”

Let us all strive hard to make India a Vishwa Guru or a world leader.

I congratulate the Maharashtra NCC, the Best Cadets and the winners of various competitions once again, and wish you Godspeed in your future endeavors.

Thank you

Jai Hind Jai Maharashtra