Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha called upon students to harness the power of knowledge for nation-building, while addressing the valedictory event of the Viksit Bharat-Yuva Connect Programme at the University of Jammu yesterday.
Emphasizing that the 21st century is “India’s century”, Sinha said,
“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is moving forward to regain its position as a world leader and our young generation will make the greatest contribution in this journey.”
He urged youth to align their education, ideas, and aspirations with the vision of Viksit Bharat (Developed India) to drive social transformation and economic growth.
The address marked the conclusion of the week-long Viksit Bharat-Yuva Connect Programme, aimed at engaging young minds in discussions around national progress, civic values, and empowerment.
Sinha highlighted the immense potential of the human brain in fostering innovation and development.
“I believe that the biggest miracle of the universe is the human mind. There are about 10,000 crore neurons in the brain of every student present here, and one neuron is connected to about 1,000 other neurons… It is not visible physically, but the network of the mind is so vast that you cannot compare it with any network or platform in the world. I consider it a network of ideas,” he said.
He stressed that empowering youth to become informed, action-oriented citizens is central to J&K’s growth.
“Their dreams, aspirations, and innovative ideas will shape societal transformation,” he noted, urging students to understand societal needs and be ready to “sacrifice everything for the goal of Viksit Bharat.”
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Sinha praised the University of Jammu for its “revolutionary initiatives” in enabling students to realize their potential.
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He called on educational institutions to adopt a global approach to education to keep pace with rapid changes.
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He reiterated the immediate goal: “Our immediate goal should be to make India the third-largest economy.”
The event concluded with the felicitation of winners of pre-programme activities and the administration of the Viksit Bharat Shapath (pledge).
Through programmes like Viksit Bharat-Yuva Connect, the focus is on instilling values of national identity, civic engagement, social cohesion, critical thinking, and empowerment—enabling youth to become drivers of both personal and national growth.
