New Delhi, October 23: "India should once again become Vishwa Guru and hub of innovation and knowledge", said Vice President M Venkhaiah Naidu calling upon to make India Vishwa Guru and the hub of innovation and knowledge once again.
“There was a time when India was known as the Vishwa Guru and students from distant countries came for education here”, he said adding that steps must be taken to bring back that past glory. Naidu also stressed the need to reorient the modern education system to make it suitable to the 21st-century requirements.
Speaking at the first convocation of SRM University in New Delhi today, the Vice President asked the youth to become agents of change and come out with innovative and sustainable solutions to the challenges faced by mankind.
"The youth should strive to build a New India, which was free of poverty, illiteracy, fear, corruption, hunger and discrimination", he said and urged them to play a key role in addressing important issues such as climate change and degradation of natural resources.
Expressing concern over the ill-effects of global warming and climate change, the Vice President further stressed the need to avoid reckless exploitation of nature and excessive consumption. “Sustainability has to be the new mantra. ‘Balance’ is at the heart of sustainability. And that ‘balance’ in all spheres starting with physical well - being is what yoga is all about,” he said.
The Vice President asked the younger generation to embrace nature and learn to live with it, without spoiling it. “We are only trustees of this planet and we must pass it on to future generations in all its pristine and natural splendor,” he added.
Cautioning the youth to be aware of the increasing burden of non-communicable diseases, the Vice President opined that there was an urgent need to promote healthy lifestyles and food habits to combat the incidence of non-communicable diseases in the country. He also advised the youth to take an active part in games and sports to stay fit and healthy.