Guwahati/Itanagar, July 19 (IANS) Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lt Gen K. T. Parnaik (Retd) on Sunday said the youth of the Northeastern region have a pivotal role in shaping India’s Act East vision and the goal of building a developed nation by 2047, urging them to blend innovation with the region’s rich cultural and ecological heritage.
Addressing the three-day National Seminar on “From Tradition to Transformation: Integrating Bharatiya Itihas and Bharatiya Jnana Parampara in Modern Governance” and Aitijya Anweshan 5128 in Guwahati, the Governor said the Northeast, as India’s gateway to Southeast Asia under the Act East Policy, offers immense opportunities for young people to strengthen economic, cultural and strategic ties with neighbouring countries.
He called upon the youth to contribute to border area development, promote national security awareness, renewable energy, green technologies and digital entrepreneurship, while preserving indigenous knowledge, traditional ecological wisdom and the region’s rich cultural heritage.
The seminar, which began on July 17, was organised by the Bharatiya Itihas Sankalan Samiti, Assam, and the Akhil Bharatiya Itihas Sankalan Yojana, New Delhi.
Emphasising India’s civilisational legacy, Lt Gen Parnaik (Retd) said Bharat’s journey has been guided by knowledge, innovation, ethical leadership and social harmony. From the ancient centres of learning at Takshashila and Nalanda to modern institutions of research and innovation, he said India has consistently progressed while remaining rooted in its timeless values.
Welcoming the seminar’s theme, the Governor said it captures the essence of India’s development by drawing strength from its civilisational heritage. He described the country’s transition from tradition to transformation as a story of resilience, renewal and progress, and urged the younger generation to carry forward the legacy of knowledge, values and wisdom inherited from previous generations.
He remarked that if every young citizen contributes positively to society, the vision of a strong, self-reliant, prosperous and compassionate Viksit Bharat will become a reality.
Highlighting the relevance of India’s intellectual and cultural heritage, the Governor referred to the contributions of personalities such as Veda Vyasa, Valmiki, Chanakya, Aryabhata, Sushruta, Patanjali, Ashoka, Adi Shankaracharya, Guru Nanak Dev, Swami Vivekananda, Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and B. R. Ambedkar, saying their ideas on governance, science, healthcare, spirituality and nation-building continue to inspire society.
He said the vision of Viksit Bharat should combine technological advancement and economic growth with values such as integrity, duty, sustainability and social responsibility, stressing that true development lies in the well-being, harmony and empowerment of every citizen.
The Governor urged young people to become active partners in nation-building as India moves towards the goal of Viksit Bharat 2047 under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He said initiatives such as Digital India, Startup India, Skill India, Make in India, Atmanirbhar Bharat and the National Education Policy have empowered the country’s youth to innovate, become job creators and contribute meaningfully to national progress.
He also encouraged them to pursue excellence in education and skills, embrace entrepreneurship, promote sustainable tourism, protect the environment, strengthen national integration through community service, and uphold discipline, integrity and ethical leadership.
Assam Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Tribal Faith and Culture Biswajit Daimary, Akhil Bharatiya Itihas Sankalan Yojana National President Prof. Ishwar Sharan Vishwakarma, North Eastern Hill University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Prabha Shankar Shukla, North Lakhimpur University Vice-Chancellor Mukul Chandra Bora, Cotton University Vice-Chancellor Ramesh Chandra Deka, Akhil Bharatiya Itihas Sankalan Yojana National Organising Secretary Balmukund Pandey and other scholars also addressed the seminar.
–IANS
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