Rajnath urges students to follow Ambedkar’s constitutional path, contribute to Viksit Bharat

Lucknow, August 29. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has urged students to draw inspiration from BR Ambedkar’s ideals of knowledge, democratic participation and social responsibility, stressing that social and economic change must be pursued through constitutional and peaceful means.

Addressing the convocation ceremony of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University in Lucknow on August 29, Singh said Ambedkar’s famous call to “Educate, Agitate and Organise” meant acquiring knowledge, questioning injustice through constitutional methods and uniting people to bring about democratic change.

Referring to Ambedkar’s final speech to the Constituent Assembly, the Defence Minister said the architect of the Constitution had made it clear that social and economic objectives should be pursued through constitutional means.

“When democratic and constitutional avenues are available, violence, anarchy or unconstitutional methods cannot be justified,” Singh said, describing such practices as the “grammar of anarchy” that needed to be discarded.

Singh said universities had a crucial role in shaping young minds around the constitutional values of justice, equality, liberty and fraternity. Education, he said, should not be confined to imparting knowledge but should develop the ability to think, understand and solve practical problems, while encouraging students to use their learning for the benefit of society.

Recalling Ambedkar’s emphasis on character and humility, Singh said academic achievements and knowledge must be accompanied by moral values and ethical conduct. Citing Swami Vivekananda’s vision, he encouraged young people to look beyond individual success and contribute to the transformation of the country by becoming job creators, problem-solvers and agents of positive change.

With technology and innovation rapidly reshaping the global economy, Singh stressed the need for continuous learning and adaptability. He said those who constantly acquire new skills would be better positioned to succeed in an increasingly fast-changing world.

The Defence Minister also called for collective efforts towards nation-building, saying individual contributions could accelerate development when combined with a shared national resolve. He urged the students to work as part of “Team India” towards the goal of building a developed India, or Viksit Bharat, by 2047.

Singh said challenges and adversity often provide opportunities for success, provided they are met with determination, resilience and hard work. He cited the government’s efforts over the past decade to turn challenges into opportunities through initiatives aimed at building an ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ (Self-reliant India), including the expansion of semiconductor manufacturing, digital public infrastructure, start-ups and the manufacturing sector.

He urged students not to be deterred by uncertainty, but to focus on finding solutions, work with dedication and continuously improve their skills.

Highlighting India’s progress in space technology, Singh said the country had moved from undertaking space missions with limited resources to pursuing advanced programmes, including human spaceflight and plans for an Indian space station. He also pointed to the growing contribution of private companies and startups to launch-vehicle and satellite technology.

The Defence Minister said India’s education, research and innovation ecosystem had witnessed significant changes over the past 12 years. He noted that research and development expenditure had doubled and that the National Education Policy was introduced after a gap of 34 years.

He also highlighted the achievements of Indian students in international Olympiads, the growth of startups and unicorns, and advances in cutting-edge technologies, saying India was increasingly emerging as a global innovation hub. Singh said India had improved its position in the Global Innovation Index and become the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem.

He assured students that the government would continue to build an ecosystem that enables young Indians to explore, experiment, innovate and develop solutions aimed at improving society.

Singh also stressed that the journey towards ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India) and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ could not be assessed solely through economic growth. He said India’s cultural confidence, civilisation and heritage were equally important to the country’s rise.

“Economic strength makes a nation prosperous, while cultural self-confidence makes it great,” Singh said, underscoring efforts to promote Indian languages, the country’s knowledge traditions and cultural heritage.

He said India had increasingly developed confidence in its own civilisation, culture and capabilities and was no longer merely following global rules but contributing to shaping them. According to Singh, the younger generation’s growing pride in India’s identity and confidence in its future represented one of the defining changes of “New India”.

“The spirit of ‘Believe in India’ lies behind the success of ‘Make in India’,” he said.

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University Vice-Chancellor Prof Raj Kumar Mittal, and faculty and staff members of the university were present at the convocation.