New Delhi || 26-12-2024
“The Sahibzadas reminded me of the valor of Guru Arjan Dev, Guru Tegh Bahadur, and Guru Gobind Singh and this bravery was the spiritual strength of our faith.” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said this while addressing the gathering at the 3rd Veer Baal Diwas in memory of the unparalleled bravery and sacrifice of the Sahibzades.
The Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Annapurna Devi was present among other dignitaries at the Bharat Mandapam event in New Delhi.
He said that this day had now become a festival of national inspiration for crores of Indians. He further added this day had worked to inspire many children and youth with indomitable courage. Shri Modi lauded the 17 children who were conferred with Veer Baal awards in the fields of bravery, innovation, science and technology, sports and arts today. He added that today’s awardees symbolised the capability of the children and youth of India to excel in various fields. The Prime Minister paid his tributes to the Gurus and the brave Sahibzades on the occasion and also congratulated the awardees and their families.
Recalling the sacrifice of the brave Sahibzades, Modi said it was imperative for today’s youth to know about their saga of bravery and therefore, it was important to recall those events too.
He added that it was over three centuries ago on this day the courageous Sahibzades had sacrificed their lives at tender ages.
The Prime Minister noted that despite the tender ages of Sahib Zorawar Singh and Sahib Fateh Singh, their courage knew no bounds.
He added that the Sahibzades rejected all the temptations of the Mughal Sultanate, endured all the atrocities and chose to embrace the death sentence ordered by Wazir Khan with utmost bravery.
PM Modi remarked that the Sahibzadas chose to sacrifice their lives but never wavered from the path of faith.
The Prime Minister emphasized that Veer Bal Diwas teaches us that no matter how difficult the circumstances, nothing is greater than the nation and national interest.
He said “Every act done for the country is an act of bravery and every child and youth living for the country is a Veer Balak”.
The Prime Minister stressed that the life of the Sahibzadas teaches us not to compromise on the integrity and ideals of the nation and similarly, the Constitution upholds the principle of India’s sovereignty and integrity.
He added that the magnitude of our democracy embodies the teachings of the Gurus, the sacrifice of the Sahibzadas, and the mantra of national unity.
“From past till present, the energy of the youth has played a significant role in India’s progress”, said Shri Modi. He highlighted that from the fight for independence to the 21st-century movements, Indian youth have contributed to every revolution. The Prime Minister stressed that the world looks at India with hope and expectations because of the power of the youth.
“Veer Bal Diwas fills us with inspiration and motivates us for new resolutions”, remarked the Prime Minister. He emphasized that our standard should now be the best. He urged the youth to work towards making their respective sectors the best.
PM Modi said “If we work on infrastructure, our roads, rail network, and airport infrastructure should be the best in the world. If we work on manufacturing, our semiconductors, electronics, and auto vehicles should be the best globally. If we work in tourism, our destinations, travel amenities, and hospitality should be the best. If we work in the space sector, our satellites, navigation technology, and astronomy research should be the best”.
The Prime Minister remarked that the inspiration for setting such high goals comes from the bravery of the Sahibzadas. He stressed that big goals are now our resolutions.
Prime Minister Modi remarked that the country had complete confidence in the capabilities of its youth and underscored that the youth of India, who can lead the world’s largest companies, innovate to guide the modern world, and prove their mettle in every major country and field, can achieve anything for their nation when given new opportunities.
Therefore, he said, that the goal of a developed India was assured and the success of Atmanirbhar Bharat was certain.
Remarking that every era gave the youth of a country the opportunity to change its destiny, Modi highlighted that during the freedom struggle, Indian youth broke the arrogance of foreign rule and achieved their goals while today, the youth have the goal of a developed India.
He stressed that in this decade, we must lay the foundation for rapid development over the next 25 years. The Prime Minister urged the youth to make the most of this time, advance in every sector, and propel the nation forward.
He emphasized his vision of bringing one lakh youth into politics, whose families have never been involved in active politics. He added that this initiative was crucial for the next 25 years and encouraged the youth to be part of this campaign to bring a new generation into politics.
PM Modi announced that the ‘Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue’ would be held at the beginning of next year on Swami Vivekananda’s birth anniversary. He added that millions of youth from villages, towns, and cities across the country will participate, discussing the vision and roadmap for a developed India.
Veer Baal Diwas is a nationwide celebration honouring children as the foundation of India’s future. Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the event and launched ‘Suposhit Gram Panchayat Abhiyan’. The programme aims at improving the nutritional outcomes and well-being by strengthening implementation of nutrition related services and by ensuring active community participation.
Awardees of Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (PMRBP) were also present during the programme.
