Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged students to take a pledge to help build a developed India by 2047. He was speaking at the 50th anniversary celebrations of Jayagopal Garodia Hindu Vidyalaya at the Chennai Trade Centre, where he also inaugurated the school’s AI laboratory.
Modi said India’s youth have the capability to offer solutions the world is looking for, and that the country has immense opportunities that can be realised through collective effort. Referring to the institution’s journey, he noted it began in 1975 as a small school in West Mambalam with seven students and has since contributed to shaping citizens with education and patriotism.
He highlighted the value of lifelong learning and cited the Thirukkural as a guide, recalling that he had presented a Russian translation of the classic to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Modi also spoke about poet Subramania Bharati, saying Kashi played a significant role in shaping Bharati’s personality and that Bharati’s message of fearlessness continues to inspire.
Calling on students to dream big, think differently and live without fear, Modi asked them to carry Tamil culture, literature and traditions across India and share the Tamil language wherever they go. He pointed to growth in higher education institutions since 2014, and said the new education policy has improved quality, with more Indian universities appearing in global rankings.
Modi also said India’s sports sector is gaining prominence internationally, adding that the country plans to host the Commonwealth Games in 2030 and the Olympics in 2036. He urged students to pledge to help make India one of the world’s top three economies and achieve the goal of a developed India by 2047.
The event was attended by Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Arlekar, Union Minister L. Murugan, Viswa Hindu Vidya Kendra president R.R. Gopalji, Tamil Nadu BJP president Nainar Nagendran and others.
