Pune: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday stressed the need to bring youth into the mainstream and keep them away from Naxalite influence, drawing from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day speech.Fadnavis said the state’s 3.25 crore young people would be key to build a one-trillion-dollar economy in his pre-recorded video message at the inauguration of a new building, “Dnyana Mandapam”, of Shikshan Prasarak Mandali at SP College ground. “Our young generation will be the architects of Maharashtra’s one-trillion dollar economy,” he said.“PM Modi in his Independence Day speech spoke about how armed Naxalitess are gone but ideological Naxalites are still waiting for opportunities. To make India a developed nation, we must bring the youth into the mainstream and isolate them from Naxalite influences. The government’s priority is to make the youth ‘skillful’. Today’s youth are fascinated by speed, and our government is also rapidly integrating education, skills, employment and entrepreneurship. In the era of AI, obtaining information has become easy, but the real challenge is who can analyse it quickly,” said Fadnavis.All India executive member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Suresh “Bhaiyyaji” Joshi said people were increasingly focusing on “me and mine” and crediting themselves alone for their success, ignoring society’s interdependence. Education must teach “parasparavalamban” (interdependence) rather than an ego rooted in purchasing power, he said.Earlier this month, Joshi resigned as “palak” (patron) of the Shree Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, citing health reasons.Joshi said there was a fine difference between progress and development. “While progress can be measured in terms of the grand buildings and other infrastructure, the development in terms of an educational institute is measured by the character and the quality of students passing out,” said Joshi, adding that SPM had been able to do both.According to Joshi, a gap in the education system was leading educated people to indulge in corruption or terrorism, and called for institutions to provide value education.Defining the evolution of a teacher into a “Guru” as someone who does not just show the path but holds the student’s hand to lead them from darkness to light, Joshi said, “If India aspires to become a Vishwaguru, we must cultivate all these qualities and forms of excellence among our people.”Minister of higher and technical education Chandrakant Patil was the chief guest at the event. Sudhir Kalkar, president, managing council, Shikshana Prasaraka Mandali, and Sadanand Phadke, the president of the Mandali, were also present.
