SPEECH OF HON’BLE GOVERNOR PUNJAB AND ADMINISTRATOR, UT CHANDIGARH, SHRI BANWARILAL PUROHIT ON THE OCCASION OF PU G20 YOUTH INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR AT PANJAB UNIVESITY, CHANDIGARH ON MARCH 4, 2023 AT 10.00 AM

  • PRB
  • 2023-03-04 14:30

 At the outset, I would like to congratulate Panjab University, Chandigarh for being one of the 76 Indian universities to be celebrating India’s G20 presidency.
As you are aware, G-20 is the premier forum for international economic cooperation representing around 85% of the global GDP, over 75% of the worldwide trade, and about two-thirds of the world population.
It is  the platform where leaders come together to address the most pressing global economic challenges. The discussions and decisions taken therein have a significant impact on the world economy, affecting millions of people across the globe.
Friends,
Over the past few decades, India has made significant headway in various areas, and is emerging as a major player in the global arena. India's selection to host the G20 summit in 2023 is a positive development towards the same. 
India, as a member of the G20, is committed to contributing to the collective efforts of the group in achieving its goals of promoting sustainable and inclusive economic growth. 
Hosting the G20 summit in India is a proud moment for us all as we get an opportunity to present to the world what "India" is; to acquaint the world with India’s capabilities, philosophy, social and intellectual strength.”
As our honourable Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi has said, “India's Presidency will be inclusive, ambitious, decisive and action oriented". It will work to promote the universal sense of oneness.
 The G20 Presidency is not merely a diplomatic meeting for India, it is a new responsibility and a measure of the world's trust in us. 
“Our G-20 mantra is Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam meaning – One Earth, One Family, One future”. We strive for our progress and also envision global progress. 
Today, we are all here today to share our views on two important issues:-
(i)‘Future of Work: Industry 4.0 (फोर पॉइंट ओ), Innovation & 21st Century Skills. 
And ii) Shared Future: Youth in Democracy and Governance.' 
Both are equally important since we seek to work together towards advancement and growth as One Family, One Future.
With regards to Industry 4.0 (फोर पॉइंट ओ),  it is a term used to describe the current trend of automation and data exchange in manufacturing and other industries. It refers to the fourth industrial revolution, which builds on the previous three (mechanization, electrification, and automation) and involves the integration of physical systems and digital technologies.
Industry Revolution 4.0. (फोर पॉइंट ओ)   has resulted in paradigm changes in the manufacturing industry and traditional production operations, through merger of boundaries of the physical and the virtual world. 
Cyber Physical Systems allow the machines to communicate more intelligently with each other to share, analyze and guide various processes in the industrial production with almost no physical or geographical barriers. Cyber Physical Systems allow an industry to be completely - virtually visualized, monitored and managed from a remote location and thus adding a new dimension to the working process.
But, the Industry 4.0 (फोर पॉइंट ओ) requires the existence of life and career skills, learning and innovation skills, information, media and the technology skills  in the workforce and the industrial world. 
It is expected to have a significant impact on the global economy and transform many industries, including manufacturing, healthcare, transportation, and energy. 
Our world is going to change completely in the next few years, or possibly before the end of this decade. Emerging technologies like Artificial intelligence, Machine learning, Internet of Things and AR-VR would have evolved in a new form. Words like Data Science and Cyber Security would have deeply entrenched every aspect of our lives.
Everything is going to be seen in a new avatar through advanced technology. The jobs which do not even exist today will be mainstream professions for the youth in the near future. Therefore, it is necessary that our youth prepare themselves for future skills. We have to connect ourselves with whatever new is happening in the world.
We the human beings have always been creators, mentors and discoverers. We the human beings have been communicating across generations since our evolution. We have never stopped but have always invented a better way. 
So, deliberations and exchange of ideas on the issue will definitely give an insight into the global prospective and help to evolve a suitable eco-system. The end result, I believe, would be that there would be no first world or third world, but only One World”.
The second theme, ‘Shared Future-Youths in Democracy & Governance’ is not only apt in this particular meet, it is also the need of times as the next century belongs to today's youth. 
A shared future that we often talk about refers to the vision of a society in which individuals, communities and nations work together to create a more equitable and sustainable future for all.
It is based on the idea that everyone has a stake in the future. It is a shared resource that will shape the lives of people in the years to come, and it is important that everyone has the opportunity to contribute to its development and direction. 
And though the future belongs to everyone, regardless of gender, ethnicity, age, or any other factor, in particular, the future belongs to young people as they make up a large portion of the population- their voices, opinions and perspectives are of utmost importance. 
The youth has that ability that allows him to not carry the burden of old legacy. He knows how to shake them off. This youth has the ability to evolve itself and the society, according to the new challenges and new demands, and can create new things.
Today’s youth has a “Can Do” spirit.
Friends,
Today the world looks up to India with hope and trust because both India's people and the thought-process are young. India is younger in terms of its capabilities as well its dreams. India is younger in terms of its thoughts as well as consciousness. India is young because India's vision has always accepted modernity; India's philosophy has embraced change.
Whether it is about connecting to the roots or expanding around the world, there is not a single path that remains untraversed by the youth of our country. There is not a single area where the youth has not actively participated. 
When India's consciousness was divided, a youngster like Shankar, emerging as Adi Shankaracharya, had strung together the country with the thread of unity. Whenever India needs to fight injustice and tyranny, the sacrifices of Guru Gobind Singh Ji's sons still show the way. When India needed a revolution for obtaining freedom, countless youths like Sardar Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad and Netaji Subhas gave everything up for the country. When India needs the power of spirituality and creativity, one thinks of great personalities like Sri Aurobindo and Subramania Bharati. And, when India desperately wanted to regain its lost self-respect, to re-establish its glory in the world, a young man like Swami Vivekananda had awakened the world through the knowledge gained in India and through his eternal call.
The world has recognized that today India has two infinite powers - one is Demography and the other is Democracy. The youth of India has both the charm of technology as well as the awareness of democracy.
Young generation that was there at the time of independence had sacrificed everything for the country without a second thought. But today's youth has to live for the country, and fulfil the dreams of our freedom fighters.
The strength of the youth of India will take India to new heights. Revolution and Evolution is the real identity of the youth.   Youth will be at the forefront in Nation building to take the country from Amrit Kaal to Swarnim Kaal.
Swami Vivekananda used to say and I quote “the development of a future and a nation becomes easy when we possess the power of the youth” (Unquote).
But, to harness the Yuva Shakti, we need to be young in our thoughts and young in our efforts! I mean we have to be dynamic in our efforts and panoramic in our perspective. We have to be pragmatic!
Before I conclude, to my young friends in the campus, I would like to say that  the true essence of democracy should be understood in the sense that the common people are the masters of the nation. Mahatma Gandhiji wrote an Article in young India on 22nd October 1925 and cautioned against seven deadly sins that can destroy a Nation. They are:-
1. Wealth without work,
2. Pleasure without conscience,
3. Knowledge without character,
4. Commerce without morality,
5. Science without humanity,
6. Religion without sacrifice and
7. Politics without principle.
For the success of Democracy, it is important for us to identify the people who practice these sins in our midst and reform them without any further delay.
Academic brilliance, combined with a healthy mind in a robust body and character embellished with a nationalistic spirit is what youth must aspire for. 
All the institutions which provide education should focus on guiding and leading the students on this noble path. 
As we look upon the legacy given to the country by this university, we find a good number of its alumni holding various respectable positions and creating a mark by their amazing work. 
This event along with other events organised by Panjab University hopefully will not only elevate the status of this university in India but also internationally. 
The presence of reputed international speakers will also promote the city of Chandigarh on the global map. 
An occasion like this gives India the chance to show the world how quickly it is becoming an informational, skilled, cultural, and spiritual hub. 
The results will be even greater than we could have imagined, as the vast majority of partakers will spread the word about their experiences in India among the citizens of their home nations and it will encourage even more people to explore India. 
In addition to this, we have some added benefits of gaining global perspective and cultural exchange. Foreign experts bring a global perspective on the issues at hand. This can help Indian participants gain a better understanding of the global context  and broaden their horizons. 
We can learn about the cultural differences, values, and practices of other countries, which will enhance our cultural awareness. 
Once again, I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to Panjab University for hosting the seminar which will not only be informative but also highly engaging.
I am sure the discussions will be thought-provoking and insightful.
Thank you,
Jai Hind.