TODAY this evening on 26/11, an important date in India’s History of
Terrorism and National Security I extend my heartiest warm welcome to respected
Sri Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury ji the Hon’ble Minster of State, Indian Railways
and Robin Hood of Berhampur to Delhi Public School. I solicit the Honour of
welcoming you Sir on behalf of
Management of Delhi Public School Society, Management of DPS Bhagalpur, Angika
Development Society that’s running this school in educational joint venture
with DPS Society, students, faculty, staff and parents of this school and
entire citizens of Bhagalpur for having accepted our invitation to come to
Bhagalpur and benevolently declaring various Railway related development
projects that would act as milestones in the destiny of this beautiful and
historical town. It’s indeed a great personal obligation to my family and me Sir,
for you being the Chief Guest in the Shaheed-e-Mumbai
program that’s intended to educate the generation sitting across, who are our
Nation builders of tomorrow.
Sir your presence as Chief Guest today will certainly motivate these
young students to perform their best and become Nation builders. Your words of
encouragement would provide them a perspective of a prosperous India that they
need to work towards on the premise of what we are doing today. We also pray that soon Sri Chowdhury would
become PCC President of West Bengal Congress, especially after the change in
power dynamics in Bengal Congress and municipal elections, we anticipate that
your dreams will surely come true very soon.
Sir, I would like to thank the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Sri Manmohan Singh
ji for having responded to my letter of invitation through his office. I thank
Mr. T.K.A.Nair, Advisor to Prime Minister and feel honored for the words of
encouragement that he gave me while speaking to me personally over phone on the
program Shaheed-e-Mumbai being staged.
He also said that he would visit the school sometime later as he was occupied due
to official engagements today. I am also honored to receive an e-mail from Mr.
Gulshan Rai, Director General of CERT-In, Government of India on the today’s
program.
I extend my heartiest warm welcome to Madam Chowdhury, a family friend of
ours who has spent a major part of her life abroad, studying to realize her
dreams. She is an affectionate lady who critically understands the value of
culture and integrity based education. She is a M.Tech herself and has
ambitions to improve the standard of education in Berhampur by establishing a
world class school like this.
I extend my heartiest welcome to Dr. S.D.Pradhan and Mrs. Rashmi Pradhan
for having accepted our invitation to come to DPS Bhagalpur. I am really elated
and personally honoured on having you Sir here amidst children. I would like
share certain facts with all of you present here this evening.
Dr. Pradhan is a known and respected name not only in India’s
intelligence Mechanism but is considered to be a thinker in India’s National
Security system. Children he is the most respected person to me after my
parents in this world.
Your school that majestically stands with string of laurels and
achievements would not have come into existence if he would not have inspired,
motivated and supported me in my effort. In March 2005 Dr. Pradhan, then an
Additional Secretary in Prime Minister’s office along with another close friend
of mine Mr. K.K.Mittal now an Additional Secretary in Culture Ministry had come
to Bhagalpur accompanied with Mr. Narendra Kumar the then Chairman of DPS
Society in a Chartered Flight. Prior to that when I was trying to form Angika
Development Society he was the first person to agree to become a Member along
with the then Director General of Police, Chatishgarh Mr. Ashok Darbari. They
were the three friends who changed the course of my destiny that now stands
guided by active involvement in education.
I had many friends then too in Indian bureaucracy like I have today but
they were not sure whether my initiative would bring them a good name. If you
recall Sir, in your office you had said “Rajesh
agar tum convinced ho ke ye sahi decision hai to tum mera naam daal do as
member aur main Pradhan Mantri ji se permission le lunga Angika Development
Society ko join karney kay liye”. Late Mr. Brajesh Mishra ji was the then
National Security Advisor and Sri Atal Bihari ji was the Hon’ble Prime Minister
and the Angika Development Society was formed.
Dr. Pradhan’s is a staunch Nationalist and doyen of Intelligence
structure of India. He is one of the most respected brain in the Security
establishment. He was actively involved in formation of India’s National
Security Council on 19th Nov 1998 under the recommendation of the
then Dy. Chairman Planning Commission, late Sri K.C.Pant. Dr. Pradhan was also
instrumental in formation of India’s only technical intelligence unit NTRO on
the lines of NIA of US.
If my memory does not fail me Sir then in Sep 2005-06 he was one of the few
person who strongly vouched for the long unattended demand of extra 15 percent
salary allowance for people in government’s security establishment so that the
silent soldiers of Nation could get acknowledged for their efforts that never
witnesses light of the day. He is the person who convinced the then NSA to
announce and it was done in RA&W’s raising day. An humanitarian with
monumental values to the core.
I extend my heartiest welcome to friends, Mr. Jitendra Kumar the zonal
IGP and Mr. Alok Vijayant, Director IDG in Prime Minister’s Office. I also
extend my heartiest welcome to Mr. R. Gupta, Divisional Railway Manager, Mr.
Raj Shekhar Murthy, Director NSD, Mr. Suman Chatterjee OSD and Mr. Sudip Dutta,
APS, eminent guests, parents, friends from media and administration.
Sirs and madams you all have spared your precious time to attend today
the “Shaheed-e-Mumbai” program that’s planned with a thought to educate our
generation sitting here and thinking about 26/11’s Pakistan State sponsored
Lashkar-e-Taiba’s terrorist attack on Mumbai on this day in 2008. Our purpose
also is to spread the awareness and importance of India’s security in face of
concerted terrorist infiltration and state sponsored terrorism let lose by our
neighboring country Pakistan.
Sir, I am of the firm opinion that all the visible and simmering problems
have roots in countries educational edifice. Education builds a nation and at
times it does derail them when the priorities of education lurk in ulterior and
unethical considerations. To understand any country, a visit to it’s
educational priorities and infrastructure is good enough to draw a holistic
picture. Every Nations’ journey in education involves culture, values,
traditions, historical perspective, inherent pain, transparency in societal
Sanskritisation, arising -cognitive dissonance, introspection in policies, identifying
and negating the failures, downfall, prosperity, governance and reflection to
the world.
If a Nation through its policies in education, instills a belief in its
teaching fraternity that the teachers are creators of society and are walking
with the God in the classroom, believe you me Sir, half of the battle is won. I
would like to cite examples from education system of Pakistan that has now
become a fertile ground for churning out of extremists and terrorists and has
lost vision of Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal.
After the 18th Amendment Bill
on 8th April 2010 in Pakistani constitution, making education a
provincial subject; the intensity of attack by Taliban and other terrorist organizations’
in Pakistan has increased many fold on educational institutions. The amendment 25A, Right to education
inspired by India’s Right To Education Act that came into effect on 1st
April 2010, Pakistani National Assembly overwhelmingly amended article 25 and
added “The State shall provide free and
compulsory education to all children of the age of five to sixteen years in
such manner as may be determined by law”.
The then Pakistani Prime Minister addressing Islamabad Model Schools for Boys and Girls on
17th Aug 2011, Mr. Yusuf Raza Gilani said “once the Muslims were at the top in the world, mainly due to their
progress in education”. He further added, “Lack of education was the main cause of the downward trend of the
Muslims. Education was important for
the progress and prosperity of the country, and added that illiteracy was the
root-cause of extremism and terrorism”.
This desperate statement of
Prime Minister of Pakistan signifies the important role that the educational
edifice of Pakistan has played since its partition from India in transforming
it into a rogue Nation. The terrorists in the tribal areas are targeting the
educational institutions because they know the fact that only educated people
could frustrate their nefarious designs.
Sir, I would like to correlate priorities in educational upbringing with
one of the dreaded terrorist in the hit list of USA, Faziullah, we would have a
clear answer on what role does education plays in making of a Nation. The newly
coroneted Taliban Leader was an active member of a radical student organisation
PSF of Pakistan Peoples Party. Early in his life, Faziullah found his
sensibility being indoctrinated by Peoples Students Federation in the 80s,
rooted in the populist leftism of Swat in the 1970s, has now come out fully
blown in his character as one of the most dreaded chief of Taliban.
The current
chief of the fundamentalist outfit Jamat-i-Islami’s, Munawar Hassan, was also
an active member of the Marxist student outfit, the National Students
Federation (NSF). Hassan not only quit NSF, but also became an active member of
the Islami Jamiat Taleba (IJT), later going on to join the Jamat-i-Islami. Thus
the man who last week declared the former head of the TTP, Hakeemullah Mashud,
as a martyr, was reading and quoting Karl Marx as a medical student.
There are
many such examples in Pakistan wherein hardcore terrorists came to power or are
in power who had their educational upbringing and overdose in leftist
fundamentalism during the subsequent dictatorships.
The killing of Hakeemullah
Mehsud, Tehrik-i-Taliban chief recently in a drone attack and calling him a
shaheed by Pakistan’s religious leaders has drawn a strong protest and
resentment in Pakistani youth. What kind
of Nation the Pakistani politicos think of and what message they want to convey
when an identified terrorist is declared “shaheed”.
The impact on the tender minds of young generation seeing terrorist being conferred
the honour of “shaheed” is going to be grave and the consequences to the world
would be even much more damaging.
Sir, the Holy Quran emphatically
uses the word and its variations “shaheed,
shahid, shuhada” several times in its discourse. In ‘Surah Fath’, it addresses the Holy Prophet (PBUH) thus: “We have
sent you as witness (shahid) of the truth, and harbinger of good news and a
warner” (48:8).
The same expression has been
used by God for the entire first generation of the companions of the Prophet in
‘Surah Baqarah’: “We have made you a
(middle) people that you act as witness (shuhada) over man, and the Prophet as
witness (shaheed) over you” (2:143).
Sir having understood the
context of the usage of the term “Shaheed”,
does it really apply to Hakeemullah Mehsud, an individual who was known and who
proudly took responsibility for attacks that killed several innocent Muslims
and non-Muslims? What would the present generation of Pakistan that idolizes
guns and arms in games would learn from antecedents of Hakeemullah Mehsud? Will
they not believe that “guns” can easily get them power, position and
prosperity? What type of neighbor we foresee for these young generations of
ours? Has India not been affected by the policies, practices and misdemeanor of
Pakistan or will India remain isolated from consequences far beyond our
imagination today?
Sir let us take the case of our
own country. Indian society has suffered because of Macaulay based education system
that breeds more of “babus” than “intellectual thinkers”. We as compulsion
have become more of “silent onlookers” and at times have projected ourselves as
“commentators and armchair critics”
but not initiator of a “sustainable
change”.
Our nation has best of brains
in the world but we have not seen any invention-taking place, as our system is
parasitic on an education policy that’s more than two century old. Let us
ponder Sir, why there is mounting resentment, extremism and violence in areas
where Missionaries are present or for that matter of fact educational
institutions that are run by religiously controlled management? Where is the
money generated by religion-based schools going? Why do we fear to look at
issues that really ails our country? Is it not high time Sir that we need to
question ourselves, what type of India we need for our future generations? Our
today’s actions will define the country of tomorrow.
Sir we have to tailor our
education system looking at our own Indian needs, social structure and not by
aping others. Culture of a country is the intrinsic base of education system;
our education has to be tailored keeping our rich Indian culture in mind. No country in history has voluntarily changed
its ethnic profile in short time as the United Sates has and now it’s battling for
it’s own identity in world politics.
Let me apprise you that US has lost
many wars in recent times as they do not have an “unifying patriotic culture” that would make their soldiers
obsessive enough to win the adversary, be it Indochina War 1950-54, Air battle
over Merklin 1953, Vietnam 1953-75, Laotian Civil War 1953-75, Lebanon Crisis
1958, Bay of Pigs Invasion 1961, Cambodian Civil War 1970-75, War in Somalia
2006-2009 and the ongoing ones in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Their primary and secondary education is
tailored to create youngsters with “gun
culture” and their faulty education system at formative stage has started
showing results of a powerful Nation living in crisis. Sir, patriotism is a
strong character of rich cultures like India and not of feeble societies where
every human aspect is nothing but just another consideration in business.
Sir,
speaking in UN on 21st November 2013 on The World Philosophy Day that has Auguste Rodin’s creation “The Thinker” as its cornerstone similar
to our school, Tony Blair the former British Prime Minister said “broad based cross-cultural education is crucial to
defeating terrorism, much of it fed by religious extremism, since security
measures will not succeed alone”. Mr. Blair stressed that it is not
just a question of mere educational attainment but of educating, but about
diversity and difference, tolerance and respect, in the same way that the
humanities, sciences and languages are taught.
The Bulgarian
Director General of UNESCO Irina Bokova the first lady to head, appealed in her
opening remark to every professional, author and teacher worldwide “to unleash the power of critical thinking”,
and urged the international community to engage in reasoned dialogue to help
find common challenges.
“This day is an invitation to rethink the
conditions for inclusion and sustainability in societies that are increasingly
diverse and ever more interconnected, between themselves and with their
environment,” said UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova in her message for
the Day, which this year is on the theme “Inclusive
Societies, Sustainable Planet.” Ms. Bokova added, recalling the message of
Swami Vivekananda: “Rise at the expense
of another! I did not come to earth for that!”
Sir
incidentally the DG UNESCO and I share our birth dates, the 12th
July. Like these statesmen I too believe that education is no more just a way
to earning a good life but we have to have an education system that opens one
mind to others who are culturally and religiously different. We can no more leave
education isolated just as a process of upbringing children. It has to become integral
part of National Security apparatus of India that teaches these youngsters to
respect others as equals and prepares youngsters to handle nitty-gritties of
International Relations, actions and priorities that balances and leverages
India’s presence in world economy and marshals India to strengthen it’s
presence as a powerful sovereign Nation.
We have to
think, work and carve out an Education Policy that acts as an instrument to
build peace and provides employment. Our educational infrastructure should be
tailored in a manner that it protects, preserves and promotes the historical results
of churnings of Indian society since time immemorial and catapults our
beautiful country to the world forum as a superpower with ample resilience and
capabilities to counter any aggression designed against us.
Today, this
day in 2008 roughly at 9.30 pm there was a well-coordinated attack by
Lashkar-e-Taiba that shook Indian security structure to bones. 166 were killed
and over 600 people left fatally injured. Ajmal Kasaab the lone terrorist who
was captured live was sentenced to death by trial Court on 6th May
2010 and was hanged on 21st November 2012 at 7.30 am. With Kasaab’s
hanging we Indians might have had a sigh of relief but how long did this relief
really last requires active consideration. The most pertinent question that
looms large, have we done enough to strengthen our Country’s security
apparatus? Do we have an education system that’s oriented to create honest
Nationalists with International imperatives? Perhaps not.
Sir, Peace
may not last long in India, as the last of US troops would be going back from
Afghanistan by middle of 2014. The recent shut down in US from 1st Oct
to 16th Oct 13, is indication of a country where economy is in
shambles. The huge amount it has to spend on protection of its “critical
infrastructure” due to mounting “cyber
attacks”, in my considered opinion US is not in a position to continue with
war in any country, anymore be it even in Afghanistan or Pakistan.
A pragmatic
approach to the situation, however, comes down to the fact that a U.S. failure
in Afghanistan would lead to rise of Islamic radicalism in Afghanistan, and
possibly the region, that Russia or for that matter of fact India would not be
able to contain. A militant Islamic power in Afghanistan specially if
controlled by Mullah Umar and ISI supported blue-eyed boy of General Ashfaq
Qayani, Siraj Haqqani and his group could lead to a domino effect in the
region.
Time when
dangerous threat would reach as far as Russia’s own borders and India will not
be too off. If we realistically analyse Moscow’s relationship with Delhi, it is
on the surface, a friendly one, but it lacks real substance and commitment
beyond Russian military sales to India. A Taliban-controlled Kabul regime would
encourage Central Asian Islamism and may again offer training camps to Chechen
rebels and secessionist Indian radical elements.
Let us not
forget that China has a friendly exchange of armies with Pakistan apart from
arming the military to the tooth. Majority of infrastructure contracts in
Pakistan is in the hands of Chinese companies.
On 18th
Feb 2013 Pakistan handed over Gwadar the strategic port to China. This change
in hands of port from PSA (Port of Singapore Authority) Singapore to China is
nothing but Pakistan’s response to the
strengthening of its arch-rival India’s ties with the US by strengthening its
ties with China. Construction of tunnels in Pakistani Occupied Kashmir and
widening of roads in Khyber Pass, upgrading
the Karakoram Highway is of critical significance to China, since this region
offers Beijing a window to the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean.
The significance of the Karakoram Highway lies in the fact that it cuts
through the zone between Asia and the Indian subcontinent, wherein China,
Tajikistan, Afghanistan, India and Pakistan come within 250 km of each other. To
me Sir, China is the most untrusted neighbor and their hidden agenda although
visible to us but I am sorry to say that unfortunately we are not responding
adequately to this concern.
Sir we have to
rise and awaken to the demands of time or else our country will never forgive
us for being in deep slumber and indecisive. We have to visit our Education
Policy that now breeds “differential strata” of citizens. We have to have “One
Country” in India and not multiple ones that could fall apart easily as “nine
pins”. Situation in North Eastern states and the growth of Naxalism in Bihar,
Jharkhand, Chatishgarh, Orissa and their reach now extending to three important
states in South is a grim indicator of things to come. We have to address the
“resentment” of Indians who have taken to guns and to me there’s no better
solution than “proper education” and creation of opportunities.
Sir, we have
enough indigenous talent but we lack a will to guide them. Spending on products be it in defense or IT
and creating market for US or for that matter of fact China is not going to
help us in anyway. We may calm the “threat perception” for the time being but
we need to have an India that challenges and overpowers every “unfriendly
posture” with slightest of might.
To conclude my
welcome speech I once again extend my heartiest welcome to you Hon’ble Minister
Sir for having spared your precious time. I also extend my heartiest welcome to
Madam Chowdhury, Dr. S.D.Pradhan, Mrs. Rashmi Pradhan, Mr. Jitendra Kumar, Mr.
Alok Vijayant, Mr. Rajnish Gupta, friends and well wishers from Ministry of
Railways, eminent dignitaries, guests, parents, district administration
officials and media.
I am truly honored
to have you all here today in DPS Bhagalpur. I am thankful to every one present
here for having spared their valuable time and for having come here to
encourage these young students and bearing with me with ample patience all
through the welcome speech.
Jai Hind
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