UJJAIN: The Vice President of India, Jagdeep Dhankar emphasised the importance of focusing on ‘Kutumb Prabodhan’ (strengthening of families and family values) in society during his address in Ujjain today. He stated that Kutumb Prabodhan is inherent in the character of India and is a core principle of our culture. He said, “It is part of India’s character; if we do not pay attention to the family, how will life be meaningful? We must know who is in our neighbourhood, who is in our society, what their joys and sorrows are, and how we can help them. This makes life meaningful. In a time when everyone is turning towards materialism, becoming so busy that we ignore our loved ones, the nation will only thrive when the family is cared for. The nation will prosper when we care for our own. This is the core principle of our culture.”
In his address at the 66th ‘All India Kalidas Festival’ in Ujjain on December 2, the Vice President also drew attention to the duties of citizens, saying, “Brothers and sisters, no society or country can function solely by emphasising rights. Our Constitution grants us rights, but we must balance those rights with our duties. Citizens have responsibilities. Therefore, on this day, I urge you to reflect. We are citizens of a great India. Indian-ness is our identity. We believe in nationalism, and our nation is our greatest religion. The nation must be placed above all, and every citizen must contribute to it. The best way to do this is by fulfilling our duties.”
The Vice President highlighted the need to instill awareness about civic duties and ethics in the younger generation for character building, saying, “Children are our future. We must pay attention to their character and nurture their belief in ethics. This is our primary responsibility. It is great to imagine and aspire for children to become doctors, engineers, officers, or entrepreneurs, but the most important thing is that children should grow up to be good citizens who understand the value of being a responsible citizen and fulfilling their duties.”
Emphasising India’s commitment to ‘Samajik samrasta’ [Social Harmony], the Vice President said, “Today, ‘Samajik samrasta’ is being challenged from many directions. India has always stood for social harmony, world peace, and the welfare of all. We are citizens of a country that has adopted the principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family) and has set an example for the world. We gave the world Yoga because we think of everyone.”
Referring to the works of the great poet Kalidas, the Vice President highlighted the importance of environmental conservation. He said, “The burning issue of today is the environment, and this is something we learn from the works of Mahakavi Kalidas. His works remind us that environmental conservation and creation are crucial for our existence. We must all focus on the serious problem of climate change and remember that we have no other place to live besides Earth.”
“ ‘Meghaduta’ shows us the unparalleled beauty of nature, but it also teaches us not to play with nature. It is our responsibility to create and preserve nature. If we do not pay attention to nature, as I have said before, we have no other planet to call home. The Prime Minister’s call to action, ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ is a great initiative. If every citizen of India plants and preserves a tree in the name of their mother, it will bring about a revolution like the one we achieved in the field of cleanliness”, he added
The Vice President also spoke about the importance of preserving culture and the legacy of Indian civilization. He said, “It is certain that any nation or society that does not preserve its culture and cultural heritage cannot last long. We must pay full attention to our culture, as our cultural roots remind us of the essence of life, the value of life, and the philosophy of existence. The 66th All India Kalidas Festival is a symbol of our culture. It reminds us how unique we are in the world. There is no other country like India that has such a rich cultural heritage.”
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