BHUBANESWAR: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on December 27 described the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) as the largest “open university” for personality development in post-independence Bharat, stating that the organisation has played a pivotal role in shaping ideologically grounded and socially committed leadership among the youth since its inception in 1949.
Addressing the inaugural session of the 50th State Conference of ABVP Odisha (West), held in Rourkela, Pradhan said the student organisation has consistently worked with ideological clarity to nurture capable leadership and build a nationwide youth movement rooted in India’s civilisational values.
The Union Minister noted that the ABVP has marked its 76th anniversary and has left a deep imprint on Odisha’s social and academic life. Sharing his personal journey, Pradhan recalled attending an ABVP provincial conference in Rourkela 34 years ago as an ordinary karyakarta. Standing on the same platform today as the Union Education Minister, he said, was a matter of pride and honour for him.
“The journey from 1983 to 2025 is not merely my personal success. It reflects the disciplined work culture, ideological commitment and leadership grooming that ABVP has consistently upheld,” he said, adding that the organisation provides opportunities for ordinary students to grow into national leaders.
Pradhan highlighted great national icons such as Swami Vivekananda, Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Birsa Munda, Buxi Jagabandhu, Veer Surendra Sai and Veer Baji Rout as enduring sources of inspiration for the youth. He said these figures sacrificed personal comfort and material pleasures for the nation and society, setting benchmarks for selfless service and courage.
‘ସ୍ୱାଧୀନୋତ୍ତର ଭାରତରେ ବ୍ୟକ୍ତିତ୍ୱ ଗଠନର ସର୍ବବୃହତ ମୁକ୍ତ ବିଶ୍ୱବିଦ୍ୟାଳୟ ଏବିଭିପି’
ରାଉରକେଲା ଠାରେ ‘ଅଖିଳ ଭାରତୀୟ ବିଦ୍ୟାର୍ଥୀ ପରିଷଦ, ଓଡିଶା ପଶ୍ଚିମ’ର ୫୦ତମ ରାଜ୍ୟ ଅଧିବେଶନରେ ଯୋଗଦେବା ମୋ ପାଇଁ ଏକ ଅବିସ୍ମରଣୀୟ ମୁହୂର୍ତ୍ତ । ଆଜିଠାରୁ ଠିକ୍ ୩୪ ବର୍ଷ ପୂର୍ବେ ମୁଁ ରାଉରକେଲା ପ୍ରାଦେଶିକ ଅଧିବେଶନରେ ଜଣେ ସାଧାରଣ… pic.twitter.com/3VaS5VLJ2l
— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) December 27, 2025
He emphasised that ABVP’s ideology is not new or artificial, but deeply rooted in India’s ancient civilisation, culture and educational traditions. According to him, the organisation serves as a strong medium to connect the new generation with the country’s timeless values.
Referring to Rourkela as a “mini India,” Pradhan said ABVP has been carrying out uninterrupted organisational and social work in Sundargarh district and western Odisha for the last four to five decades. He noted that the concept of “Shishu Vatika,” which originated at Saraswati Shishu Mandir in Rourkela, has now become an integral part of the National Education Policy, reflecting the grassroots impact of ABVP-inspired initiatives.
The Union Minister also remarked that India’s struggle for self-identity did not begin or end with British colonial rule. From the 10th to the 19th century, the country faced prolonged foreign invasions, yet India’s cultural and civilisational essence survived and thrived.
Expressing confidence in the country’s future, Pradhan said India’s youth would steer the next 50 years of leadership. He stated that since 1949, ABVP has continuously ignited the flame of patriotism among young Indians. He described the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as a banyan tree of national reconstruction, with the ABVP as one of its strong, vibrant branches.
ଅଖିଳ ଭାରତୀୟ ବିଦ୍ୟାର୍ଥୀ ପରିଷଦ, ଓଡ଼ିଶା (ପଶ୍ଚିମ) ପ୍ରାନ୍ତ ତରଫରୁ ମାଦ୍ରି କାଲୋ ନଗର ରାଉଲକେଲା ଠାରେ ୫୦ ତମ ପ୍ରାନ୍ତ ଅଧିବେଶନରେ ମୁଖ୍ୟ ଅତିଥି ଭାବେ କେନ୍ଦ୍ରଶିକ୍ଷା ମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଶ୍ରୀଯୁକ୍ତ ଧର୍ମେନ୍ଦ୍ର ପ୍ରଧାନ ଓ ରାଷ୍ଟ୍ରୀୟ ଉପ ସଭାପତି ପ୍ରଫେସର ଆଶୁତୋଷ ମାଣ୍ଡଭି ଯୋଗ ଦେଇଥିଲେ ।#ABVPOdishaPaschim #50thABVPODConf pic.twitter.com/ZYou1Sb3up
— ABVP Odisha (@abvpodisha) December 27, 2025
Outlining a roadmap to achieve the goals of a developed Odisha and a developed India, Pradhan urged students to assume seven key responsibilities. These include committing to a prosperous Odisha by the state’s centenary year in 2036, promoting education in the mother tongue, ensuring a malnutrition-free Odisha, increasing the working population to 75 per cent, fostering a mindset of job creation rather than job seeking, taking a leading role in solving global challenges, and strengthening environmental protection and health awareness.
The event was attended by ABVP National Vice-President Prof Ashutosh Mandavi, State President Dr Sanjeev Kumar Nayak, State Secretary Shwetanshu Shekhar Barai, and several other office-bearers.
