Respected Shri Narendra Modiji, On 28th 0f December, I heard your speech delivered at the 54th Convocation of IIT Kanpur with much expectation and interest, mainly because I had graduated from IIT Kanpur 46 years ago. Your well-delivered speech brought back a flood of memories of those carefree student days well spent at IIT Kanpur.
I am so proud to have had the opportunity to study at this great institute. We learned science and technology under the guidance of possibly the best teachers in the country. I was completely transformed by this intellectually challenging and life-building experience. We were all thankful for the previous 25 years that our country had dedicated itself to building institutions of higher learning and research in the field of science and technology. My education in IIT Kanpur gave me a solid scientific and technological foundation and helped me to build a 43-year strong manufacturing career and make a contribution to make our country self-reliant. However, I was taken aback to hear in your speech that nothing had happened in the first 25 years after independence. No efforts were made our country to become self-reliant. I am sure the young graduating students must have believed what you said about the nascent 25 years of our country. I think this seems to be an error on the part of the speechwriters. I would be highly obliged if you could hand over this letter to them so that they will include the following in your next speech. Just after independence expeditious efforts were made to make our country stand on its own feet. Here are some stellar examples of the solid foundation laid down by visionary leaders. 1. The constitution of our country was debated, drafted, and promulgated on 26th November 1949. 2. 1st free and fair national election was conducted, a whopping 60% population used their franchise to constitute the 1st Loksabha in 1952. 3. Construction of Bhakhara Nangal was started in 1948 and completed in 1964. The irrigation provided by this dam was the backbone of the green revolution which made our country to have surplus food grains. Food Corporation of India was established on 10th January 1964. 4. Five IITs (one each in every region of the country) were started starting from 1950 till 1964. Many primary schools, Kendriya Vidyalayas, Many primary schools, and vocational training institutes(ITI) were set up to provide basic and vocation education. 5. Three IIMs were started in the first 25 years for providing post-graduate training in Business administration. 6. Many national prestigious laboratories for fundamental scientific research were started during the infancy of the republic. Like NCL, IISC, Central Salt and Marine Chemical Research Institute Jamnagar, PRL, 7. Atomic research was started with the establishment of the Atomic Energy Commission, Bhabha Atomic research center. Thus we became self-reliant in Atomic energy. 8. Crucial research laboratories like DRDO, ARDE, ARDL, etc were started with a vision to make our country self-reliant in defense. 9. Many companies and organisations of strategic importance were started like HAL, BEL, CEL, BHEL, Hindustan antibiotics limited, ONGC ITI, and many more were established in the first 25 years of independence. 10. Indian space research program was launched and ISRO was established. This has paid rich dividends TO OUR COUNTRY. We are now not only Aatmanibhar in all our space missions but also provide this service to other nations. 11. Many large steel plants were dedicated to the nation in the 1st 25 years. 12. Indian Council for Medical Research was established in 1948. Many research institutes were set up under ICMR in various areas of health and medicine were setup all across the country during the 1st 25 years. AIIMS Delhi was set up in 1956. The then health minister Rajakumari Amrut Kaur donated her 100-acre land to set up this. Sir the list would go on and on. Our democracy invested its energy, blood, sweat, and toil in the first 25 years to lay the foundation of this country which we are so proud of. All this was done in spite of poverty, great natural disasters, epidemics, and four wars with our neighbors. Hats off to the vision of our freedom fighters and leaders of the nascent country. All these institutes instilled, nurtured, and kindled scientific temper in the youngsters of independent India. I agree with you a 100% that work of building the country is not over as yet. We all need to rededicate ourselves with full enthusiasm and vigor. Wishing you a very happy and prosperous new year. With warm regards, Mukund Vishnu Mavalankar (Please look also up: I/II. < https://swamanthan.wordpress.com/2022/01/15/bamboo-tree-lessons-for-modi-ji/ >. II. < https://www.hindustantimes.com/opinion/landmarks-of-the-first-25-years-of-independence-101641648355914.html >.) -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/greenyouth/CACEsOZgeAyvG%3DPYqKq98JOQp_U9CaWtszUMf2Bjf8wZNV9xfSw%40mail.gmail.com.
