Delhi University on Thursday kicked off its three-day international seminar on ‘Revisiting the Ideas of India from Swaraj to New India,’ in the national Capital.
Many dignitaries, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan were also present.
Addressing the students at the inaugural session of the seminar, Shah said that the universities should become platforms for exchange of views and not spaces for ideological conflict.
While speaking about India's Defence policy, Shah said: "Before Prime Minister Modi, India did not have a Defence policy. Even if it existed, it was a shadow of the foreign policy. Earlier, terrorists would be sent to attack us and there were similar attempts to do so with the Uri and Pulwama attacks. But with the surgical strikes and air strikes, we showed what the Defence policy meant."
Regarding the interpretation of the word Swaraj in the title of the seminar, Shah said that the word ‘self’ has great importance in the concept of Swaraj.
Swadeshi, truth, non-violence and nationalism are included in its interpretation. The then rulers limited all the systems related to Swaraj only to governance. He said that the idea of New India is contained in this broad idea of Swaraj.
Addressing the students at the event, Pradhan said, "I wish I were a student of DU. DU is celebrating its centenary year and we are celebrating the country's Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. This is a happy coincidence". Pradhan also advised the university to include futuristic courses in its curriculum.
"The times are changing. Our country's inventions do not get patented. DU can start a short-term diploma course on the patent process. The students will not only become employable in India but also at the international level... DU should add futuristic courses to its curriculum," he said.
Pradhan also shared that Shah, who was the chief guest at the event, became emotional after seeing the NCC cadets who welcomed him.
"While entering, we were welcomed by NCC cadets. Our Home Minister got emotional after seeing them. He recalled his time as an NCC cadet when he had welcomed Morarji Desai during a visit to his village,” Pradhan said.
