The Chief Minister shared his views at the ‘Keynote’ address on the topic ‘The values of Indianness left behind in the race of the new era’
Raipur, April 20, 2025/ In an era where the values of Indianness are being left behind in the race of the new era, it is extremely important to give a positive direction to society. Today, foreigners are being influenced by our culture. A large number of people from Western countries reached Prayagraj Mahakumbh to bathe in the Ganges with reverence. On the other hand, we are moving away from our great culture and adopting Western culture due to pretense and ostentation. The New Education Policy implemented by our illustrious Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji includes both education, employment, and values. Chief Minister Shri Sai said this while expressing his views at the ‘Keynote’ address organized by the Patrika Group at the Babylon Capital Hotel in the capital.
Chief Minister Shri Sai said that I want to congratulate Shri Gulab Kothari for constantly giving a positive direction to the society through his writing. Along with the responsibilities of the Patrika Group, the time he is taking out is being dedicated to social awareness – this is highly commendable.
The Chief Minister said that our country has been a world guru for centuries. Students from all over the world used to come to study in universities like Nalanda. Our Sanatan Dharma is very ancient, the basic spirit of which is ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ – meaning the whole world is a family.
Chief Minister Shri Sai said that the New Education Policy implemented by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji has been adopted by Chhattisgarh. In this policy, along with education, both employment and values have been given priority. Through this, we are again moving towards our glorious civilization.
The Chief Minister said that since ancient times, respect for women has been paramount in India. It has been said here – ‘Yatra Naryastu Pujyante Ramante Tatra Devataah’, which means that where women are respected, gods reside there. In our religion, the name of the Goddess comes before the name of God – like Umapati Mahadev, Siyapati Ram, Radhakrishna etc. We desire knowledge from Maa Saraswati, wealth from Maa Lakshmi and power from Maa Durga.
The Chief Minister said that ‘Janani Janmabhumishcha Swargadapi Gariyasi’ means – mother and motherland are superior to heaven. Parents are the first teachers of the child, and children learn what they teach. Our civilization is still alive, which is proof of our strength.
He said that a serious problem in our families today is that we are handing over mobile phones to children. There are both good and bad things in mobile phones. We should choose the good out of it – just as a swan accepts milk, we should also choose judiciously.
Shri Gulab Kothari, Chairman of Patrika Group, said that the power to keep India’s cultural heritage alive lies only with the mother. The mother lives life at a subtle level. Both Anna Brahma and Shabd Brahma reside in her. Mother nourishes life. Modern education has weakened the role of the mother, whereas the power to nourish both body and soul lies with the mother. Today the distance between parents and children is increasing. He said that only intellectual development does not guarantee happiness in life.
Shri Kothari said that if we maintain our cultural identity even in the changing world, only then will we be able to give something to the world. Indian philosophy teaches us that we are not just a body, but a self-form. Information and knowledge come from outside, but vision and direction of life come from within. Today, this ‘inner’ is being lost to us. Modern education has made us human resources, while it is necessary for us to keep our culture alive.
IIM Director Prof. Ramkumar Kakani said that it is necessary to bridge the gap that has arisen between generations today. The world of the new generation is different – there is more pressure on it, the effect of advertisements is around the clock, and families are also getting smaller. The spread of communication and technology has further increased the distance between generations. Earlier generations had discipline and limited resources, today’s generation is under the pressure of competition. This has also changed the family structure, and emotional distance has also come.