Former Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi (Retd) on September 25 described the Northeast as a “true gateway” to India and urged young people to combine technological knowledge with adaptability, ability and a strong grounding in Indian values.
Dwivedi was speaking at ‘Namami Bharatam’, a collective singing programme organised by Vidya Bharati Northeast Region at the Srimanta Sankaradeva International Auditorium in Guwahati. The programme was held to mark the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram and brought together students, educators, alumni and members of civil society.
Addressing the gathering, Dwivedi said, “The Northeast is not the place where India ends, but the place from where India begins. It is the true gateway to the nation.”
Dwivedi said he was attending the programme not only as a former Army chief but also as an alumnus of Saraswati Shishu Mandir. He urged students to take an active role in nation-building and develop qualities that would help them contribute to India’s growth.
He identified three key pillars for young people — attitude, adaptability and ability — as the country works towards the goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047.
Dwivedi also encouraged students to move beyond simply identifying problems and instead work towards finding solutions. He stressed the importance of continuously learning and adapting, describing the process as “learn, unlearn and relearn”.
While emphasising the importance of emerging technologies, he said young people should also remain connected to Indian values and their cultural roots. He suggested a daily ‘Zero-Ten’ routine, under which young people could spend the first 10 minutes of each morning away from mobile phones, using the time to focus on their goals, express gratitude and set their intentions for the day.
The programme featured a synchronised rendition of Vande Mataram by participants. Vidya Bharati Northeast organisational secretary Dr Pawan Tiwari said the national song represented India’s cultural unity and also reflected the historical and cultural contributions of the Northeast.
Tiwari highlighted the spiritual legacy associated with Maa Kamakhya and Srimanta Sankaradeva and referred to the military history of the region, including the contribution of Ahom general Lachit Borphukan.
The event was attended by Air Vice Marshal Sanjeev Bordoloi (Retd), Dr Jagadindra Ray Choudhury, Shishu Shiksha Samiti Assam president Kulendra Kumar Bhagwati, programme coordinator Gaurav Kalita and Assam Gaurav awardee Meenakshi Das, among others.
