Nagpur: The Vice-President of India, C. P. Radhakrishnan, on Saturday addressed the 29th National Session of the Indian Youth Parliament held at Maharshi Vyas Sabhagrah in Nagpur, Maharashtra. The session was centred on the theme “Indian Languages & Developed India–2047”, bringing together young participants from across the country.
Highlighting the importance of Nagpur, the Vice-President noted that the city holds a special place in India’s national consciousness as the birthplace of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), founded by Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar in 1925. He said the organisation’s journey from a small beginning to a large movement dedicated to national service reflects the spirit of putting the nation first.
Praising the Indian Youth Parliament National Trust, he acknowledged its work over more than two decades in connecting youth across regions. According to him, such efforts have helped strengthen the idea of unity in diversity and promote a shared sense of national belonging.
Speaking on the theme, Radhakrishnan emphasised that India’s linguistic diversity is one of its greatest strengths. He remarked that speaking in one’s mother tongue should not be seen as being “regional” but rather as being “original”. Each language, he said, carries its own heritage, and together they form the cultural harmony of the nation. He also referred to recent efforts to make the Constitution of India available in multiple Indian languages, underlining the importance of preserving and promoting linguistic diversity.
The Vice-President said that the vision of a developed India by 2047 — often referred to as Viksit Bharat — cannot be achieved through borrowed ideas. He urged young people to innovate from their roots, think in their native languages, and move forward with confidence in India’s civilisational identity.
He also appreciated the role of the Central Sanskrit University in promoting Sanskrit and Indian languages, noting that Sanskrit connects many Indian languages and remains an important part of India’s knowledge tradition.
Reflecting on his experience as Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Radhakrishnan highlighted the importance of dialogue in a democratic society. He said the improved productivity of the House reflects a spirit of constructive engagement. Differences of opinion, he added, should lead to meaningful dialogue and solutions rather than conflict.
Describing the Youth Parliament as a training ground for leadership and nation-building, he said such platforms help shape character, discipline and a sense of responsibility among young people. He encouraged students to make the most of these opportunities to prepare themselves for future leadership roles.
Addressing the participants, he said the world is closely watching India’s progress and that today’s youth represent the “Amrit Generation” who will witness the country’s journey to becoming a fully developed nation by 2047. He expressed confidence that initiatives like the Youth Parliament would contribute significantly towards achieving this national goal.
Earlier in the day, the Vice-President paid floral tribute at the memorial of Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar at Dr Hedgewar Smruti Bhavan in Nagpur.
The event was attended by several dignitaries, including the Governor of Maharashtra, Jishnu Dev Varma; Maharashtra Minister for Revenue, Chandrashekhar Bawankule; social worker Krishna Gopal; Vice-Chancellor of Central Sanskrit University, Prof. Shrinivasa Varakhedi; National Convenor of the Indian Youth Parliament, Ashutosh Joshi; along with a large number of youth participants from across the country.