Feel proud to be called Indian: VP tells students

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu today urged students to lead an Indian way of life and feel proud to be called a 'Bharatiya'.

He said, "share and care" are the core values of Indian philosophy, and asked students to develop the feeling of oneness and be empathetic to the needs and sufferings of fellow citizens.

Naidu was addressing students from different centers of Jawaharlal Nehru University. More than 250 students from JNU participated in the interaction at his official residence.

A statement quoting the vice president said he asked the students to be proud to be called 'Bharatiya' "and live as Bharatiya."

With more than 65 percent of the population below the age of 35, it is essential for a country like India to realize its demographic dividend to become an economic superpower, he said.

The vice president asked the students to develop the habit of living with nature. "We need to protect nature and culture for a better future," the statement quoting him as saying.

Naidu asked them to take an active role in the welfare of their native places and said one should never forget their Janmabhoomi (birthplace). He also asked the students to remember their mother, mother tongue and guru (teacher).

The vice president said a leader should possess four Cs – character, caliber, capacity and conduct. The youth should possess four Ds – discipline, determination, dedication and devotion to the cause of national development, he added.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)