Tagore's vision is essence of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' mission: PM Modi at Visva Bharati University

Santiniketan: Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore's vision is the essence of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' mission of his government for the empowerment of India and the world, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday, as he took forward his outreach to premier educational institutions.

Addressing a function to mark the centenary celebrations of Visva Bharati, the country's oldest Central University, he extolled the pivotal role it played in India's freedom movement and in furthering the cause of universal brotherhood.

Visva Bharati was declared a Central University and an Institution of National Importance by an Act of Parliament in 1951.

"Gurudev's vision for Visva Bharati is the essence of Atmanirbhar Bharat — the path to India's development for the development of the world. It's a campaign for India's empowerment and prosperity, and through it, the prosperity of the word," he told the gathering through video conferencing from New Delhi.

He said Tagore and the institution he founded not only strengthened the spirit of nationalism but also promoted inclusiveness that strengthened "vishva bandhutva" (universal brotherhood).

The Prime Minister, who addressed the Convocations and centenary celebrations of four universities — the Mysore University, Lucknow University, Aligarh Muslim University and Visva Bharati — within a span of little over two months, dwelt on the role played by educational institutions in driving the freedom movement.

He said from the 'Vedas to Vivekananda', Tagore's thoughts reflected the collective thought of India, which was never introverted or exclusive.

"His vision was that what is best in India the world should benefit from it, and India should learn from the good things they have. Now look at the very name of your university — Visva Bharati.... coordination and cooperation of India with the world," he said.

Modi said Visva Bharati was the embodiment of the vision and the hard work of the Nobel Laureate and a "venerable source of constant energy to the country".

He said, today, India was spreading Visva Bharati's message to the world.

"India is today leading the world in the field of environment protection through the International Solar Alliance and is the only country moving at a rapid pace to achieve the goals of the Paris Accord," he asserted.

He recalled the role of the leaders of the Bhakti Movement like Guru Nanak, Kabir and Surdas, who sowed the seeds of the freedom movement long before it started in the 19th and 20th century.

The Bhakti Movement, he asserted, strengthened India's spiritual evolution and collective consciousness.

He said after the long period of the Bhakti Movement arrived Ramkrishna Paramahansa who discovered Swami Vivekananda who was a "blend of Bhakti (devotion), gyan (knowledge) and karma (action)".