Karnataka Congress leader B.K. Hariprasad stressed children’s education, equality and social justice while speaking at a Children’s Day programme held to commemorate the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in Bengaluru on Thursday.
The programme was held at Bharat Jodo Auditorium at the KPCC office in Bengaluru. Hariprasad said children are architects of tomorrow’s India and that how society nurtures them and educates them decides the country’s future.
Referring to Nehru’s vision, he said children should be given the opportunities and support they need to build a better future. He also quoted Nelson Mandela, who said that how a society treats its children reflects on its character.
Children Are the Foundation of a Progressive India
Hariprasad said children are not just the future of the country but the basis of a society based on equality, justice and progress.
He said every child must have equal access to education, dignity and respect (caste, religion, gender or economic background) — not only in terms of physical location but also in terms of mind.
Gandhiji said that if we want to establish real peace in the world, then let us start with children because only when we give them a safe and supportive environment for building fair society can we have peace.
He also referred to the ideas of American philosopher Will Durant who said a country’s development should be measured by how its government and society treat women, persons with disabilities, senior citizens and children.
Hariprasad Credits Nehru's Vision for Education
Speaking about the development of India’s education system, Hariprasad said that access to education was one of the important ideals associated with the freedom movement.
He said education should be available to all sections of society and not just a privileged few. Referring to India’s literacy rate he said it had gone from around 11% at the time of Independence to about 76% today.
Hariprasad attributed the education progress of the country to Nehru’s vision and the initiatives taken in the early years after independence.
IITs, IIMs and AIIMS Highlighted
Hariprasad also talked about the establishment of major educational and research institutions such as IITs, IIMs and AIIMS.
He said these institutions expanded opportunities for students and fostered scientific thinking and a modern outlook.
He addressed the children and told them to study hard and work for their goals; suggested careers in engineering, medicine, literature and writing; wished them success in the future.
The programme was about Nehru’s legacy, education and how society has a duty to give every child equal opportunities to learn and grow.
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