Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in a programme on Saturday (October 21) to commemorate the 125th Founder’s Day of 'The Scindia School' in Gwalior.
Speaking on the occasion, PM Modi expressed his fondness for the city, saying, "It's joyful to visit Gwalior every time." He emphasised his special connection with Gwalior, citing the historical contributions of the Scindia family to his constituency of Kashi (Varanasi) and their cultural preservation efforts. Additionally, PM Modi mentioned his connection to Gwalior through Jyotiraditya Scindia, who is a prominent figure in Gujarat, thereby deepening his ties to the city.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated the successful launch of the Gaganyaan TV-D1 mission and declared India's ambitious plans to establish its own space station. During his speech, PM Modi highlighted the significance of the test flight of Gaganyaan and the crew escape system, emphasising that "today nothing is impossible for India."
Additionally, he reflected on his government's decade-long tenure, underscoring major milestones, including the abrogation of Article 370, the implementation of GST, One Rank One Pension, the ban on Triple Talaq, and the passing of the Women's Reservation Bill, which have shaped the country's progress.
In addition, the Prime Minister stated, "India will eliminate poverty while also becoming developed. Whatever India is doing today is on a massive scale. Your goals and resolutions should be ambitious. Your wish is my resolution". PM Modi also stated, "Today, we have resolved to develop the country over the next 25 years." And it is up to you, the young generation of India, to do it. I believe in young people and their potential. I hope you cherish these dreams and work towards them, turning them into resolutions and not giving up until you achieve success. Think Big and Achieve Big."
During the event, the Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone for a 'Multipurpose sports complex' within the school premises and presented the school's annual awards to distinguished alumni and high achievers.
The school's spokesperson, Manoj Kumar Mishra, highlighted that Prime Minister Modi is the first head of government to attend this prestigious ceremony. He also mentioned that equestrian players extended a warm welcome to the Prime Minister, and a tree-planting activity was conducted as a memorial.
"The PM will welcomed by equestrian players," Mishra was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times. "We will also plant trees as a memorial," he added.
After the foundation ceremony, Prime Minister Modi will engage with the students and witness various cultural programs. The school children will present the school song and the festival song of Scindia School to the Prime Minister. Following this, the Prime Minister distributed awards to the alumni.
The Madhav Award, the highest honor bestowed by the school, is awarded annually to an alumnus recognized for their outstanding contributions to social service and public welfare in India and abroad.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Governor Mangu Bhai Patel, Union Civil Aviation and Steel Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Prasad, and members of the Scindia School Management Committee were among those in attendance.