Set Goals for Nation, Society & Poor, Not Just Yourself: HM Shah

• Amit Shah addressed the 72nd convocation of Gujarat Vidyapith in Ahmedabad.
• He said Mahatma Gandhi’s message remains relevant because it is rooted in Indian values and traditions.
• Shah urged students to pursue goals that serve the nation, society and the poor.
• He highlighted growth in Khadi and Village Industries turnover and the role of the NEP 2020.

GG News Bureau
Ahmedabad, 27th Aug: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah on Thursday addressed the 72nd convocation of Gujarat Vidyapith, urging graduating students to dedicate their abilities to the nation, society and the welfare of the poor.

Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat and other dignitaries were present at the convocation, where around 900 students received their degrees, including 11 gold medal recipients.

Shah said he had admired Mahatma Gandhi since childhood and recalled that his mother had made him take a lifelong pledge to wear khadi. He said Gujarat Vidyapith occupies an important place in India’s freedom movement and in Gandhi’s vision of developing an indigenous education system.

The Home Minister said Gandhi’s message remains relevant because it is based on Indian ways of life, values and traditions. He said Gujarat Vidyapith, established on October 18, 1920, became a centre for experimentation and research aimed at developing an Indian model of education.

Shah said true education should provide skills to the hands, sensitivity to the heart and knowledge along with conscience to the mind. He said knowledge without wisdom could lead to arrogance, while knowledge combined with wisdom promotes humility and scholarship.

He highlighted the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, saying its focus on mother tongue, skills, multidisciplinary learning, Indian knowledge traditions and holistic personality development reflects several principles associated with India’s traditional education system.

The Home Minister also referred to Gandhi’s seven social sins, including politics without principles, business without morality, wealth without labour, pleasure without conscience, knowledge without character, science without humanity and worship without sacrifice.

He urged young people to remain conscious of these principles in their personal and professional lives.

Shah said khadi represents more than a fabric or economic activity and reflects the broader principle of Swadeshi.

According to him, the turnover of Khadi and Village Industries increased from ₹31,000 crore in 2013–14 to ₹1.87 lakh crore in 2025–26.

He also highlighted Gandhi’s emphasis on cleanliness, saying initiatives undertaken by the government have sought to strengthen cleanliness as a social value.

Shah said learning foreign languages for acquiring knowledge should not come at the cost of one’s own language. He argued that language connects people with their country’s values, history and cultural roots.

He also highlighted Gandhi’s emphasis on Gram Swaraj, Gram Samriddhi and cooperation, saying the government was pursuing initiatives in these areas.

Referring to Gandhi’s concept of national reconstruction, Shah said the government had focused since 2014 on strengthening India’s prosperity, security, self-reliance and ethics in leadership.

The Home Minister urged the graduates to set goals beyond their personal ambitions.

He said goals should be directed towards the nation, society and the poor, arguing that such an approach can help individuals remain committed despite setbacks and difficulties.

Shah said that by 2047, the centenary year of Independence, India should aspire to become a leading country across sectors. He emphasised that India’s progress should ultimately contribute to the welfare of its citizens and people across the world.