NE NEWS SERVICE
CHENNAI, JULY 22
Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi on Saturday lauded the startup-entrepreneurs as ‘National Assets and builders of the Nation’ and encouraged them to achieve greater heights in their respective enterprises because the country is at the cusp of a historic transformation. The Governor also urged the entrepreneurs to remain conscious of their national role and the fact that what they do and achieve are not mere gains for them but for the Nation.
Taking part in the “Think to Dare” series VII event at Raj Bhavan, the governor interacted with nearly 250 Startup – Entrepreneurs and chief executive officers and felicitated 11 of them for their outstanding achievements.
- From less than 400 start-ups today country has over 1 lakh start-ups
- Office of Governor is not a position of ‘power’ : RN Ravi
Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi asserted that the office of governor is not a position of power and ‘National interest is his only yardstick.’
Describing entrepreneurs as national assets, Governor Ravi reminded them of their indispensable role in nation-building in the #AmritKaal and urged them to internalize Indian values in their pursuit of excellence. pic.twitter.com/0hTqJ3pJKs
— RAJ BHAVAN, TAMIL NADU (@rajbhavan_tn) July 22, 2023
When a participant came up with an idea of a ‘spit free Tamil Nadu/India movement’ and sought Ravi’s support for it since the Governor was in “power”, Ravi outlined the Centre’s clean India schemes.
He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi led initiatives such as the Swachh Bharat Mission while toilets for every household scheme witnessed the involvement of public, including children who took a keen interest in it.
Such efforts led to a change in the thought process among the younger generation, he said and exuded confidence that the change desired by the participant would materialise.
Ravi said: “First of all, you said I am in a position of power. I have no power. It (the office of Governor) is not a power position.” The whole thing is about involvement, he added.
After Ravi put on hold last month the dismissal of arrested Minister V Senthil Balaji from the TN cabinet, the war of words between him and the DMK regime almost come to an end — lately — and the Governor’s comment on “power” comes amidst this background.
When another participant asked what prompted Ravi to come up with the idea of a ‘Think to Dare’ series as governors have a lot of other work to do, the Governor replied that there is a myth that governors have a lot of work. In functions, people usually thank the governor saying he has found time to take part in the events amid his busy schedule.
“I don’t have much work,” Ravi said with a smile. “You know the ‘Think to Dare’ idea; because for me, personally for me, I have only one religion and that is my country. I don’t have anything else and if something good comes to my country, I will give my best my utmost, if something or someone is coming in the way of it, that someone or something is my enemy, and that is my only, you can call it the yardstick or the metric.”
He called entrepreneurs National Assets and builder of Nation and encouraged them to achieve greater heights in their respective enterprises because the country is at the cusp of a historic transformation. From less than 400 start-ups today country has over 1 lakh start-ups. He explained how under a visionary national leadership conditions are being created for the genius of our youth to blossom. He mentioned every entrepreneur as an asset to the Nation. The transformational journey that the Nation is going through is participation. He underlined and praised the role of kids in the success of movements such as the Swachh Bharat Mission.
While giving accounts of how the western model of economic prosperity and technological growth has created the global existential crisis. Governor Ravi urged the entrepreneurs, particularly the youth, to internalise Indian values and Indianness in their day-to-day lives, which will be inspirational for our youth as well. He urged them to nurture family values as Indian society has evolved around families. He lamented at the mushrooming of old-age houses. Where parents are forced to live.
He further elaborated on how our eternal Indian ethos, such as “Yaadhum Oore Yaavarum Kelir, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” is bringing the world together as a family. The motto of this year’s G-20, “One Earth, One Family, One Future” does not talk about a shared future but reflects the true spirit of one future. He urged the people to get connected as Kutumbam and work together as one family. The strength of collectives will work as a force multiplier in the comprehensive resurgence of Bharat. He quoted the great saint Vallalar’s “Vaadiya Payirai Kanda Pothu Ellam Vaadinaaen” which says “Where I see a grass wilting, my heart wilts”. This is the essence of Indian value system.
