Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan visited Manipur’s INA Museum and Sainik School Imphal, praising the Northeast and urging cadets to uphold patriotism and embrace technology.
Imphal, Sept 8: Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan on Tuesday visited the historic INA Museum at Moirang and Sainik School Imphal, paying tribute to the sacrifices of the Indian National Army and urging students to uphold discipline, courage, integrity and patriotism while developing technological awareness and adaptability. During his visit, he described the Northeast as an integral and beautiful part of India, praised the contribution and hard work of its people, and called upon Sainik School cadets to perform their duties every day as their contribution towards building a Viksit Bharat.
At Moirang, Radhakrishnan paid homage to the valour and sacrifice of the INA and visited the historic site where the Indian Tricolour was first hoisted on the Indian mainland by the INA. He also toured the INA War Museum gallery and paid floral tribute to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
The Vice-President later visited Sainik School Imphal, where he paid floral tribute at the War Memorial and received a Guard of Honour from the cadets.
Addressing the cadets at Sainik School Imphal, Radhakrishnan recalled the historic role played by the INA in India’s freedom struggle. He noted that freedom fighters from different parts of the country, including Tamil Nadu, had joined the INA and made the supreme sacrifice for the nation.
He also referred to his recent visit to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, where Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose had hoisted the Indian Tricolour. According to the Vice-President, such historic locations help younger generations understand the courage, patriotism and sacrifices of those who fought for India’s independence.
Radhakrishnan emphasised that the legacy of an institution is reflected not simply in its buildings or records but in the character of its students and alumni. He called upon the cadets to develop discipline, courage and leadership.
“Even if you are less talented, with discipline you will shine,” he stated, stressing that discipline provides the foundation for excellence.
He explained that courage also involves standing up for others when they are being unnecessarily harmed. On leadership, he stated that a true leader accepts responsibility, sets an example, listens to others and possesses the moral courage to make the right decision.
The Vice-President highlighted the importance of national integration in a country as diverse as India, where languages, traditions and regional identities coexist within a shared national identity.
He stated that Sainik Schools have a special role in strengthening the spirit of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat, as students from different backgrounds study, train, eat and play together.
During his interaction with the cadets, Radhakrishnan described the Northeast as an integral and beautiful part of India and commended the hard work and contribution of its people.
He encouraged the students to retain their values and goodness while adapting to changing circumstances, observing that change is a constant feature of the world.
The Vice-President also spoke about the rapid pace of technological development and urged the cadets to combine traditional values with an ability to adapt to emerging technologies.
He called on them to preserve discipline, integrity and patriotism while becoming innovative, adaptable and technologically aware.
He identified areas such as artificial intelligence, space technology, biotechnology, cybersecurity and robotics as fields that could offer new opportunities to the younger generation.
Speaking about the role of students in building a developed India, Radhakrishnan encouraged every cadet to perform their duties to the best of their ability each day.
He stated that individual efforts, when consistently made by citizens across the country, would collectively contribute to the realisation of Viksit Bharat.
The Vice-President also responded to a question about his visit to the Cellular Jail in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. He encouraged students to visit the historic site to understand the hardships endured by freedom fighters during the independence struggle.
Such visits, he noted, can inspire patriotism and help young people understand the sacrifices made for the country.
Radhakrishnan was accompanied during the visit by Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Defence Deepti Mohil Chawla, Major General Shubhankar Basu, VSM, Inspecting Officer of the Sainik Schools Society, Ministry of Defence, Brigadier Amit Chatterjee and Sainik School Imphal Principal Colonel A. Rajiv, among other dignitaries.
The visit combined a tribute to the INA’s historic contribution to India’s freedom struggle with an interaction focused on discipline, leadership, national integration and the responsibilities of the younger generation in shaping the country’s future.
