The real success of a teacher is to mould a student into a good human being. A good human being is a person who thinks logically and works hard with courage, compassion and prudence. A good human being is the backbone of the society.
Address by The Hon’ble 14th President of India HE Shri Ram Nath Kovind At Golden Jubilee Celebrations of Agrawal Relief and Education Trust
Chennai, 27th September 2024: The Agarwal Relief and Educational Trust (ARET) proudly celebrates its Golden Jubilee, marking 50 years of unwavering commitment to education, community service, and inclusive learning. Established in 1974 by visionary philanthropists from the Agarwal community, the Trust has grown into a distinguished institution known for providing quality education and promoting social empowerment.
This landmark event is graced by the Honourable Former President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovindji as the Chief Guest and Shri S. Gurumurthy, Editor of Thuglak, as the Guest of Honour.
50 Years of Educational Excellence and Inclusivity ARET has always believed in the power of inclusive education, ensuring that every child, regardless of background or ability, has access to quality learning. The Trust’s institutions provide a nurturing environment that promotes diversity, supports students with different learning needs, and encourages holistic development. Over the past five decades, the Trust has made significant strides in fostering an inclusive atmosphere where students excel academically and personally.
From Humble Beginnings to a Legacy of Success Founded with just 100 students, the Trust now educates over 5,500 students across its institutions, offering cutting-edge learning environments with a strong emphasis on hybrid teaching technologies and extracurricular development.
ARET’s schools have consistently achieved cent-percent results in board examinations, with students excelling across subjects and bringing home honors in academics and extracurricular activities.
Words from the ManagingTrustee Shri Murarilal Sonthalia, Managing Trustee ARET mentioned that they pledge to continue the legacy of excellence for making a positive impact on the society. The trust further committed that going forward they will be setting up a primary school and a state of art school auditorium at DSAV. This Golden Jubilee year will be celebrated with many inter school Quiz, sports and other competitions.
Looking Ahead: Expansion and Innovation
As part of its forward-looking vision, the Trust is expanding its reach by constructing new CBSE schools in Madhavaram, upgrading its existing facilities, and introducing advanced technology across all campuses. ARET remains dedicated to providing accessible, inclusive, and high-quality education, while also continuing its charitable activities through disaster relief efforts and CSR projects.
The Golden Jubilee Celebration marks both a reflection on the past 50 years of achievements and a renewed commitment to the future, as the Trust strives to further its mission of creating a more inclusive and empowered society through education.
Speech Copy by Hon’ble Former President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovindji :-• Ladies and Gentlemen,
1. I am happy to be here among you all today on the proud occasion of the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of Agrawal Relief and Education Trust. I express my warm wishes to all the philanthropists associated with this Trust and to all the participants present at this grand function.
2. Charitable Trusts and Institutions play a very important role in nation-building. Institutions like yours bring together resources and people, to work quietly and diligently for the benefit of the poor, the needy and the disadvantaged. You work to give back to society. You are nation-builders in action. Your work keeps alive the spirit of empathy and selfless service.
3. I am told that Agrawal Relief and Education Trust was started in 1974 and the first school, Agrawal Vidyalaya, was opened in the year 1980. Thereafter, this Trust went on to start Jaigovind Harigopal Agrasen College in the year 2000, and later, another school, Dayasadan Agrawal Vidyalaya, in collaboration with the Dayasadan Children Town Trust.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
4. Your work reminds me of the principles established by the great Maharaja Agrasen. He created a system to ensure equality, prosperity and mutual affection among all the residents of his kingdom. Maharaja Agrasen used to give a gold coin and a brick to any person wishing to settle in his kingdom. This symbolic gesture was also to be followed by all the other residents of the city. The support from all the residents of the city enabled the newcomer to build a home. The gold coin enabled the newcomer to start a business and earn a livelihood. As a result, no one was homeless or without a source of livelihood in his kingdom. This is the first example in the history, of a welfare state based on equality and fraternity. I congratulate each and every member associated with Agrawal Relief and Education Trust for continuing the legacy of Maharaja Agrasen.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
5. I am happy that your institution has chosen education as the means to serve society. Education is something that has always been close to my heart. It is perhaps the greatest gift one can give to another person. I have witnessed and experienced the transformative power of education first-hand. My life has taught me that education is one of the best tools to overcome challenges.
6. I began my life’s journey in difficult material circumstances. My village only had a primary school. For secondary education, I had to walk, often run, barefoot for six kilometres to another village. Sometimes it was very hot and the earth below my feet was scorching. The struggle was a lesson in itself. I like to believe that it gave me the determination and resilience to move ahead in life. My journey instilled in me a deep belief in the power of education to uplift individuals and communities.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
7. In the past few decades, we have made great strides in spreading literacy; now we must expand the frontiers of education and knowledge. Our aspiration must be to upgrade our education system and make it relevant to 21st-century realities of the digital economy, genomics, robotics and automation.
8. Today, 24% of our population is below the age of 14. Around half of our fellow citizens are still below the age of 25. It is in them that our hopes for the future lie.
9. A confident and forward-looking nation is built by confident and forward-looking youth. An innovative nation is built by innovative youth. This must be our obsessive goal. Our schooling system has to encourage our children to think and to tinker, not just to mug up, memorise and reproduce. We need to have a system where young talent looks up and asks questions, rather than looks down and nods.
10. This will not be possible without adopting new learning approaches. We will need to include interactive, hands-on and experiential learning approaches for better learning outcomes.
11. Digital technology can be immensely helpful in enhancing learning outcomes by providing interactive simulations, multimedia resources, and educational apps that engage students. Online platforms facilitate personalized, self-paced learning experiences tailored to individual needs and preferences. Collaborative tools enable students to work together, encouraging teamwork and communication skills. Data analytics help educators track student progress and adapt teaching strategies suited to the inherent strengths of each student.
12. I am happy to know that your schools put great emphasis on ensuring that the students have access to state-of-the-art digital technology.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
13. Good buildings, expensive equipment or facilities alone do not make a school of good standard. Rather, it is the dedication and integrity of its teachers that prove to be decisive in the making of a good school. Our teachers play a very important role in making our children productive members of our society. Whenever the famous centre of education in the ancient world, Taxila University is mentioned, we first and foremost remember Acharya Vishnugupta or Chanakya, who was first a student, and later became the Vice Chancellor there.
14. Teachers are the true architects of a nation’s future. They establish the solid ground of character building in our sons and daughters and make them cognizant citizens.
15. The real success of a teacher is to mould a student into a good human being. A good human being is a person who thinks logically and works hard with courage, compassion and prudence. A good human being embodies creativity, scientific temper, and sound moral values and strives for a just, inclusive and equitable society. A good human being is the backbone of the society. Only a good human being can truly become a good father, a good mother, a good friend, a good businessman or a good professional in whichever profession he or she chooses to take up.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
16. I appreciate the efforts of ARET towards inclusivity in your schools. I am told that 50 specially-abled children are enrolled at Agrawal Vidyalaya. This is commendable. This will foster understanding and compassion between students, prepare the students to strive for diversity, accessibility and inclusion in the workplace and promote acceptance of differences among students.
17. I am also happy to know that ARET provides free breakfast and a free van facility to female students to encourage them to concentrate and excel in their studies.
Dear Teachers,
18. In today’s knowledge-based economy, those who possess relevant and up-to-date skills and information are at an immense competitive advantage. Lifelong learning is becoming essential for personal and professional growth. To thrive in the future, one will have to regularly analyze the relevance of their existing knowledge, and keep it up-to-date with the changing technologies.
19. Therefore, perhaps the most important thing you can do to equip your students for the future is to ensure that they know how to learn, unlearn, and relearn. You have to plant in their minds, the seeds of self-directed learning.
20. In the last few years, the government has launched many programmes and initiatives to equip our youth with the education and skills to compete in a globalised world. Sizeable resources have been set aside for these programmes. It is the responsibility of our teachers to adequately guide our talented young people to make the most of these opportunities.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
21. Today, we are fortunate to be living at a time when our country is the fastest-growing large economy in the world. We, as a nation, have collectively resolved to become a developed country, Viksit Bharat, by 2047. And we are steadily marching towards that goal. Our youth will play a central role in this developmental journey. A huge variety of opportunities and career paths await our skilled youth.
22. Even the world today has high expectations from India. Populations of developed countries are ageing and India is poised to play an important role in filling the global demand-supply gap of skilled talent. India is fast emerging as the favoured destination for hiring skilled professionals.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
23. I am happy to know that alumni of your educational institutions have achieved success in all walks of life. The alumni list includes eminent engineers, doctors, administrators and successful business personalities.
24. I am also delighted to know that ARET is planning to start one more school soon. I am sure the students at the educational institutes of the Trust will continue to make great contributions to the development of the nation in various fields. I hope all the students here will use their education to improve the society and the country. I wish all the students a happy and bright future.
25. I once again congratulate your Trust on achieving this proud golden jubilee milestone. I urge all the members to use this occasion to channel new energy and strength into your commitment to give back to society.
Thankyou !
Jai Hind !
