[Points: Importance of Students in national life—what the students should do: must (a) know the country's history, (b) avoid provincialism, (c) serve the poor and ignorant, (d) avoid active politics, (e) cultivate discipline, perseverance and industry, (f) undergo military training]
The fate of a country depends on the students, the future citizens of the land. So it is their duty to prepare themselves thoroughly for their tasks ahead.
The students of free India have to be particularly conscious of the heavy responsibilities that rest on them. They must read of the country's past-of her ancient glories and the reasons of her fall. And they must take a vow to train themselves so that they may raise their motherland to a position of eminence and respect among the nations of the world.
The first thing necessary for this is that they should be Indians not only in name but also in thoughts and deeds. Want of unity was the curse of our country. She never lacked great heroes in the past, but they never came together in the common defence of the motherland. They cared only for the honour of their particular clans or regions. Though we have now a united India under a common banner and common central Government, provincial feelings are still very strong in us. Unless these feelings are overcome, there is no knowing how long we shall enjoy our newly acquired freedom. The students have greater opportunities in this respect. Their tender minds are full of idealism. They should direct idealism to the growth of a feeling of common brotherhood among all Indians and the creation of a strong united nation.
Our students should also bear in mind that they have a duty to their ignorant and downtrodden countrymen. They should use their holidays in serving them in whatever way they can. This will bring about a thorough change in the country within a short time. Our students should steer clear of active politics because it is harmful to the primary object of their life, attainment of knowledge and development of character and thus renders them unfit for the struggle of life.
Compulsory military training is another duty of our students. We must have an army sufficiently strong to protect our motherland. against foreign aggression. But we are too poor to maintain a large standing army. This is why it is necessary for us to have sufficient men in civilian life who may come forward as soldiers, should the occasion arise. As the first step towards compulsory military training, students should join the N.C.C.'s in their respective schools and colleges.
