Dehradun: Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar today urged cadets at the Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC) to embody the institution’s motto, “बल विवेक” (Strength and Wisdom), as they prepare to face the challenges of life. Addressing the cadets, he emphasized that the combination of strength and conscience creates an impregnable force when confronted with adversity.
“Strength and Conscience make a formidable combination that generates impregnability when challenged,” said the Vice-President. He further stressed the importance of prioritizing national interest in all circumstances, urging the young cadets to serve the nation with pride and fearlessness. “Bharat Mata beckons you. The nation’s future rests on your shoulders. Always keep national interest foremost. Your conduct must exemplify discipline, decorum, and empathy,” Shri Dhankhar added.
During his address, Vice-President Dhankhar called on RIMC alumni and the entire RIMC community to act as a think tank, fostering a spirit of nationalism among the youth. He encouraged them to take steps to neutralize anti-national forces that are disconnected from reality and fail to recognize India’s phenomenal economic growth and its unprecedented rise on the global stage.
Reflecting on the words of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, who addressed RIMC cadets in December 1962, Dhankhar reiterated, “The earth belongs to the brave, to the strong in spirit, not to the idle, not to the lazy and not to the incompetent. In this world of great competition and rivalry, each one of us will have to lead a life of self-control and sacrifice. Bear these great ideals in life.”
The Vice-President also encouraged the cadets to remain resilient in times of difficulty. “My dear young cadets, in your respective journeys—both personal and professional—you will face moments that will test you. There will be days when your patience wears thin, and exhaustion seeps in. Each of you will face your own battles, both here in training and in the years to come, but remember those who dare to stand tall, and take risks in the face of adversity are the ones that represent courage, initiative, and leadership,” he said.
Addressing the fear of failure, Shri Dhankhar advised the cadets to view failure as a stepping stone to success. “Never fear failure in life; it is a stepping stone to success. Fear of fear impedes exploitation of your talent and realization of your potential. Always remember, fear is a necessary component of our growth journey.”
The Vice-President drew parallels to the Chandrayaan mission’s success, highlighting how setbacks were transformed into achievements. “Think of the historic Chandrayaan missions! Chandrayaan 2 largely succeeded but not fully. For some, it was failure, but for the wise ones, it was a step towards success. And we all noticed on August 23 last year, Chandrayaan 3 landed on the south pole of the moon, making Bharat the first nation to achieve this feat.”
Praising the admission of girls into RIMC and Sainik schools, Shri Dhankhar noted these as significant strides towards gender equality and justice. “Our women are steering combat aircraft, they are at the helm of space missions, and are shattering every possible glass ceiling imaginable. Reservation for women in Lok Sabha and State Legislatures to the extent of one-third will certainly be a game changer,” the Vice-President added.
The event was also attended by Uttarakhand Governor Lt. Gen. Gurmeet Singh, RIMC Commandant Col. Rahul Agarwal, cadets, faculty members, and other dignitaries.