Varanasi, 13 June (HS): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi

Adityanath has called on young scientists, researchers, and technologists to

connect innovation and research with nation-building and public welfare. He

said India has immense potential in the fields of science, agriculture,

medicine, entrepreneurship, Ayurveda, and traditional knowledge. The Chief

Minister was addressing the inaugural session of the seventh national

convention of Vigyan Bharati, held at the Swatantrata Bhawan auditorium of BHU

here on Saturday.

The Chief Minister said that research should not be confined

to the laboratory, but rather should aim for economic advancement, public

welfare, and establishing India as a powerful nation. The Chief Minister

expressed confidence that the integration of Indian knowledge traditions,

modern science, research, and innovation will play a key role in making India a

developed nation and establishing a new identity on the world stage.

India has been a centre of knowledge, science and innovation

for thousands of years. The Chief Minister said that the effective journey of

modern science spans approximately 400-500 years, while India has been a center

of knowledge, science, and innovation for thousands of years. 2000 years ago,

India's share in the global economy was 44-45 percent. Even during the

difficult period of foreign invasions, it remained at 24-25 percent, but by the

time of independence, it had declined to 1.5 to 2 percent. The Indian farmer

was not only a farmer, but also an inventor and innovator. Traditional systems

of natural farming, animal husbandry, and maintaining soil fertility were

evidence of his scientific thinking. Citing the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita, he said

that agriculture, cow protection, and commerce were interconnected systems of

the Indian economy. However, over time, we became overly dependent on chemical

fertilizers and pesticides and drifted away from our original traditions.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that Indian merchants

didn't just trade, but also worked to unite the country. Indian artisans were

not just craftsmen but entrepreneurs, bringing Indian products to the global

market. Even today, that same model is relevant for self-reliance and

sustainable development. Referring to the great scientist Jagadish Chandra

Bose, the Chief Minister said his experiments demonstrated that plants possess

sensitivity and consciousness.

Every aspect of Indian way of life is linked to science: Sharing

memories of his childhood, the Chief Minister said that in his village in

Uttarakhand, his mother inspired him to grow vegetables in small flower beds.

Every aspect of the Indian way of life is intertwined with science. From the

use of turmeric and spices in the kitchen to the many traditions of daily life,

a scientific approach is evident. Referring to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chief

Minister said that despite India's population of 1.4 billion, India effectively

responded to the pandemic.

Unemployment rate reduced due to MSME: The Chief Minister

said that after the formation of the government in 2017, under the guidance of

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a campaign was launched to revive traditional

enterprises in Uttar Pradesh. Through the One District One Product (ODOP)

scheme, artisans were connected with technology, design, packaging, and

marketing. As a result, the state's exports increased from Rs. 86,000 crore to

over Rs. 2 lakh crore. The Chief Minister also mentioned Ayurvedacharya Jivaka

of Takshashila University. He said that after completing his education, his

guru instructed Jivaka to find a plant that did not have medicinal properties.

On this occasion, All India Guardian Officer of Vigyan

Bharti Sunil Ambedkar, National President Dr. Shekhar C. Mande, Vice Chancellor

of Banaras Hindu University Professor Ajit Chaturvedi, Director of IIT BHU

Professor Amit Patra etc. were present.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi