Former Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu attended the convocation ceremony at Amrita University in Guntur and congratulated the graduating students. He urged students who pursue higher education abroad to eventually return to India and contribute to the country’s development. He said education should not be limited to securing a job but should also instill good values, discipline and character. Recalling his humble beginnings, he said he started his education at a government primary school in his village and highlighted India’s rich educational heritage through institutions such as Nalanda and Takshashila.
Venkaiah Naidu also emphasized the importance of family values and spending quality time with parents. He recalled that he lost his mother at a young age and was brought up by his grandparents, who he said taught him valuable lessons about life and the world. He noted that India has traditionally placed great importance on family and urged young people to preserve these values. He also said that leadership qualities should be developed from the student stage itself.
Reflecting on his political journey, Venkaiah Naidu recalled spending 17 months in jail during the Emergency and being elected as an MLA in 1983. He said that during his four-decade political career, he spent nearly 30 years in the Opposition and claimed that he never personally spent even a rupee while serving in politics. Recalling his association with former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, he said it was an unforgettable experience to go from writing Vajpayee’s name on walls as a young man to later sharing the stage with him as BJP national president.
