Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Tuesday said India has shaken off the label of the “sleeping giant” and its rise is continual, incremental and unstoppable.

Addressing students at the 37th Convocation of the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) here, Dhankhar said, “All of you are graduating into an India on the rise, India that had shaken off the label of the sleeping giant, India’s rise is continual, incremental and unstoppable.”

Highlighting the country’s growth, he said, “We are no longer the nation defined by its potential. We are a nation realising its potential. We are a nation enabling global powers to realise their potential. We are a nation that is defining how human resource potential can be exploited.”

Underlining the enabling ecosystem, the VP called upon them to seize this incredible momentum, harness the transparency, leverage the economic boom, and turn opportunities into personal masterpieces.

Citing that extraordinary infrastructural growth, widespread technology penetration, rapid pace of digitisation and a commitment to transparent and accountable governance were no longer buzzwords but ground reality, Dhankhar drew attention to India’s “economic vitality”.

“Our resilient financial ecosystem, fuelled by an inclusive digital payment system, has become a global model, not only do we use it, we export it,” he said.

Referring to the G20 Summit held in New Delhi as a testament to India’s leadership, the VP made note of how India’s commitment to inclusivity and participation was now resonating globally.

“From engaging all states and union territories across the nation to inducting the African Union as a G20 member and launching the Global Biofuel Alliance, India emerged as the voice of the Global South,” he said.

Reminding students that they were entering a world increasingly driven by new trends in disruptive technology, Dhankhar advised them to embrace such technologies to become true “footsoldiers” of Bharat@2047”.

Underscoring India’s dynamic startup culture that has garnered global attention, the VP said, “Some of the greatest innovations and breakthroughs have come from individuals who dared to think differently, who fearlessly challenged the status quo.”

Exhorting students to look beyond a narrow definition of success, Dhankhar called upon them to explore the ‘vast landscape of possibilities’ that lay before them, and to prioritise collaboration over competition as the guiding principle.

“Embrace your individuality, pursue your passions, and redefine success on your own terms,” he added.