Swami Vishweshwaranandaji, President, Omkarananda Ashram, was invited to inaugurate the function as Chief Guest.

Present were Prof. Rajwar, Principal Prof. Singhal, Student Union Leader and Secretary, as well as many Professors and students of the College.

Speech delivered by Swami Vishweshwarananda on this occasion:

Respected Principal, respected Prof. Rajwar, Prof. Negi, Prof. Aggarwal and other Honourable Professors, dear Students.
First of all, my heartfelt adorations to all of you. Truly speaking I like all of you. You have chosen a way which is just extraordinary: when other boys are sitting before the T.V., spoiling their own mind, when other boys are sitting on the road and making hopeless "Andolan" (Agitation), you are here and working and doing something great for this wonderful country. You see, life's tragedy is, one gets old too soon and wise too late, but this doesn't apply to you, because you have become wise, you have understood that there are other values in life, so you have jumped out of the routine of this daily life and all this comfort and unnecessary things, and you have entered into the field which is highly necessary at this time.
See, there is a saying - "Let actions speak instead of words". When our Gurudev Swami Omkarananda has sent us to India, he has immediately and silently seen that we are establishing numerous educational centers in the Garhwal area.

Swamiji was not lecturing: "We need education, we need this…", he did it and he does exactly what you are doing, you are not lecturing but you are doing it. Whatever you are doing now is the first step to saintly life. You will learn about cleanliness, you will learn about social behaviour, you will learn to work in a team and you will learn how to respect each other for this great task and besides that you are doing something great and something good. Once the Lord said: "The smallest things which you are doing for others, you are doing for me." And such personalities like you, we truly need. Tomorrow you don't know any difference: "This is a sweeper, this is this caste, that caste...", tomorrow you are everything and that makes you special.

Even if the society does not appreciate you now, the Divine will appreciate you and slowly, slowly the society will understand that whatever you are doing is just marvellous and they will praise you. Today you are learning and tomorrow you will be a leader. This country is what any one of you is, when you are good, this country is also good and when you are not good, then this country suffers.

There are lots of people who speak beautiful words; they speak how our country should be free from corruption and everything, but when they are on their working place, all those beautiful words are gone and the bad habit has started. But I have a feeling that you people are far far different and that you will come up in a great way. Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm, so put your strength and enthusiasm at work. I came to know that you are going to villages; that you teach other people how to live, so you already become a leader. Your words will have power, because you will be practical men and not theoretical men. You have not to go far to see where there is a need - when I just came with Hon. Prof. Sahab, we have seen this road outside, it is just painful to see how much dirt is lying on the right side of the road. But that will change now because you are coming into the pictures and you are showing the people what is the right way and right approach. No God will ever live on a place which is filled with dirt and dust. We are crying too much to God to come for help, but if we keep ourselves and our environment not clean, honest and in a noble way, how we can expect His coming? When tomorrow you know that the Prime-Minister is coming, your house, the whole road and everything will be cleaned, but why that cannot be cleaned also, when the Prime-Minister is not there?
I have gone a little bit through the prospectus of whatever functions you are going to do and I feel it is just extraordinary what kind of opportunities are before you.

You see, the most important thing is, before you become a leader for others, you have to become Master of yourself. A blind man can never guide a blind man. Unless and until you are not perfect you cannot make other people perfect.

Do not forget one thing, whatever small things you are doing for the next or for the country, truly speaking whether you believe or not, you are doing for yourself.

One good deed done will come hundred times back to you; you have with you most respectful Professors, most respectful guides, they will help you, they will assist you, so you can make the maximum out of this.

Dear Students, the time in life is passing very fast, don't waste this time with nonsense and use this time with constructive and very good work. Mind it, a single second which is going waste in your life, you can no more get back. You all are lucky that you are born in a highly spiritual and most wonderful country and this country needs your presence. After the Second World War Germany was completely ruined, Japan was completely ruined. Where today is standing Germany and where today is standing Japan? The whole country was ruined and a tremendous discipline and hard work was put in and this tremendous discipline and hard work has put them on the forefront. How much we have done after the Independence? We have to do a lot and we have to be specially disciplined.

Our environment needs you, your help and your guidance; so these coming days before you, you definitely can show a lot and whatever you know, you can show it to other people. You people are somewhat going in a total other direction. People always like to go the easy way, but you have chosen to go the more hard way. It is very easy to enter in all these illusionary enjoyments of this life, but you will have to pay for it and that payment is very difficult and sometimes very painful.

I know, the steps which you are going to do are not so easy, but the reward which you are getting for it will be extraordinary. To be very frank, I seriously appreciate that you have chosen this time to join this organization to make the things better. This sort of work which you are doing, it also has a spiritual effect on you, it gives you a feeling that the next to you is also a part of this country; it gives you a feeling that the next to you is your brother or neighbour.

This kind of attitude makes even your life better. As I told in the beginning, finally our life has sooner or later to enter into a spiritual life, into a life full of Divinity. Such type of activities are surely a source of purification, because definitely you will carry now some pain with you, you have to do this, which is inconvenient, that, which is inconvenient, but this inconvenience and this pain is what purifies you and makes you better and makes you shine. The more you are doing for the society, the more you will get from the society.

Do you think when all this "Andolan" matter takes place, people are happy? Never! So you have now a very golden opportunity before you to show to the society who you are. Do it with great dedication. You are lucky to be born in a very extraordinary country and feel yourself responsible for this country. Maybe you will come closer to some people who may have some objection, don't care about this, carry on, do your good work. You finally have to stand before the Truth and you are responsible before the Truth. This time which you are now passing with these positive things here will definitely change you to a great extent. You will learn more, top of whatever you will learn, you will keep this experience with you like a treasure.

Today you may be guiding a certain village, but tomorrow you may guide a whole State or you are maybe guiding a whole country. So this scheme and the system which is applied to you, is really a blessing and a grace for you. So make the maximum out of these facilities, the country will be thankful to you and as I told it is the first step to live, to start the saintly life. It is like a sort of yoga or better said it is like a sort of a "Karma-Yoga" you are doing, but truly done with devotion and understanding.

Respect others who also have a right to live here, don't see anyone as smaller or bigger, see them as your own heart. Feel yourself that you are the servant of the next and try to be humble. Arrogance and egoism will spoil all your progress. Be like a shining star, be top in honesty, and be top in kindness, in lovingness, in goodness. You can never never loose anything in trying this attitude and the next people coming after you will be thankful to you. So take out the maximum whatever all these most honourable and nice professors with their experience are showing and giving to you. Try to be an example for the whole society wherever you are going.
I truly appreciate all of you.

My best wishes and Gurudev Swami Omkarananda's blessings are with you. He said once "Think like a Genius, Work like a Giant and Live like a Saint." Now you have an ideal platform before you to show these results, and with action you will help yourself, you will help your family and you will help your neighbour and the next.

My heartfelt adorations to you all!
Thank you, Thank you.