The Viksit Bharat Ambassador Yuva Samvad, held on 3rd May at the Banaras Hindu University’s Swatantrata Bhawan, drew over 4,000 enthusiastic first-time voters. Spiritual leader Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and Bollywood actor Vikrant Massey graced the gathering.
During the event, discussions revolved around pivotal themes such as the role of youth in national development and how they can further the vision of Viksit Bharat. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar emphasised the importance of well-being for Viksit Bharat and commended the country’s progress under the present government, highlighting advancements across various sectors.
Vikrant Massey posed a couple of questions to Ravi Shankar, to which Sri Sri replied and explained in detail, including the realisation of the 500-year-old dream of grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
During the conversation, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi with initiating key reforms, simplifying processes like opening bank accounts and removing outdated laws, which facilitated entrepreneurship and spiritual growth.
“Opening a bank account was a troublesome task earlier, especially in villages. People were posed with multiple questions but now most of those hurdles have been removed and processes simplified. Many archaic laws have been given away. The country is progressing ahead in all fields, including entrepreneurship, start-up business and spiritual growth,” Ravi Shankar said.
He also said that fellow citizens going abroad are brimming with confidence today, and they no longer change their names to look like foreigners, adding that this is a welcome change. He added that the country has found new recognition on the world stage.
The spiritual leader encouraged active participation in elections, likening the voting process to a festival and urging citizens to exercise their right to vote.
After the event, attendees expressed optimism about the initiative’s impact on youth engagement and India’s developmental aspirations by 2047. Several students attending the program saw it as an enlightening experience that would inspire youth involvement in national schemes. They noted the significant development strides witnessed in Varanasi recently, foreseeing more opportunities ahead. Other participants appreciated the mission’s endorsement by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and Vikrant Massey, who established a strong connection with Varanasi’s youth.
Actor Vikrant Massey expressed his deep bond with Varanasi, urging people to participate actively in the electoral process.