MAHARASHTRAChief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday urged educational institutions to prepare the younger generation for future challenges, stressing that merely taking pride in history would no longer be sufficient. The Maharashtra Chief Minister said institutions must equip students to face emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, which will have a profound impact on education and society in the coming decades. Fadnavis was addressing the centenary celebrations of the Maharashtra Shikshan Mandal at Manas Bhavan in Jabalpur.

 

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav was also scheduled to attend the programme but, due to his busy official tour in Ratlam, addressed the gathering virtually and congratulated the organisers on the historic milestone. State PWD Minister Rakesh Singh and Transport and Education Minister Rao Uday Pratap Singh was the special guests of the programme. Advisory committee member Gyaneshwari Didi, Mayor Jagat Bahadur Singh, Dr Jitendra Jamdar, Dr Akhilesh Gumasta, Organising Committee President Prashant Pol and Maharashtra Shikshan Mandal Vice-President Uday Paranjpe were also present.

 

The event concluded with cultural performances by school students, while alumni from across the country and abroad shared their experiences and praised the institution’s contribution to education during a former students’ meet. Addressing the gathering, CM Fadnavis made a major announcement, stating that if Maharashtra Shikshan Mandal initiates any new programme or course to teach the Marathi language in Jabalpur, the Maharashtra Government would provide the required financial assistance and full cooperation. Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s New Education Policy, he said the policy promotes education in the mother tongue, even in professional courses such as medical and engineering education.

 

The Chief Minister said that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj had given the guiding principles of Swarajya, Swadharma and Swabhasha. Citing the Battle of Panipat, he said the Marathas fought not merely for their own empire but for the protection of the entire nation. He added that the Marathi mindset had never been narrow, but always national and global in outlook. Referring to the Prime Minister’s mantra of ‘development with heritage’, Fadnavis said only those societies progress which take pride in their cultural roots while embracing modern growth. During the programme, a commemorative publication of Maharashtra Shikshan Mandal was also released.

 

Speaking on the occasion, PWD Minister Rakesh Singh said Chief Minister Fadnavis had played a vital role in laying the foundation for Jabalpur’s present development trajectory. Describing him as a visionary leader, Singh recalled an incident from the time when Fadnavis was an MLA. He said Fadnavis had visited densely populated areas such as Bada Fuhara and Chhota Fuhara late at night and said that with strong willpower, Jabalpur could progress rapidly. Transport and Education Minister Rao Uday Pratap Singh shared his personal association with the institution, saying he himself was an alumnus and had studied there for four months.

 

The ceremony was attended by Rajya Sabha MP Sumitra Balmik, MP Ashish Dubey, MLA Ajay Vishnoi, BJP State Treasurer Akhilesh Jain, City BJP President Ratnesh Sonkar along with officebearers of Maharashtra Shikshan Mandal, teachers and a large number of students.