National Youth Day: Rural innovator from Rajasthan signifies rise of 'Young India'
Jaipur, Jan 12
Every year, National Youth Day is celebrated on January 12 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekanand, one of the greatest thinkers and leaders of his time, as well as future generations.
Swami Vivekananda believed that the future of a nation is shaped by the strength, confidence, and character of its young minds and with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the helm for over a decade, this resolve is taking firm shape and also reaping the fruits, in the profound success of the nation's young achievers and innovators.
Modi Story, a popular social media handle on X, shared the journey of Hitendra Singh, a young space enthusiast from Bhitwara village in Pali district of Rajasthan.
Hitendra, since his childhood, wanted to become an astronaut, and he saw his dreams firming up and also taking flight after a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In the video shared by Modi Story, Hitendra reminisces about his rural origins and also about his desire to become a space scientist.
"When I used to look at the stars in the sky, I was filled with the desire to become an astronaut," he said.
Today, he has founded Spantrik, a space technology start-up that works on reusable rocket systems.
Hitendra Singh was among the 10 innovators selected from over 3,000 entries to participate in the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue at Bharat Mandapam on National Youth Day, representing the space sector.
He was invited to showcase his company's patented, in-house developed technology to the Prime Minister.
According to Singh, the Prime Minister interacted closely with the ideas presented by young innovators and also spoke about the long-term goals for India's space sector, including the role of the private sector.
"Our conversation with the Prime Minister was very inspiring. After meeting him, we were encouraged to plan for the next 50 years and not just five years," he said.
He also thanked the govt for launching Startup India Seed Fund, under which 'Spantrik' got a Rs 20 lakh grant to develop its rocket engine.
Recalling PM Modi's message at the inauguration of IN-SPACe, he said that "there should be no space between a common man and space science."
Notably, the government has launched several initiatives to promote entrepreneurship, innovation and participation in emerging sectors such as space, reinforcing that the young generation serves as active partners in building a developed India.
— IANS
Reader Comments
So inspiring! It's heartwarming to see rural innovators getting national recognition. Swami Vivekananda's vision of youth power is truly coming alive. We need more stories like this, especially from tier 2 and 3 cities, to motivate other young minds.
While this is a fantastic achievement, I hope the support and funding reach all deserving innovators equally, not just those who get media spotlight. The system needs to be more transparent and widespread. Still, congrats to Hitendra Singh! His journey from Bhitwara to Bharat Mandapam is remarkable.
As someone working in the tech startup ecosystem, this is huge. The space sector opening up to private players is a game-changer. A Rs 20 lakh seed fund can be the difference between an idea and a prototype. More power to Spantrik!
"No space between a common man and space science" - What a powerful vision from our PM. This is the mindset shift we need. Earlier, space was only for ISRO scientists in big cities. Now, a village boy can dream and build rockets. Jai Hind!
On National Youth Day, this story is perfect. It combines our spiritual heritage (Swami Vivekananda's teachings) with modern scientific temper. Young India is not just about IT jobs abroad anymore; it's about building the future right here at home. 👏
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