Students have power and potential to do extraordinary things

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday gave a pep talk to the students in Bhutan, saying they had the power and potential to do extraordinary things, which will impact future generations.

Addressing the students of the prestigious Royal University of Bhutan here, Modi encouraged the "brightest" Bhutanese youth to work hard and take the Himalayan nation to great heights. Noting that there are several challenges ahead, the prime minister said, "for every challenge, we have young minds to find innovative solutions to overcome them. Let no limitation constrain you".

"I want to tell you all - there is no better time to be young than now. The world today offers more opportunities than ever before. You have the power and potential to do extra-ordinary things, which will impact generations to come.

Find your real calling and pursue it with full passion," Modi told the students in the presence of Bhutan Prime Minister Lotay Tshering. "As Bhutan soars high in its endeavours, your 1.3 billion Indian friends will not just look on and cheer you with pride and happiness.

They will partner you, share with you and learn from you," Modi said. Pointing out that India is witnessing historic transformations in a wide range of sectors, Prime Minister Modi said India is keen to cooperate extensively in new frontiers, from schools to space, digital payments to disaster management.

"Our cooperation in all these sectors will have a direct impact on young friends like you," he said, citing cooperation between India's National Knowledge Network and Bhutan's DrukREN as an some example. "It will provide secure and fast connectivity between our universities, research institutions, libraries, health-care and agricultural institutions.

I urge you all to make full use of this facility," he said. "We inaugurated the Thimphu Ground Station of the South Asia Satellite and expanded our space cooperation. Through satellites, benefits of tele-medicine, distance education, resource mapping, weather forecast and even warning of natural disasters will reach even remote areas," he said. Referring to India's space programmes and the Chandrayaan-2 mission, Prime Minister Modi said Bhutan is also on its way to having its own satellite.

"It is even a matter of great happiness that young Bhutanese scientists will travel to India to work on designing and launching Bhutan's own small satellite. I hope that someday soon, many of you will be scientists, engineers and innovators," he told the students. He said India-Bhutan cooperation in hydro-power and energy is exemplary.

"But the real source of power and energy of this relationship are our people. So, it is people first, and people will always be at the centre of this relationship," he said. Hailing the decades old friendship of Bhutan and India, Modi said it is natural that the people of the two countries experience great attachment to each other. "After all, we are close not just due to our geography.

Our history, culture and spiritual traditions have created unique and deep bonds between our peoples and nations," he said. Recalling a Facebook post of Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering in which he mentioned about Exam Warriors - a book written by Modi to advise youngsters about how to face exams without stress, the prime minister said that post touched his heart. "Can I tell you something? Much of what I wrote in Exam Warriors is influenced by the teachings of Lord Buddha.