By Col Bhaskar Bharti (Retd)
When President Droupadi Murmu addressed the Uttarakhand State Assembly in the special session to mark its silver jubilee, and later spoke at Kumaon University, her words carried both praise and caution – a blend of celebration and introspection. Beneath her soft-spoken tone lay an unmistakable appeal for responsibility and accountability in governance, environment, and education.
At the Assembly, she lauded Uttarakhand’s achievements in literacy, women’s empowerment, and health, and praised the passage of the UCC Bill, Lokayukta Bill, Land Reform Bill and Anti-Copying Act, which aim to strengthen democratic set-up, transparency and curb corruption. But her call for “development in harmony with nature” and “sensitivity towards the youth and underprivileged” was not just a passing statement – it was a subtle reminder that governance cannot run on slogans alone.
From the Joshimath land subsidence to Chamoli floods, the Himalayan state has paid a heavy price for reckless construction and ecological neglect. Expressways cutting through fragile hills, haphazard tourism infrastructure, and encroachments in eco-sensitive zones reflect a troubling trend of development divorced from environmental wisdom. The President’s words, therefore, were a polite reprimand – urging policymakers to balance ambition with restraint. But the challenge isn’t only environmental – it’s moral as well. The President’s mention of transparency and good governance also cast light on the corruption scandals that have repeatedly tainted Uttarakhand’s administration
Her address at Kumaon University carried another crucial message: the transformative power of good education. She underlined that quality education builds character, drives development, and creates responsible citizens. Yet, this message comes at a time when Uttarakhand is witnessing the mushrooming of private higher education institutions – many operating with inadequate faculty, poor infrastructure, and questionable academic standards. While the state boasts of dozens of universities and colleges, few meet national benchmarks of excellence. Degrees often outnumber employable graduates. The President’s stress on “education that enlightens and empowers” must therefore be read as a wake-up call, not to expand quantity, but to raise quality. For a young state with a large student population, mediocre education is no less dangerous than reckless development. Both corrode the foundation of progress from within.
Her emphasis on honesty and fairness in governance gains further weight in light of the paper-leak scandals that have rocked the state’s recruitment system. The President’s praise for the Anti-Copying Law was an acknowledgment of intent, but also a reminder that laws mean little without swift and impartial enforcement. Meanwhile, the migration crisis continues to hollow out hill villages, leaving behind empty homes and abandoned fields. President’s appeal for sensitivity towards youth is, at its core, an appeal for opportunity – urging policymakers to revive rural education, entrepreneurship, and livelihoods.
President Murmu’s words across both addresses were not ceremonial niceties. They were a mirror held up to the conscience of Uttarakhand. She celebrated its spirit yet reminded it of its scars. Her message was clear: true progress lies not in the number of highways, hostels, or colleges built, but in the values, vision, inclusiveness and integrity that guide them.
Her message was clear: “A state that builds without conscience, educates without quality, and governs without honesty, risks losing both its soul and its soil.”
If Uttarakhand listens to her, and to its mountains — it may yet find a model of development that is ethical, sustainable, and truly educated.
(The author is an army veteran and a social commentator. He is an alumnus of National Defence Academy and Indian Military Academy. He is a Post Graduate in ‘Human Resource Management’ and in ‘Journalism and Mass Communication’. He is also an actor, writer, painter and a photography enthusiast. He is based in Dehradun.)
