All-India Congress Committee general secretary Rahul Gandhi began his three-day visit to West Bengal on Tuesday interacting with students of the Visva-Bharati University, which had as its Chancellors his father, grandmother and great grandfather.
He struck a friendly note with the students on a gamut of issues such as education, knowledge, corruption and their duties to society.
The mood at the entrance of the Uttarayan complex of the university campus was upbeat since morning with hundreds of students — dressed in traditional finery — streaming in to participate in the interactive session.
He paid floral tributes to Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore at Udayan and inaugurated an exhibition, “Three Chancellors” that showcased rare photographs, letters and documents of the former Prime Ministers as well as Chancellors — Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi.
University authorities said more than 1,100 students from various departments had participated in the interactive session where the media was not allowed.
Asked what he would do for the university if he ever became the Prime Minister, Mr. Gandhi said it was not the only job of a Prime Minister and students, as aam aadmi ka sipahi, should send in their suggestions either to him or to the Prime Minister's Office for the betterment of society.
Mr. Gandhi began the session by asking the students about their concept of education, information and the difference between information, knowledge and wisdom.
“After listening to the definitions given by several students, he explained that information is that which is gathered from books and the Internet, knowledge when information is used for practical purpose and wisdom is when someone can internalise wisdom,” said Arnab Ray, a Class XI student.
Mr. Gandhi also faced few hard-hitting questions about rampant corruption in social welfare schemes and lack of employment opportunities for students of classical subjects.
Meets Congress leaders
Later, at a meeting with Congress and Youth Congress leaders of the region he emphasised the need for strengthening the party by reinvigorating the youth organisation.
Mr. Gandhi said the party's alliance with the Trinamool should not be at the cost of its self-respect.
The Amethi MP met youths and district-level leaders of the party and emphasised the need for strengthening the party's foundation in Birbhum district by maintaining “self-respect.”
“The party's self-esteem had been compromised several times in the past for the sake of the alliance,” said Asit Mal, Birbhum district unit president of the Congress.
