15-09-2026:Address by the Hon’ble Governor of Uttarakhand At the Release Ceremony of Four Books, including ‘Voices of the Soul’, and the Digital App

Jai Hind!

Today’s occasion at Lok Bhavan is deeply special and emotional for me. It is not merely a ceremony to release books and a digital app; it is an opportunity to look back upon a journey of five years and to preserve that journey—its words, thoughts and experiences—for generations to come.

Our Sanatan vision has always regarded this vast universe as being connected through a single consciousness. The heights of the Himalayas and the purity of the Ganga continually inspire us to move forward, to recognise our duty, and to dedicate ourselves to a purpose greater than our own selves.

On 15 September 2021, I assumed the responsibility of serving as the Governor of Devbhoomi Uttarakhand. Today, on 15 September 2026, five years of this responsibility have been completed.

I do not look upon these five years merely as a passage of time. They have been an intimate journey of knowing Uttarakhand, understanding it, and having the privilege of serving this sacred land. During this journey, I have seen patience in the Himalayas, continuity in the Ganga, strength in our women, patriotism in the families of our soldiers, and the dream of a new Uttarakhand in the eyes of our youth.

On this occasion, I express my heartfelt gratitude to the Hon’ble President, Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji, for her affection, guidance and warm support. Her special affection for Uttarakhand has always been evident, and her gracious presence and guidance have been a constant source of inspiration for me.

I am also deeply grateful to the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi Ji, for his guidance and support. His deep connect with Uttarakhand and his clear vision for its development inspire all of us. His belief that “the third decade of the 21st century will belong to Uttarakhand” is not merely an inspiring statement for me; it is a reminder of our responsibility towards this Devbhoomi.

I also express my heartfelt gratitude to the people of Uttarakhand. The mothers and sisters of this land gave me affection and a sense of belonging; our youth gave me energy; the families of our soldiers strengthened my faith in the spirit of patriotism; and farmers, teachers, scientists, entrepreneurs and people from every section of society enriched me through their experiences.

I also extend my sincere gratitude to the State Government, the civil administration, the Lok Bhavan family and every individual who has supported and contributed to this journey.

Today’s occasion is special also because the thoughts, experiences and resolutions of these five years are before us in the form of books and through a digital platform.

Documentation is not merely about preserving the past. It is a means of transforming experiences into memory, thoughts into direction, and our collective learning into a pathway for future generations.

During my five-year tenure, 113 books published by Lok Bhavan and various institutions are not merely records of the years gone by. They represent a living repository of thoughts, experiences and commitments that can continue to guide and inspire generations to come.

Among the books being presented today, the one closest to my heart is the fifth volume of ‘Aatma Ke Swar’ — ‘Voices of the Soul’.

Over these five years, the thoughts I shared on various occasions, the subjects I reflected upon and the commitments I placed before society have been brought together in the different volumes of ‘Aatma Ke Swar’.

For me, ‘Voices of the Soul’ is not merely a compilation of speeches. These pages carry the pulse of a five-year journey in which I visited the villages of Uttarakhand, interacted with its youth, experienced the strength of its women, paid tribute to the patriotism of soldiers’ families, and came to know the culture and natural heritage of this Devbhoomi from close quarters.

Therefore, ‘Voices of the Soul’ is not a book merely of words; it is a journey of emotions. It is a reflection of the intimate bond that developed between me and Uttarakhand—a relationship that I have lived with all my heart over these five years.

‘21st Century: Challenges and Opportunities’ gives us a perspective with which to look towards the future. Artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, cyber security, climate change and changing global circumstances are presenting us with new challenges. We must not be afraid of these challenges. We must seek solutions through knowledge, innovation and the power of our youth.

‘Viksit Bharat@2047: Advancing Steps Towards a Self-Reliant, Inclusive and Sustainable Nation’ connects us with the national resolve to transform India into a developed nation by 2047.

The year 2047 is not merely a date on the calendar. It represents our vision of an India that is economically strong and self-reliant, a global leader in knowledge and science, socially inclusive, and deeply sensitive towards nature.

I firmly believe that Uttarakhand can play a leading role in the journey towards a developed India, drawing upon its unique strengths. It is this Uttarakhand-centric expression of that belief that finds its place in ‘Viksit Uttarakhand: Five Dreams and Resolutions of the Hon’ble Governor’.

With regard to the future of Uttarakhand, I have placed special emphasis on five areas—reverse migration; women’s empowerment; local products and traditional crops; yoga, Ayurveda, wellness and naturopathy; and artificial intelligence and new technologies.

At the heart of all five is one central idea: development that creates opportunities for individuals, strengthens villages, protects nature and makes Uttarakhand self-reliant.

We want the youth of the mountains to no longer be compelled to leave their homes in search of employment. Instead, they should find opportunities in their own villages—and create opportunities for others.

Our daughters should move forward in education, entrepreneurship and leadership.

Our traditional crops and local products should become new engines of the rural economy.

Yoga, Ayurveda and natural healing should give Uttarakhand a distinctive identity on the global wellness map.

And the talent of our youth should enable Uttarakhand to lead the nation in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.

Along with these books, today also marks the release of a digital app based on the work and journey of my five-year tenure. It is an effort to make my work, programmes and thoughts accessible through digital means to society, and especially to the younger generation.

I am particularly pleased that today, words, ideas, experiences and technology have come together before us.

I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the Vice-Chancellor of Uttarakhand Open University, all the faculty members, researchers and the entire university team. You have undertaken the important task of preserving these thoughts and experiences in books as well as through digital media, thereby making them accessible to a wider society.

But today is not merely an occasion to remember five years gone by. It is also an occasion to renew our resolve for the future of Uttarakhand.

We must build an Uttarakhand where migration is no longer a compulsion, but returning home becomes an opportunity; where women are not merely participants but leaders; where youth are not merely seekers of employment but creators of employment; where our traditional identity becomes a strength of the modern economy; where nature does not have to pay the price of development; and where education builds not only knowledge, but also skills, character and a sense of national responsibility.

Our universities should not merely be institutions that award degrees. They must become centres of knowledge, research, innovation and nation-building.

Solutions to Uttarakhand’s challenges should emerge from within Uttarakhand, and the knowledge generated here should serve the country and the world. That must be our direction.

For me, the office of the Governor has never been merely a constitutional responsibility. It has been a privilege to serve this Devbhoomi, to connect with its people, and to fulfil my duty towards this sacred land.

As I look back today, upon the completion of five years, I feel not so much a sense of achievement as a profound sense of gratitude.

Uttarakhand has given me affection, trust, warmth and the opportunity to serve. The debt of this love can never truly be expressed in words.

Five years may have been completed, but the resolve to serve has not.

A milestone has been reached, but the journey towards a brighter future for Uttarakhand continues.

The Himalayas teach us that no matter how high the goal, our steps must continue moving forward.

The Ganga teaches us that the flow of service must never stop.

And Devbhoomi teaches us that the greatest meaning of life lies in rising above oneself and living for society and the nation.

Let us make these inspirations the foundation of our lives—

Let our thoughts rise as high as the Himalayas,
let our consciousness remain as pure as the Ganga,
let our actions remain rooted in the national interest,
and let our spirit of service remain as sacred as Devbhoomi.

Today, my resolve is that Uttarakhand should not merely move forward in the speed of development; it should become a model of development in which the height of the Himalayas, the purity of the Ganga, the depth of our cultural heritage and the aspirations of our youth are all visible together.

Let us build an Uttarakhand where there is not an exodus of talent from the mountains, but a flow of talent back towards them; where our daughters lead; where our youth create new opportunities; where our villages become prosperous and self-reliant; where our traditions become a source of strength for New India; and where nature becomes the foundation of development.

Let us create an Uttarakhand where development and heritage are not in conflict with each other, but complement one another.

I firmly believe—

A strong Uttarakhand will become a powerful force in the making of a developed India.

With this faith, and with this sacred Devbhoomi as our witness, I reaffirm my resolve:

The opportunity to serve Devbhoomi Uttarakhand over these five years has been one of the most precious treasures of my life.

Every effort of mine will remain dedicated to the service of Uttarakhand. The role of this Devbhoomi in nation-building will grow stronger, and together we will leave behind for future generations an Uttarakhand of which they can be proud.

Vande Mataram! Jai Hind! Jai Uttarakhand!