ITANAGAR, 16 Jan: Governor KT Parnaik emphasised the importance of initiatives like national integration tours (NITs), stating that such tours help students gain valuable experience and build confidence needed to realise their aspirations.
Interacting with a group of students from GHSSMechukha (Shi-Yomi district), who had been taken on an NIT to Delhi and different parts of the country by the 22nd Battalion of the Sikh Regiment, at the Lok Bhavan here on Friday, the governor advised them to share their experiences with their peers, parents, families, and the wider community. He said that such firsthand experience can ignite curiosity, confidence, and ambition among other young students, thereby creating a ripple effect of motivation and awareness about opportunities beyond the state.
During the interaction, the students shared their experiences with the governor of travelling outside the state for the first time, including their maiden journeys by aeroplane and train.
They spoke about their visits to the National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla, the naval dockyard, and the Army Sports Institute, Pune.
Recalling his own formative years as a cadet at the NDA, the governor encouraged the students to prepare themselves early for the UPSC examination to join the NDA. He shared with them the timeless essence of the NDA’s prayer, ‘To be physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight’, and explained that these values are the foundation of a soldier’s life and also the guiding principles for becoming responsible, disciplined, and confident citizens.
The governor urged the students to dream big and nurture positive thoughts, reminding them that greatness often begins with self-belief. He encouraged them to remain focused on their goals, work hard with discipline, and never allow limitations of geography or circumstance to define their future.
Emphasising the importance of character, perseverance, and courage, the governor told the students that the nation needs young minds from frontier regions like Arunachal Pradesh to step forward and contribute to nation-building with pride and purpose.
The governor commended the Indian Army for organising the exposure tour.
Earlier, officer-in-charge of the NIT, Maj Praveen Chahal, briefed the governor on the tour programme, which included visits to the Rashtrapati Bhavan, prominent national monuments in the national capital, a naval ship, and submarines in Mumbai.
The tour had been flagged off by 5 Infantry Brigade Commandant Brig Ritesh Katoch on 4 January, he said. (Lok Bhavan)
