Culture, Secularism and Diversity ADDRESS BY SHRI K.R. NARAYANAN, VICE-PRESIDENT OF INDIA, ON THE OCCASION OF CHILDREN’S DAY CELEBRATION ORGANISED BY THE MUNICIPAL CORPORATION OF DELHI NOVEMBER 14,1992 Hon’ble Lt. Governor of DCommissioner and other officers of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, teachers, guests and dear children,   At the outset, I would like to congratulate all the little girls and boys of the primary and pre-primary schools of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi for their delightful performance. To-day, we celebrate Pandit Nehru’s birthday on a befitting tribute to his memory and above all, attachment to children.   While it is important in the context of an educational system that more children join the formal education process, it is equally imperative not to confine their creative spirit to academics alone but to emphasize an all-round growth of personality. Their performance today symbolises the emphasis placed on physical and cultural aspects of educating a child. It also symbolises our values of patriotism and national integration.   It is said that `Child is the Father of Man’. We can learn great lessons of integrity and communal harmony from children. Pandit Nehru once said that grown-ups have a strange way of putting themselves in compartments and groups. They build barriers and then they think that those outside those particular barriers are strangers whom they must dislike. These are barriers of religions, of caste, of colour, of party, of nation, of province, of language, of customs and of rich and poor. Thus, they live in prisons of their own making. Nehruji said that children are blissfully ignorant of these artificial barriers.   A new India is emerging through this young generation who are intelligent, vivacious, curious and assertive. These are sterling virtues of character that go into the making of a nation. Swami Vivekananda rightly emphasised that we want education by which character is formed, strength of mind is increased, the soul is expanded and by which one can stand on one’s own feet. The end of all education, all training, should be man-making.   I am given to understand that nearly 7.5 lakh children are studying in MCD schools. This alone represents the infinite potential energy awaiting to be rightly harnessed. The best tribute we can pay to Pandit Nehru is to provide them character-building education and to ensure a pleasant environment for their all-round growth so that they become responsible citizens of this great nation.   I convey to every child in India my best wishes for their happiness and growth. Thank you Jai Hind ^Top