Hyderabad: In a bid to cultivate leadership acumen and critical thinking among students, India’s International Movement to Unite Nations (I.I.M.U.N.) today inaugurated its Hyderabad 2025 conference, featuring a keynote address by Dr. Shashi Tharoor, distinguished Indian politician, writer, and former diplomat.
The inauguration ceremony, held at Johnson Grammar School – ICSE, Kuntloor, near LB Nagar, Hyderabad, witnessed the participation of over 1,000 students from across 100+ education institutions in the city.
Dr. Shashi Tharoor shared his insights on politics, emphasizing that one should enter politics only if passionate about serving the people. He also stressed the importance of choosing a profession that is a cause, not just a choice.
Dr. Tharoor’s erudite address aimed to inspire and enlighten the young participants, who engaged in a stimulating interactive session with him, seeking answers to their queries and concerns. He pointed out that politics as a career is more of integrity and a sense of responsibility towards the society. He as well spoke about his life lessons and how he developed a flair for reading and how books became a form of escapade.
He spoke about his latest books and insisted on the importance of words in communication. He bespoke of the book – battle of ideas- the essence of the Constitution. He also talked about his book “Wonderland of Words”, emphasizing the significance of language and vocabulary in effective communication.
Dr. Tharoor discussed the value of reading, highlighting its importance in discerning fact from fiction in an era of fake news. He stressed the need to teach reading as means to achieve Excellence in 21st century. He emphasized on the need for parental controls on their child’s Social media ventures.
He concluded the conversation with a fun exercise, sharing the meaning of a word and encouraging the audience to do the same.
Lt. General Neeraj Varshney’s address emphasized the importance of truth, discernment, and leadership. He quoted ancient Indian texts, such as the Rigveda, to drive home the point that truth always triumphs. He also engaged the young audience by asking them about quotes from various authors, encouraging critical thinking.
The General offered practical advice on how to lead a fulfilling life, emphasizing the need to avoid stupidity, addiction, and cheating. He also stressed the importance of managing time effectively, drawing inspiration from nature, and developing observation power to achieve greatness. He concluded by emphasizing that leadership is not limited to specific domains, but is essential in all aspects of life, requiring qualities such as empathy, determination, drive, and courage.
As a precursor to the discussions over the next two days, the conference will delve into pressing issues, including sustainable urban planning, national security, and global governance. Specifically, the agendas for discussion include Discussing a Framework for Sustainable Urban Planning in the State, Analysing the Threat to National Security with Reference to Separatist Movements in India, Preparing a Framework for Sustainable Public Transport and Transportation Hubs, Preparing a Framework to Combat the Rise in Grey Zone Warfare Across the World.
