Arunachal Pradesh’s Rajya Sabha MP didn’t just show up to a government event — he showed up with a message that actually needed to be heard.
On August 27, the halls of Don Bosco College in Jullang, Itanagar, buzzed with an energy that felt different from your average official gathering. Young students, sportspersons, volunteers, and public representatives came together for the Viksit Bharat Yuva Samvaad — also known as the Khelo India Dialogue — organised by Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) as part of National Sports Day 2026 celebrations. And at the centre of it all stood Rajya Sabha MP Tai Tagak, delivering words that were less of a speech and more of a challenge.
“You Are the Backbone” — And He Meant It
Tagak didn’t sugarcoat things. He called the youth the backbone of the nation and the architects of its future — and then immediately backed that up by asking them to act like it. Education, he said, is not just about clearing exams. It’s about building discipline, shaping character, and unlocking opportunities. For a state like Arunachal, where ambition often outpaces opportunity, that framing hit differently. He urged young people to dream big, stay focused, and give back — through innovation, community service, and responsible citizenship.
Beyond Certificates: The Courage to Build
What stood out was Tagak’s pointed message to students who have already completed their studies. He encouraged them to stop waiting for government jobs and instead look towards entrepreneurship, skill development, and self-reliance. The future, he said firmly, doesn’t belong only to those holding certificates — it belongs to those with creativity, courage, and the willingness to serve. That’s a conversation Arunachal needs to be having more openly, and it was refreshing to hear it from an elected representative.
“Khel Se Jodo, Nasha Chhodo” — Sports as a Shield
The programme covered five core themes — sports, Olympic aspirations, youth leadership, Viksit Bharat, and Nasha Mukt Yuva — and the drug-free message ran through all of it like a thread. Tagak specifically promoted the slogan “Khel se jodo, nasha chhodo” (Join sports, leave drugs), making a direct connection between athletic discipline and a healthier life. Discussions also touched on India’s preparations for the 2036 Olympics and how sports infrastructure across the Northeast needs to grow to give local talent a real shot. PM Narendra Modi addressed the event via video conference, with Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya also participating nationally.
A Pledge That Mattered
Before leaving, participants took the Viksit Bharat Nasha Mukt Pledge — a public commitment towards building a drug-free nation. Whether pledges translate into lasting change depends on what follows them. But the energy in that room, the students, the volunteers, the athletes all gathered under one roof with a shared sense of purpose, was hard to dismiss.
If Arunachal’s youth take even half of what was said in that room and put it into action, the state’s future looks considerably brighter than its present.
HASHTAGS
#TaiTagak #ArunachalPradesh #ViksitBharat #YuvaSamvaad #KheloIndia #NationalSportsDay2026 #MYBharat #NashaMuktYuva #DrugFreeIndia #2036Olympics #ArunachalYouth #YouthLeadership #NortheastIndia #SportsDevelopment #AbotaniTV #YouthEmpowerment #ItanagarNews #KhelSeJodoNashaChhodo #ViksitBharat2047 #NationBuilding
