Inspiring Life

I am indeed delighted to visit the home of one of the most inspiring and revolutionary freedom fighters of mother India. It is indeed like a pilgrimage for me to have come to this village of Khatkar Kalan which has produced one of the greatest sons of the Indian soil, Shaheed Bhagat Singh. Freedom folklore of India is replete with stories of brave sons of braver mothers laying down their lives on the path to freedom but not many of the stories are as inspiring and as moving as the legend of Shaheed Bhagat Singh. I read a book on Shaheed Bhagat Singh written by Shri Kuldip Nayyar titled 'Martyr Bhagat Singh'. It is said that On 3rd March 1931, Bhagat Singh's parents and other relatives came to visit him. It was their last meeting. The last person to meet him was his mother. Fondling her son, the mother said, "Son, don't leave your stand. One day, everybody has to die. But the best death is one which is remembered by the whole world. I am happy that my son is making the sacrifice for a good and noble cause. My only desire is that my son should shout the slogan, 'Inquilab Zindabad' standing on the gallows. My son's weight should increase not decrease".What a great mother this land has given to us. The mother had brave tears. We always cherish this martyrdom by Shaheed Bhagat Singh and also his parents. Today, Punjab has enriched soil and above all high thinking.

That was the first vision for the nation. Now we have to work for the second vision for the nation, that is to transform India into a Developed India. For a Developed India the most important need is the rural development, because 70% of our population live in the rural areas. One of the development tool is power that is Electricity.

Solar power village

I am very happy to see that the Government of India, the Government of Punjab, the Punjab Energy Development Agency and Tata BP Solar have all come together to set up this futuristic source of energy in this unique village of Khatkar Kalan. I understand the 200 KW capacity power plant is the second largest Solar Photovoltain plant set up anywhere in the country so far. Moreover, it is unique in the sense that the power plant is connected to the local grid with the intention of improving the low tail-end voltage which is a cause of many a problem for such remote villages as Khatkar Kalan.

As many of you are aware, there is a world-wide search for cheaper, wider and inexhaustible sources of energy. We do not have to see too far to realize the importance which is attached by the developed countries to the sources of the Gulf oil. In fact, all over the world there is a race on to explore and commercialise as many newer and innovative sources of energy as possible. The reason for this is not far to see. We all know that the oil resources of the world are very limited and at the rate at which we are extracting the oil from the earth, we will not have any oil left after say, fifty years or so. What do we do then? Do we shut down all our industries and stop all our vehicles? No. Man has always innovated in times of need and all over the world the best minds in science are trying to find out newer and renewable sources of energy.

Energy for future generations

The era of wood and bio-mass is almost neared its end. So to the age of oil and natural gas would soon be over even within the next six to ten decades. Massive burning of the remaining reserves of coal would surely lead the world in ecological disaster. Nuclear power especially a breakthrough in nuclear fusion may be a path. But sustainable economic development and perennial sources of clean energy which would then heal the wounded planet earth's environment and ecology is the only massive use of the solar energy.

We in India are very lucky to have such a vast resource available almost limitlessly. There are many countries which simply crave to see the sun. How do we harness this source? The key lies in technology. And this is where the role of our scientists and engineers becomes very important. At present, there is a drive to develop cheaper and more efficient solar cells which will work at much higher efficiencies and which will cost much less than those which we have today. If our scientists and engineers could achieve this breakthrough, we could very easily put our economy on a higher growth curve.

In this context, I am very happy to note that the Government of India is also setting up the Sardar Swaran Singh National Institute of Renewable Energy also in Punjab. This institute, when fully functional, will provide the necessary impetus for pushing the frontiers of research in the different fields of renewable energy in our country. I am sure the people and scientists of Punjab will respond to this need of the hour as they had done in the past by ushering in the green revolution at a time when the country was faced with a shortage of food.

I was very happy to note that the Punjab Energy Development Agency has also kept in mind the future of the youth of this village and that they have provided two solar powered computers to the village primary school as part of this project. Such a modern tool will ensure that the students of our backward areas also get an exposure to the latest developments in information technology in which our country has already made a mark. It is heartening to note that a hundred solar street lights are also being provided to light up the village roads at night. I would ask the agencies concerned to ensure that the systems are kept in good working condition so that we can show this as a success story to the world at large. Seeing the past history of the village, I am sure that the community will cooperate in this endeavour and that such innovations will provide inspiration and motivation to the youngsters of today to raise once again the name of Khatkar Kalan to the pinnacles of success and glory.

With these words, I dedicate this plant to the people of the brave village of Khatkar Kalan and to the brave and ever-smiling people of Punjab.

Best wishes.

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