India will play role of 'Visvaguru' to world: PM Narendra Modi

Suva, Nov 19: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said India would play the role of 'Visvaguru' or teacher to the world and would use the strengths of its democracy and young population to benefit the mankind.

Modi said the coming age would be the age of knowledge, and India would once again perform the role of "Visvaguru".

In his remarks during an interaction with civil society at Fiji Technical University in Suva on Tuesday, the Prime Minister who was here on a day's visit, said India has a responsibility towards the world at large. Modi said it was essential to keep adding to the knowledge base, and to keep up the pace of new discoveries and inventions.

He said our ancient sages had spoken of India's global responsibility, and the coming "Gyan Yug" would see India play a pivotal role, using the strengths of its democracy and demographic dividend. He said the government was giving priority to skill development so that these strengths could be leveraged for the benefit of the whole world.

He also talked about ending the digital divide, saying we have to prepare for the future to help the world. Modi is the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Fiji since Indira Gandhi traveled there in 1981.

PTI