Nation-building begins with everyday responsibility: Sood

Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood told hundreds of students and young professionals at the Youth for Governance Unplugged event at St Mark’s School in Janakpuri on Sunday that nation-building does not begin in Parliament alone. It starts with the daily responsible actions of every citizen, including disposing of waste in a dustbin, planting a tree, following traffic rules, helping a neighbour, or volunteering for a social cause.

The event was organised on the theme “Is India Harnessing Its Youth Potential or Facing a Youth Crisis?” and featured Sood as chief guest alongside young entrepreneurs Akash Gupta, co-founder and CEO of Zypp Electric, and Yash Kalra, founder of GOAT Life.

The discussion brought together governance, entrepreneurship, education, and public policy in a single interactive forum.

Sood said India’s greatest strength is not merely its demographic dividend but its ability to transform young citizens into active participants in governance. He drew a clear distinction between government and governance. “Government is formed by a few people, but governance is shaped by society. A developed India cannot be built by governments alone; it requires the participation of every citizen,” he said.

He explained his concept of participatory governance by grounding it in everyday behaviour rather than formal civic engagement. “Nation building is not limited to making laws or framing policies. When a citizen responsibly throws waste in a dustbin instead of on the road, plants a tree, follows traffic rules, helps a neighbour, teaches a child, volunteers for a social cause or keeps a public space clean, that too is nation building,” he said. He urged young people to stop waiting for governments to take the lead.