Distinguished parents, there can't be a prouder moment for you than this amazing moment.  Members of the faculty, members of the staff, distinguished members of the bureaucracy  and I must justify my presence. 

I'm here for you boys and girls.

Education is a gift of God, if you get quality education you are lucky. If you get this kind of education in a nation of 1.4 billion you are privileged in the right sense. Education is a great equaliser.  

Equality in law or otherwise can be optimally and best secured only through education.  Education hits very hard inequities, injustice and that's what you are going to do all your life. 

Quality education, its accessibility and affordability  are fundamentals for any democratic nation to achieve.  

Fortunately, you belong to a different category of society.  Your parents have been highly indulgent to make available this education to you.  But for others, I'm included therein. 

The government over the decades has thought very wisely  to have a similar mechanism.

I come from Sainik School, Chittorgarh.  It was in 1962 I joined Sainik School, Chittorgarh from a village that did not have electricity, did not have road connectivity,  did not have a toilet in the house.