‘Same Blood Flows Through Our Veins’: IAF Chief Urges Youth To Shun Caste, Religious Divides

Last Updated:November 06, 2025, 23:08 IST

Air Chief Marshal AP Singh urged youth to restore India’s glory, shun caste and religion bias, and embrace unity, compassion, and teamwork for national progress.

Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh. (Image: PTI)

Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh on Thursday urged youths to work towards restoring India’s past glory and to shun discrimination based on caste or religion.

While speaking at the sixth convocation ceremony of Karnavati University in Gujarat’s Gandhinagar, the IAF chief said that India was once a leader in the world, but it lagged during the last few centuries.

“Let me speak on the responsibility part. We have to make this nation great. We were once a leader in the world. But we lagged behind during the last few centuries. And, if we have to do well again, it will be the people like you who matter, who are the future of this country," the Air Chief Marshal said as quoted by news agency PTI.

Emphasising unity, he said that the same blood flows in all of the citizens.

“Respect each other’s sentiments. There should be no social divide, because whatever divides us is not good. The same blood flows in our veins, and we all belong to the same land. There should not be any discrimination based on caste or religion. Only then will our country progress," the Air Chief Marshal asserted.

Before becoming anything else, they have to strive to become good human beings having qualities like compassion, honesty, integrity, and selflessness, Singh told the students.

He urged students to first strive to become “good human beings" rooted in compassion, integrity, honesty, and selflessness.

Highlighting the importance of teamwork, Singh said, “Teamwork is very important. Remember, we are all part of a big system. We are all like bricks in a wall. We all have to do our duty. This nation is made up of you and me. If we want to make India great, we have to first make ourselves better human beings."

Quoting the saying, “Every soldier is a citizen in uniform and every citizen is a soldier without uniform," the Air Chief urged the youth to dedicate time and effort to society and nation-building.

“Whatever you achieve in your life, wherever you go, always remember your roots and where you come from. Remember the teachings from your parents and teachers. Always stay humble and stay grounded. There is no shortcut to success. You have to put in hard work," he said.

During the ceremony, the university conferred an honorary Doctor of Literature degree on Singh.

(With inputs from agencies)

Shobhit Gupta

Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben...Read More

Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben...

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