Mothers Advocating Values (MAV), a Delhi-based collective of concerned mothers, feel investing in children and nurturing strong values among the next generation is fundamental to building a stable, progressive and prosperous nation. It advocated a clarion call to place values at the heart of children’s development emerged at a pre-Children’s Day 2026 in New Delhi on Nov 3.
The message was unequivocal: India’s investment in its children will deliver the greatest returns for the nation if their development is anchored in strong values and character. As the country pursues its ambition of Viksit Bharat 2047, economic progress, technological advancement and educational achievement alone cannot guarantee a strong nation without a generation of responsible, compassionate and ethical citizens.
Held under the theme ‘Values Empowered Youth for a Viksit Bharat’, the event brought together distinguished voices from public service, governance, national security, education, sports and civil society. The speakers underscored the urgency of collective action by parents, educators, institutions and policymakers to counter the erosion of values and place children’s character at the heart of nation-building.
The gathering included Smt. Lata Gupta, Chairperson, Delhi Commission for Women; Shri Sumeet Ankur Singh, Chairperson, Member NCCDR, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment; Shri Shyam Jaju, Former National Vice-President, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP); Dr. Shantanu Mukharji, former Inspector General of Police, Uttar Pradesh, and former National Security Adviser to the Prime Minister of Mauritius; Shri Jitendra Mani Tripathi, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Security, President’s Security Cell, Delhi Police; Dr. Baani Yadav, Indian motorsport rally driver; and Ms. Minakshi Khurana, Distinguished Educationist.
Central to the deliberations was MAV’s call for a ‘Values Filter’ across education, governance, media, business and public life — a framework encouraging institutions and decision-makers to evaluate how their actions, policies and messages influence children and the values they inherit. The initiative seeks to move values beyond moral instruction and embed them in everyday decisions that shape the next generation.
Smt. Lata Gupta, Chairperson, Delhi Commission for Women, highlighted the multiplier effect of women’s empowerment on families, communities and the nation, emphasising the foundational role of mothers in shaping children’s values.
Dr. Shantanu Mukharji, former Inspector General of Police, Uttar Pradesh, and former National Security Adviser to the Prime Minister of Mauritius, underlined the vital connection between individual character and national strength.
Dr. Baani Yadav, Indian motorsport rally driver, drew on her experience of breaking barriers in a traditionally male-dominated sport to encourage young people, particularly girls, to pursue their ambitions without compromising the values that shape their character.
“Never allow stereotypes or other people’s perceptions to define what you can achieve. Believe in your dreams, have the confidence to create your own path and remain committed to your goals,” she said, emphasising the guiding role of mothers, schools and teachers in shaping character.
Ms. Minakshi Khurana, Distinguished Educationist, cautioned against allowing material success and technological advancement to overshadow fundamental human values “Education must go beyond academic achievement and equip them with empathy, sensitivity, respect and a sense of responsibility. Ambition and success are essential, but they acquire greater meaning when guided by compassion, awareness and integrity,” she said.
The discussions reinforced a common conviction: building a developed India must begin with building responsible Indians. Safeguarding the values of the next generation cannot remain the responsibility of parents and schools alone. It requires a broader societal commitment in which institutions, leaders and citizens recognise their collective responsibility for the environment in which children grow.
The celebration also featured activities designed to promote discipline, creativity and self-expression, including a ceremonial march past by the school’s NCC cadets, a poster-making competition and the felicitation of winners. Students took a collective Student Values Pledge, committing to uphold integrity, respect, kindness and responsibility. Poetry recitations highlighted the importance of childhood and human values.
