A day before International Literacy Day, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath wrote an open letter to the state's students and citizens, redefining what going to school is really about. In the letter, he said children do not step into a classroom merely to learn how to read and write; school is also where they pick up values, discipline, confidence and a sense of direction for life.
Why children really go to school
In his message, the Chief Minister posed a direct question: 'Why do our children go to school? Only to learn reading and writing? No.' According to him, the real purpose of education is to give children knowledge along with values, discipline, confidence and a sense of responsibility. He referred to India's old gurukul tradition, where students were taught not just letters but also life values and a sense of duty. He said this same spirit should remain the foundation of education even today, because knowledge is meaningful only when it makes life simpler and becomes useful to society.
81 teachers honoured on Teachers' Day
The letter also referred to Teachers' Day, observed on September 5. The Chief Minister said he had the opportunity that day to honour 81 teachers who have laid the foundation of nation-building. He compared teachers to lamps that spread the light of knowledge and light the way for future generations. In the same spirit, International Literacy Day will be observed on September 8, with the goal of taking knowledge to every person and empowering them.
Traditional learning is being linked to AI and digital skills
Yogi Adityanath also spoke about the role of technology in his message. He said technology is changing everyday life at a fast pace, which is why digital literacy along with AI literacy has become the need of the hour. According to him, artificial intelligence, deep-tech and emerging technologies are opening new opportunities in education, healthcare, agriculture, industry and employment. He said the state government is working to connect traditional knowledge with modern science, technology, innovation and skill development. As an example, he pointed to the AI City coming up in Lucknow and the growing drone and UAV technology ecosystem in Kanpur, calling them the foundation for new possibilities in Uttar Pradesh's technological future. Taken together, he said, these two hubs reflect how a state once known mainly for its agrarian economy is now positioning itself at the intersection of traditional learning and cutting-edge technology.
Building on this, the state government has launched Operation Kayakalp, Mission Prerna, the Mukhyamantri Abhyudaya Yojana and several skill development programmes. These schemes focus specifically on improving the quality of education, upgrading school facilities, helping students prepare for competitive exams and sharpening the skills of young people. Yogi Adityanath said these efforts have significantly brought down the dropout rate in the state's schools, and more children than before are now joining the mainstream of education.
Notably, Yogi Adityanath had earlier written a similar goodwill letter to the people of the state on the occasion of Janmashtami. He also shared this message on X.
Teachers are the most important link, society must join in
Towards the end of his letter, the Chief Minister described teachers as the most important link in the entire process. He said it is teachers who instil values, curiosity, discipline, confidence and a sense of responsibility in students, and who connect India's glorious knowledge tradition with modern knowledge and innovation. However, he made it clear that the resolve for literacy cannot be fulfilled by the government or teachers alone, it needs the cooperation of the whole society. According to him, if anyone nearby cannot read or write, it is the duty of every citizen to make that person literate, because even a small effort to teach someone can open the doors of confidence and new opportunities in their life. On the occasion of International Literacy Day, Yogi Adityanath appealed to people that every child should reach school, every student should get quality education, every young person should engage with skills and innovation, and every citizen should become literate while also being aware of digital knowledge and AI.
