PATNA, June 25 -- Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar was in Bihar on Tuesday and spoke on the memory of the Emergency, calling it the darkest chapter in the journey of Indian democracy. Then President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed had proclaimed a state of National Emergency on 25 June 1975 on the advice of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi who cited internal and external threats to the country. The Emergency remained in effect for 21 months from 25 June 1975 and ended on 21 March 1977. Legendary leader from Bihar, Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan, rose to immortal national prominence as he mobilised people against the "draconian governance" measures. "The Constitution was murdered. At that time, it was Jayaprakash Narayan who lit the flame of democracy. The 'Total Revolution' was not just a political movement - it was a call for national reawakening," he added. He was addressing a public gathering at the foundation day ceremony of Lalit Narayan Mishra College of Business Management in Muzaffarpur, Bihar, on the topic 'Indian Knowledge Tradition and the Vision of National Education Policy 2020'. He also planted saplings in the memory of his parents on the college campus. Dhankhar said India was now marching ahead, set to become the third largest economy of the world . "There has been phenomenal growth. A decade ago, we were ranked 11th and now we are moving towards the third spot. Now there are multiple options for the people to fulfil their aspirations," he added. He said that NEP was not just a policy, but a "civilisational renaissance and a nation-building mission" to revive India's glorious era in the field of education when Bihar was the global center of learning. "Nalanda, Vikramshila, and Odantapuri were not just universities, but civilisations. In the 5th century, Nalanda was a residential university where people from China, Korea, Japan, Tibet, and Central Asia came to gain knowledge. It housed 10,000 students and 2,000 teachers. These institutions will always inspire us - to remember where we came from and where we must go. Even if Oxford, Harvard, and Cambridge are combined, they cannot match the exquisiteness of Nalanda," he added. Appreciating the vision of Dr Lalit Narayan Mishra and Dr Jagannath Mishra, he lauded the college for receiving autonomous college status from the UGC and emphasised that the objective of the NEP 2020 has been to create skilled professionals, contented citizens, employment generators, knowledgeable humans - and to build an India that truly reflects our collective aspirations and values. Recalling the glorious historical, intellectual, and constitutional legacy of Bihar, he said, "This is not just a state, it is the soul of India - where the enlightenment of Buddha and Mahavira, the resistance of Champaran, and the constitution-building by Dr. Rajendra Prasad, all converge on the same land. This land is the birthplace of India's philosophical foundation," he added. He said that "Bihar is the land where ancient knowledge, social justice, and modern aspirations coexist. The story of Bihar is the story of India - and this is the journey that will earn India global recognition."...